Just registered for the Kona lottery. Anyone else do it yet? I am new to triathlons, so I figured if I get a slot then I am committed! I'm planning on a full season next year, so this would be the icing on the cake! Especially if I could finish Kona within my first year in the sport!

C'mon, what are you waiting for? go ahead...register!

If nothing else, it's cool to have an offical Ironman number from ironmanlive.com!

i feel for you...

but don't forget: you still need to qualify at a IM event...

If you get a lottery spot, you only have to finish a qualifying race. I am planning on racing in a few qualifiers anyway so if I get the lottery spot it will be a bonus!

Actually you just need to complete one half or full ironman before the event (it does not need to be an IM qualifier)...

A word of caution...I was in Kona last month to watch my buddy compete (10h 44m) and the conditions there are such that you should not take the event lightly. The temp was over 90F and the winds on the bike were brutal. If you're not properly prepared, you can really hurt yourself. The cutoff for the swim is something like 1:40 (how much would it suck go all the way there and have your race be over before you even get on the bike?) and the bike cutoff is 10:30 (no picnic).

Best of luck!

Good luck to you. I admire your enthusiasm to go for it. I second cjbruin's advice, I was out there watching this year as well (my brother DNF because of severe dehydration issues, took 2 IV bags to get him back on track) so make sure to get on a good training plan and maybe join a local club to help you prepare and find others shooting for Kona.