Yeah Lise, there are those people. At the pre race banquet they had people stand up that had never done another tri before- of any distance. This was their very first race. I think at least 6-8 stood up. In my mind that's like entering the kentucky derby before you can even ride a horse.
I hate to say it, but I bet a good number of those folks never finished.
Wow. That is truly shocking. NEVER done a tri before... and they go for an Ironman? What the hell are those people thinking?

It sounds like they paid the price though... for being so pompous and egotistical. Hopefully, they were humbled by the Ironman "gods".

It's kinda like when I'm racing and I hear a guy say to his wife/gf "Don't let that fat chick beat you"... And then see her struggle to keep up with me. Yeah, I may be fat, but I put the miles in. And just because you are skinnier than your competition doesn't mean you are going to be fitter. If you didn't log the miles, you didn't log the miles. Thin does NOT equal fit. period.
That is SO TRUE! When I first start racing, I would size up my "competition" based on their body types. MISTAKE! I can't tell you how many skinny people I passed and how many *overweight* people kicked my butt. I know better now.