New Ironman Passport: $1000 - Cut in line in front of the unwashed masses to register first!

I am going to cut to the chase: If you want special access to the registration privileges of an Ironman event of your choice, pay the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) $1,000 and they will allow you to register for an Ironman event one week before the unwashed masses are allowed too.

Also, if you can't qualify for the Ironman World Championships race in Kona because you are not super human, they will allow you two positions in a lottery to get into that championship versus only one position for the unwashed and similarly unqualified masses.

This tells me two things: one they are a bunch of greedy people. Two the WTC must be doing something right to have such an oversupply of athletes to justify making this this offer with a straight face.

From the WTC website:

Today World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) launches an exclusive athlete membership program called Ironman Access. In addition to other member benefits, the program will offer advance registration for Ironman events worldwide before entries open to the general public. Membership into Ironman Access is on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once it reaches capacity

[Link]

Above is a photo of the Ironman numbers I wore on both my bike and jersey. I look at them from time to time to remember what it took to allow me to get where I am today despite tremendous deficits. I credit that race and Julie Moss for convincing me that failure is temporary and that you can even "fail" your way to success. I kid you not.