Ironman Hawaii World Championships 2011

Pro athletes from around the world have spent the year trying to earn enough points to take part in the big show in Kona, and what a race it's going to be.

Add about 1800 age-group athletes who have qualified in races around the world plus 200 lottery winners and it promises to be a great day for the Ironman family on October 8, 2011.

CHECK BACK HERE FOR A LINK TO MY IRONMAN HAWAII RACE RESULTS PAGE WHEN THE TIME COMES.

It was almost a year ago when the journey began for the best Ironman pros in the world to secure their spot in Kona for the Ironman Hawaii World Championships 2011.

It all started back at Ironman Wisconsin 2010 and also at the natural beauty of the Ironman 70.3 course in the Muskoka region in Canada.

Ultimately there will be 80 of the best pro triathletes in the world taking a shot at being first across the storied finish line on Ali'i Drive in Kona.

It is no doubt the Mecca of the Ironman world that has seen so drama, so much heart-ache, and of course the elation of victory when one secures a spot in the record books of the most iconic endurance events in the history of sports.

MIRINDA CARFRAE

The scoring system to earn a spot in Kona is not all that complicated.

For starters athletes can score points in their five best races of the year.

They can take part in 10 races if they want, but only five can be used for qualifying points.

It's necessary to do five races either. A pro can compete in 3 or 4 if they like, however at least one of the races must be an Ironman and the total cannot include any more than 3 70.3 events.

SO WHO IS GOING TO WIN ANYWAY?

Every pro seems to have their game plan. They map out their races over the year and hope that they can peak for the big day and at the same time avoid the injuries that seem to be more prevalent as the heat is on to qualify.

Or you can be like Mary Beth Ellis and win Ironman's Regensberg, Austria, and Canada all in an 8-week period. Holy crap Mary!

MARY BETH ELLIS

It was a thrill to be at the finish line at Ironman Canada and see Mary Beth Ellis win and break the course record set by Erin Baker some 21 years ago. Actually, I was in that race as an age-grouper and had one of my best races ever.

Check this page for IRONMAN CANADA RESULTS 2011

I remember how ideal the conditions were 21 years ago and it's amazing that in the heat of the day at Ironman 2011, Mary Ellis was able to post such a fast time under less than ideal conditions.

Also happy to say that I picked Mary to win both Ironman Austria and Ironman Canada on the Ironstruck website days before the races.

Hey Mary! I think that means you have to autograph a shirt for me or something because I am not doubt your good luck charm and picking you to win in Kona in an epic battle against Chrissie Wellington.

Fully expect Mirinda Carfrae, Samantha Warriner, Kelly Williamson, Caroline Steffen and Katie Bevilaqua to be in the mix for a top five placing.

Chrissie Wellington has been keeping a low profile and resting up for one big effort in Kona.

Most athletes would seem to be over-raced with 3 Ironman wins inside of 3 months but some athletes like Mary Beth thrive on constant racing so we will see what happens. She has a great coach in Brett Sutton and you just know he will have Mary Beth ready for a top effort.

One thing is for sure. It's going to be a memorable race in Kona this year.

SOFIE GOOS

Best of luck to all these amazing pro women Ironmen who constantly inspire so many and who continue to raise the bar in the sport.

To think that it was just back in the 1984 Olympic Games in L.A. that women were first able to compete in the Olympic Marathon.

Up until the Ironman came along in the late 1970's endurance events for the most part were strictly male-dominated.

HERE ARE THE TOP THIRTY WOMEN QUALIFIERSSteffen Caroline......12650 Van Vlerken Yvonne....9185 Carfrae Mirinda.......8965Thuerig Karin.........8550 Stewart Tyler.........7480 Cave Leanda........7470 Dibens Julie..........7400 Bij De Vaate Heleen...7180Williamson Kelly......7090Marsh Amy.............6920 Loeffler Kim..........6780 Joyce Rachel..........6760Tajsich Sonja.........6275 Morrison Catriona.....6250 Ellis Mary Beth.......6200 Felt Silvia...........6170 Wurtele Heather.......6165 Csomor Erika..........6120 Berasategui Virginia..6050 Deckers Tine..........5870 Zelenkova Lucie.......5805Goos Sofie............5790 Bevilaqua Kate........5525 Snow Caitlin..........5305 Wellington Chrissie...5250 Corbin Linsey........5245Stevens Amanda........5160 Nishiuchi Maki........5045 Warriner Samantha.....5035Riesler Diana.........4980

Erika Csomor and Diana Riesler gave up their Kona spots and will not be competing in Kona.

THE FIVE FINAL PRO WOMEN WHO WERE OFFERED SPOTS:Mary Beth EllisMaki NishiuchiMiranda AlldrittJackie ArendtJoanna Lawn

So how about the men's race? You can't help but like Jordan Rapp to do well after his gutsy win in Ironman Canada.

