GCT?

[jbird]

I am wondering if they allowed the OW swim in these conditions.

[Eric R]

No, a lot of people were really bummed. They added a short run in place of the swim. The waves were pretty serious, though, so I guess better safe than sorry.

[jbird]

I was at huntington throuhout the morning. It looked like you could have surfed at the beach. RED FLAG too. Once you got away from the breakers it didn't look bad IMO. I hope my next race doesn't suffer from a cancellation of the swim portion.

[Matt Luck]

I was bummed it was canceled but this decision was not done by RD, but rather the U.S. Coast Guard. Regardless, Huntington and Headlands are two separate beaches. Anyone that has swam at Headlands knows that there is a natural out going current in the middle of the beach because of the shape of the beach. When the waves start white capping, this area has a tendency to turn into a rip tide. While it won't pull you under it, in most cases, it will pull you out away from the beach.

[gvale]

The Plain Dealer this morning mentioned that the Coast Guard suggested the swim be cancelled and the RD made the decision at 6:00am. With second race cancelled in 7 days due to unsafe swimming conditions, does this change anyones elitiest opionions of last week?

[Eric]

I spoke with someone who was at Steelhead and he said that Lake Erie looked worse than the week prior. Event is over, move on to the next event, if possible.

[robreddy]

George - none of the opinions were elitest last week - but there certainly were some huge egos being shown by how ultra sensative some folks were

r

[Brandon]

I agree that conditions looked worse at GCT than Steelhead, but it is hard to say how tough they were without getting out there and swimming in them.

Eric is right, all anyone can do with the altered triathlon is do the du, and move onto the next event. This is what I've tried to do after Steelhead...difficult as it may be after 8 months of training and a giant 3 week taper for a triathlon that didn't happen.

Many folks at Steelhead did this and came to GCT where they were (again) unable to swim. I was talking with someone who did both these races, and if my memory serves me, out of 6 triathlons she has done this year 3 (or was it 4) of them were changed to duathlons due to rough water.

For an event like GCT (with spint, int'l. and half) distances there are most likely lots of newbies, but in the case of Steelhead there was only a 70.3 offered (along with relay). Shouldn't that field be prepared for less than ideal conditions? Where should an RD draw the line? Maybe all triathlons should be held in inland lakes..or better yet pools. Is there someplace I can sign up for the Cleveland Duathlon Club?

That said, lots of folks were really, really scared to get in that lake on Sunday for the swim. They told me this as they signed their release of liability waiver for the event.

[Eric]

The Coast Guard probably knows those waters better than anyone. Matt's comments were spot on since the position of Mentor Headlands is much different than Huntington Beach.

One of my teammates on SBR was noticeably crushed by the decision because it was his 3rd swim cancellation this year (bacteria in Cinci, Steelhead and GCT) I felt bad for him.

[bprack]

At what point can we stop blaming RD's. This should be the sole responsibilty of USAT. Although I thought yesterday would have been a fun and challenging swim, I think the presence of a Large Coast Guard cutter off the shore states where the ultimate decision was. Was still a great "Race" Mickey!!!

[rinibry]

i was really bummed about the swim but I do not blame the rd for that but the other issues with the race I was a little more upset about, it seemed there was a ton of volunteers and support but there were a couple of locations there could have been people directing but there was nobody there, a few places the police officers were nice enough to wave you in the right direction but I want them focusing on the cars. there was some confusion for the faster people on which way to go and I was told (don't know for sure) that several were sent in the wrong direction.
I don't know if the results will be updated but none of the splits are posted, there were timing chips and sensors at the Tzones, splits would be nice but not a necessity i guess.
thats the extent of my gripe, nothing too serious but it could have been done better and I was expecting better from a race that is thought so highly of and so expensive.

[mgorris]

Splits are posted here


www.runhigh.com/2008%20Results/2008%20Results%20A/R081008AA.html

Give the RD a few days and I am sure they will be up, he probably has a ton on his plate less than 24hrs post race

[Brandon]

I'm not blaming the RD for the weather, nor am I blaming him for the cancelled swim. I know that they don't make that decision on their own. What I'm saying is that there is no way to make everyone happy in that situation and that the RD takes the brunt of criticism (so they've got a tough job). If the coastguard says "no way" the RD gets blamed. If the swim is cancelled, all the experienced swimmers are mad at the RD. And the biggest stressor for the RD...I'm sure they feel responsible for every last athlete, including the swimmers that have never been in open water prior to the race. They wouldn't be human if they didn't think about the inexperienced swimmers that might be heading out into 5 foot chop.

I guess what I'm also saying is that if I sign up for a triathlon I want to swim and I don't care if they put lifeguards out there or not (although that would obviously never happen). I am responsible for everything that happens to me on that portion of the race...and I train accordingly (as most of us do). Don't we owe that to ourselves and to the sport?

Sure, USAT should set some sort of standard for this, but I have a feeling they would err on the side of safety just as the coast guard and almost every RD would (not exactly what many of us want). The only way that I can imagine they would let us swim in almost any type of conditions would be with some sort of qualifying standard for races in large bodies of water.

