Ok, call me bitter, but I just watched people cross the finish line at IM Lou (Louisville KY) who were declared an Ironman, given a medal and celebrated as if they had done the course in under 17 hours- as the rules state, when they really took WELL over 17 hours.
You see they had to modify the swim course at the last minute because of the flooding up north. Apparently the river current was about 2.5 mph. So they changed the mass start to a time trial start for safety sake. BUT then that meant that the race didn't end at midnight. It ended 17 hours after the last person hit the water, which ended up being 37 minutes later.
Sooo that gave the people who started say 15 minutes before the last swimmer in an extra 15 minutes. Or in one case 18 minutes..
This came to mind as being a possibility so I started taking note of bib #'s just to see, and sure enough we had people listed as 17:18. 17:04 etc..
So I wonder in the end if they will be DQ'ed??

I know this sounds petty and stupid, and it is. But seeing as how last year if I had an extra 10 minutes I would have made it in as well. sigh... Yeah, I can be that petty I guess...

Of course I know that I'd never be able to consider myself an "Ironman finisher at IMAZ 07" because I didn't make it in the alloted time.
Some people try to sugar coat it and say " As far as I'm concerned if you do the distance you are an Ironman". But I'm not one of them. It's part of the challenge- knowing that it's do or die-get in under 17 or try again.
In 2006 I did it, in 2007 I didn't, and I'm going to try again in 08.

I know in the end, it shouldn't matter to me. But I think it just irks me at the thought that there could be people out there flaunting their medals and declaring themselves Ironmen, when really, according to the rules.. they are not...
Maybe I'm bitter because they caught a break??
I heard that everyone made it out of the swim- with nearly a half hour to spare!! Now that NEVER happens! Heck my swim time there may have actually been reasonable!!
Shoot! I should have signed up!
Sigh... Now Wahine- SHE is an IRONMAN!! An Iron STUD even!!