Although it is a different sort of heat than the humidity of Kona, Jordan showed that he can handle the hot temperatures and it was a hot one in Penticton at Ironman Canada 2011.

JORDAN RAPP

Although I picked Jordan Rapp to win Ironman Canada, I am a bit hesitant about picking him as the winner in Kona this year. However a top-five is very possible.

Many top triathletes over the years have claimed just how difficult it is to compete in Ironman Canada in late August and than again in Kona less than 2 months later.

This is especially true because a top effort is necessary to do well in Kona and the least bit of weakness and even the best pro can easily be left behind by someone more rested and peaking just for the one race.

So now we haveJordan Rapp and Mary Beth Ellis both attempting the Canada-Kona double with the two races just 5 weeks apart.

RAYNARD TISSINK

Peter Reid was able to win both Penticton and Kona, but said it was very challenging and he would not recommend it.

**THIS JUST IN** Jordan Rapp has just declined his slot for Kona. This means that Matt Reed will be going.

This does not surprise me at all and just reinforces what I have been saying. It is extremely demanding to take on Ironman Canada and Ironman Hawaii just 5 weeks apart.

Jordan Rapp gave an all-out effort in Ironman Canada. The conditions of the day were also very difficult with extreme heat and high winds plus he recently recovered from serious training injuries.

One can't help but think that this is a wise and very professional decision that Jordan has made. There will be other years.

That just leaves Mary Beth Ellis to try and pull of this difficult Penticton/Kona double win.

I believe Raynard Tissink is going to be right up their in the bike, but I am leaning more towards Ben Hoffman, Craig Alexander, Tj Tollakson, and Andreas Raelert to battle it out for the win.

If the other Raelert(Michael) was not injured, he would have been my pick to win as he is an incredible athlete but simply could not overcome his injuries this year.

Craig Alexander was injured this year as well but hit his stride again with a win in Ironman Couer d'Alene. One wonders if he is top form as he is also lightly raced this year.

Ben Hoffman has been a force and should make a good account of himself on race-day.

There are many strong cyclists(like Raynard Tissink)in this race but the marathon course out on the Queen K. highway often determines the winner of Ironman Hawaii.

Over the years many of the best Ironmen in the world have been unable to sustain the pace in the last 10 kilometers of the marathon.

The crushing heat and the swirling, unrelenting headwinds of the bike course have to be managed perfectly in order to still be in the hunt late in the marathon.

HERE ARE THE TOP FIFTY MEN QUALIFIERSTissink Raynard.......7550 Odonnell Timothy......7520 Llanos Eneko ........7100 Al-sultan Faris.......7060 Vanhoenacker Marino...6900 Raphael Jan...........6800 Bell Luke.............6515 Sturla Eduardo........6380 Bracht Timo...........6300 Alexander Craig.......6190 Raelert Andreas.......6180 Jacobs Peter..........6150 Major Jozsef..........6120 Hecht Mathias.........5625Brown Cameron.........5380 Van Lierde Frederik...5290Vabrousek Petr........5200 Schildknecht Ronnie...5165 Twelsiek Maik.........5070 Mckenzie Luke.........4965 Hoffman Ben...........4910 Weiss Michael.........4905 Tollakson Tj..........4870Evoe Patrick..........4835 Vernay Patrick........4790 Zeebroek Axel.........4710Lieto Chris...........4680 Lowe Tom..............4540 Henning Rasmus........4520 Potts Andy............4400 Abel Torsten..........4480Csoke Balazs..........4360 Rapp Jordan...........4290 Boecherer Andi........4210 Marques Sergio........4200 Cunnama James.........4160 Bockel Dirk...........4100 Jammaer Bert..........3950 Lovato Michael.......3935 Goehner Michael.......3890 Schifferle Mike.......3760 Gambles Joe...........3700 Russell Matthew.......3690 Daerr Justin..........3630 Viennot Cyril.........3500 Shortis Jason.........3480 Mcdonald Chris........3465 White Matthew.........3385 Amey Paul.............3380 Fontana Daniel........3200

Eduardo Sturla, Patrick Evoe, James Cunnama, Romain Guillaume, Courtney Ogden, Justin Daerr, and Terenzo Bozzone are the pro men who gave up their spots and will not be competing in Kona.

THE TEN FINAL PRO MEN WHO WERE OFFERED SPOTS:Andreas RaelertTprsten AbelJordan RappAndi BoechererBert JammaerMatthew RussellJason ShortisChris MacdonaldMike AigrozMike Neill

Best of luck to all the age-groupers who have won a spot in the big race. It is so worth all the hard work to get there just to be part of such a great event like Ironman Hawaii.

Best of luck also for the 200 lucky triathletes who managed to land a spot in the lottery. Make the most of it and enjoy every minute of the experience.