Good stuff. Will be interesting for Taupo next year. It’s a great destination race for those in North America, but the distance and cost to travel might mean the rolldown spots go pretty deep.
Are you doing one of those 2 races you analyzed? If not, I’m curious why you chose those 2 ?
I picked those four races because the data was available. The races I’m targeting next haven’t made previous slot allocation public (Oman) or haven’t been on the calendar before (Duisburg & Westfriesland).
For any race, I think if you want to qualify for worlds, you should plan to be 4:15-4:25.
4:25-4:35 will put you on bubble.
Does anyone know where the champs will be after Taupo?
Definitely depends on the race but in a competitive, popular race, I would agree
The following year is St George in Utah.
Are you doing westfriesland?
Just a quick update. I did Shanghai 70.3 yesterday. It’s a very good fast course. I swam slower than I had expected, biked faster than I knew I could, and had a good solid run.
Finished in 4:25:37. I had my fingers crossed in the Kona slot allocation ceremony that two people in the top three would turn their slots down, but it wasn’t to be. I turned down the 70.3WC slot-they could barely give those away!
The drafting was absolutely shocking. I can’t understand why they don’t really emphasize the illegality of it in the pre-race briefing. I was pulling a pack of around twenty riders along at once point! More motorbikes would certainly have helped. I only saw one person carded for drafting, probably because the bike only passed me 4 or so times.
The race confirmed my suspicion that I’m better suited to full distance: more time to pick people off on the run!
Nice race and really great time. What were your splits?
Thanks!
Swim 35:40
Bike 2.19.58
Run 1.23.33
5th M40-44
Those are great splits. I can only hope to do that at 70.3 CDA in 2020. What was your NP of you don’t mind me asking.
I’m not sure about my NP- I used my Garmin 500 which I can only sync when I get home on my desktop. Although I couldn’t get my PM to calibrate - probably because the 500 is ancient - so the data isn’t likely to be accurate anyway.
Yes, thank you. That’s a good way to sum up what the data is showing.
Haven’t committed yet, but it is on my list if Oman doesn’t go well. Are you going?
Fantastic result GregH!
It must also be a relief after all that waiting for race day, the bike frame, then Gurye cancelled last minute…but worth the wait maybe?
Drafting…what can you say? When you see it it’s really disappointing, if I’m tired I’ll express my anger at them but they won’t stop. They’ll have self-justified it one way or another. 
1:23 off a 2:19 bike, I doff my cap to you sir! 
Thanks, @JoeX ! I guess it was a bit of a rocky road to the start line!
I didn’t have the spare energy to get angry with any of the drafters, just a glance over the shoulder and a shake of the head!
A 1:20 off of a 2:15 bike would have been much better though, but that’s about as likely as me being the next human to run 1:59:xx for a marathon!
I just finished my first HIM and last race of the season, IM 70.3 North Carolina. The race was fast and the weather was perfect. I exceeded my expectations in all three disciplines. Swim was fast with a slight current, pretty uneventful. Bike was flat. Somewhat similar to GregH, at around mile 30 I was passed by a huge peloton which surprised me. I had heard about people drafting in IM events but I assumed it would be more of a pace line but this thing seriously had 20-30 cyclist and was 3-4 wide. One of the riders even joked as she was passing me that she was just out for a Sunday morning ride. I’m not very quick witted so I didn’t say anything back but the rest of the ride I occupied by time with thinking of cleaver things I could have said back. My target power was 225w I ended up with average power of 220 and NP 226. Running has always been by weakness. My plan for the run was to take the first half of the run nice and stead and then slowly build the second half of the run. Just before the turnaround I caught the woman from the peloton who was joking about Sunday rides. It felt good passing her going my conversational pace. The slow build worked perfectly and I finished the race strong but feeling like I gave it everything. I even beat my best open HM time. My goal was sub 5:30 but I ended up coming in at 5:01:59. I was blown away by how well I did and can’t wait for next season so I can break 5 hours.
Completed the IM 70.3 NC as well. Hit my goal for the swim (30:xx), hit my goal numbers for the bike (190 AP; 195 NP; 78% of FTP), but about 5-6 miles into the run my world fell apart. Left squad became achingly sore and stiff, much like it did back in my football days when a helmet or knee would collide with it…my “run” then became a bit of a limp/hobble without any propulsion. Mental frustration and energy drain then ensued. From there on out it was a walk/shuffle/walk/shuffle/walk/shuffle, leaving me with a 2:26:xx run and missed my time goal of 5:30 by 10.5 minutes.
Honestly after 2 140.6 and 3 70.3’s, mainly self-coached, I’ve yet to figure this run thing out (I’m primarily a cyclist) and am getting pretty frustrated. Perhaps its time to move away from TR plans as the sole input and getting a coach, or use the BarryP running plan to complete TR cycling/swim. Dunno…
At least I have the Challenge Daytona 70.3 in 8 weeks to redeem myself 
I want to do Challenge Daytona but I promised the wife NC would be the last race of the year. I’m sorry about your run that is frustrating. This is the first race I have had in a while where I felt my run was on form. Most every other race my run has been a disappointment. I have also thought of doing just a run focused block in the off season as I feel I have the most to gain there.