WTF is this?!
Swim option for Ford Ironman California 70.3 athletes
March 17, 2006
Ford Ironman California 70.3 is offering an optional 700m swim for athletes who are not comfortable swimming in colder conditions. Those athletes choosing this option will go in a wave at 8:30am and swim 700m, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles. Your results will be posted in the new category so you can see how you finished compared to your fellow competitors in your race. You will receive a finisher’s shirt and medal however you will not be eligible for awards, Ford Ironman World Championship slots (Hawaii), Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship slots or Ironman North America race slots.
We are offering this service for our athletes as it could be wet and cold on race morning. Please be safe and consider what is in your best interest.
OK - so I checked the weather, and it's 54 in San Diego. High is only supposed to reach 57. The water's 59.4, but the pacific is always cold. It won't be a typical California day out there, but come on... optionally changing the swim distance?
I guess I've always felt that in a race, the conditions are just another factor to deal with, like aching legs or a squidgy stomach. Allowing people to choose what distance they swim based on conditions is like saying "If you think your legs will hurt after the first loop of the run, then you may opt to only do a 6.5 mile run."
Safety is another issue - if there's a chance that people will be put in harm's way, and the RD makes the call to shorten the race, I will try to understand. But all too frequently lately, I'm hearing stories about races being "modified" at the last minute (see Cam Brown's article on Ironman New Zealand) and lots of people being disappointed.
March 17, 2006
Ford Ironman California 70.3 is offering an optional 700m swim for athletes who are not comfortable swimming in colder conditions. Those athletes choosing this option will go in a wave at 8:30am and swim 700m, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles. Your results will be posted in the new category so you can see how you finished compared to your fellow competitors in your race. You will receive a finisher’s shirt and medal however you will not be eligible for awards, Ford Ironman World Championship slots (Hawaii), Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship slots or Ironman North America race slots.
We are offering this service for our athletes as it could be wet and cold on race morning. Please be safe and consider what is in your best interest.
OK - so I checked the weather, and it's 54 in San Diego. High is only supposed to reach 57. The water's 59.4, but the pacific is always cold. It won't be a typical California day out there, but come on... optionally changing the swim distance?
I guess I've always felt that in a race, the conditions are just another factor to deal with, like aching legs or a squidgy stomach. Allowing people to choose what distance they swim based on conditions is like saying "If you think your legs will hurt after the first loop of the run, then you may opt to only do a 6.5 mile run."
Safety is another issue - if there's a chance that people will be put in harm's way, and the RD makes the call to shorten the race, I will try to understand. But all too frequently lately, I'm hearing stories about races being "modified" at the last minute (see Cam Brown's article on Ironman New Zealand) and lots of people being disappointed.
posted by Mike Hollywood at 6:07 AM
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