As for the bike course, I've ridden it 5 months before the date of the race and every turn is still marked on the road. I bet if you ride it in January on a dry, sunny day the course markings would still be there.

[erinj]

i found the course very well marked...

[bprack]

Having never ridden the course until yesterday, I found no problems following the course. Roads were well marked even if a volunteer wasn't attentive at the juncture points.

[Paul Lentini]

As most of us have never been a RD then we don't know what they go through. As far as the swim goes, anyone blaming the RD for canceling the swim is wrong. Anytime an organization wants to hold an event in or on the water they are required to get permission from the Coast Guard. This permitting process takes several months to complete and once approved, the requester (in this case the RD) is issued a letter and permit. In the letter it specifically stats that the Coast Guard has the ultimate decision as to whether or not the event will take place. Without their permission, the event doesn't happen. Plain and simple.

[Charlie]

In 2006 Mickey pulled this race from a flood. I am sure if he could have lifted the race and moved over to faiport yesterday to make the swim happen, he would have.
I am sure Mickey wanted a tri more than anyone.
Unfortunatly Du's happen. Adjust and move forward.

[unlimited]

Paul summed it up best. The decision to swim or not had nothing to do with the RD. Its a non-issue. As it should be. The coast guard is the obvious expert in this situation and should be the one making the decision. Disappointing, yes, but that's life.

To risk your life for a race isn't some badge of honor, its plain stupid. And all of us would have hopped right in the water that morning without giving it a second thought. Good thing we had someone thinking for us!!

On a separate note, I am surprised that the vendors weren't still set up on race day. Seems like they could make a lot more money if they had "stuff" for sale race day when people are all pumped up after a race!!

All in all, a great, well organized race that I will for sure do again next year.

[MattCollister]

Some of the bikes were led off course by the motorcycle escorts in the sprint.

Yet, it's always the racer's responsibility to know the course. In 2007 I captained that aid station at the start/end of the run, and a woman came running through, screaming at me "Where's the turn? Where's the turn? You volunteers are supposed to tell me where to go!" Well, she was running the International, and there was no turn there. Just the finish. As far as I can tell she ran out to the sprint turnaround, turned there in error, and came back expecting to do two laps. And took her frustration out on my aid station. Sorry your day was ruined, but it's YOUR responsibility to know the course. I've been racing long enough to know that $hit happens. Course markings can be confusing, especially when there are multiple races going on. Motorcycle escorts can go the wrong way. Volunteers try their best, but they do make mistakes.

[steve1835]

how about the kid's tris?...that was awsome to see and what a great job done by the staff and the voluteers. I seldom get to be a spectator with the crazy work hours I keep and limited weekends off. It was great to see all the support there for the youth races. This was a highlight of my family's weekend.
SP

[Jack Carney]

Responsibility? What? In the USA where if you trip on a sidewalk crack someone MUST PAY FOR MY TRAUMA!!! There is no personal responsibility anymore Matt. Just look at how many people are voting Democrat these days (sorry couldnt resist)

And I blame Mickey for the fact that he didnt see me changing my bike cleets during the delay only to find out that they didnt fit my pedals (DUUHHH!!) -- it certainly couldn't be my fault could it?

[Brandon]

That's it! A litmus test for triathletes! Brilliant. We'll swim every time!

Just think of all the choppy waters as climate change creates stronger and stronger storms...and no democrats to sue anybody if they drown! Perfect!!!

Wait, does this mean I'll have to register as a republican to compete?

[MattCollister]

I was wondering what that was all about. I watched you for about 60 seconds fumbling with your pedals at the start of the bike, while everyone else was wizzing by you.

In fact, I caught the whole thing on video.

I was traumatized. The video is my evidence. See you in court.

[sidmcmahon]

Two swim cancellations in a row. I blame it on global warming. Where is Al Gore when you need him.

[jbird]

Even though I wasnt scheduled to participate in either of the last two races where the swim was canceled, It is a wake up called to me to become a more well rounded triathlete. I have been spending a disproportionate amount of time swimming and cycling, in hope that it would make up for my lack of speed in the run. I better start running more. Right now I'm terrified of a du.

[Eric]

Al is over in China watching the Olympics. You know the sporting event he created right before the internet.

[Charlie]

I have raced 4 times with a canceled swim. All while Bush was president. When Clinton was president, we never considered a du. Coincidence?

[bprack]

Regardless of the swim being cancelled, I believe the du,tri is won with a strong bike, and a very strong bike to run transition. Not T2, but how quickly your body can get into your pure running form. Hence the importance of a brick! I lost 20+ minutes on the run because im not a strong transitioner.

[bprack]

Here's a link to pictures taken by the Snakebite Crew. Thanks for the photos and the great Aid station!!!!



www.flickr.com/photos/14066430@N04

[trikpark]

Aug 12, 2008 20:50:04 GMT -5 bprack said:

Here's a link to pictures taken by the Snakebite Crew. Thanks for the photos and the great Aid station!!!!



www.flickr.com/photos/14066430@N04

Great pics, thanks for the link.