These are just a few little observations I have made lately. Not a huge deal, but when you go to and participate in lots of races these are some of the subtle differences that make things better or worse.
1. Starting Chip Mat for Running Races: This applies to races such as a 5K running race. The races that are smaller and have a few hundred people sometimes don't have starting chip mat. It costs the race organizer extra to have a starting line mat. The problem is that the people who are further back in the starting pack...thus the ones that take more than 20-30 seconds to get across the starting line, are not getting an accurate reflection of their results in the finishing time. Now this is not something that I personally have to contend with because I will line up on the starting line of any race I do no matter how many people are in it. But for the middle-of-pack and back-of-packers who have trained hard to break 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 45 minutes, etc....it is very discouraging when their official results don't reflect their efforts in training and on race day.
2. Wave Starts at Triathons: I hope this does not make me sound like an old-timer, but I miss the days when your age group lines up and everyone starts together. Now it seems that every triathlon has a time-trial start. This may be safer for race organizers and less stressful for beginners, but I would argue that danger and stress are exactly what makes a wave start valuable. It took me 3 years and 25+ triathlons before I felt strong in a wave start. With all the emphasis on Ironman Triathlons these days, some people are doing a 2000+ person deep-water mass start without ever doing a 50 person beach wave start. Race organizers, please try to make wave starts part of your course design.
3. Charity Causes. 5 or 10 years ago, you might be the only person in your office or class who was training for a marathon. It was kind of cool when someone asked for donations to a special cause to accompany your hard work in training. Team in Training developed the Charity Training model and has obviously made a lucrative brand out of it. But now it seems as if there are more charity runners then there are people who
aren't doing the race. In other words, "Congratulations on doing a race for this-that-or-another charity, but so is everyone else." If you are going to train and do an event for charity----or start a new event and tie it to a bill it as a fundraiser----make sure it is very unique and interesting. Otherwise don't try to milk a worn-out old cow.
4. Last minute course adjustments. This is actually a compliment I have. Lately there have been some races where the course was shortened at the last minute due to impending stormy weather. I think this is a GREAT innovation. In past years, they just started the race and you tried to survive it. The average participant should not be exposed to severe weather. By shortening the race course, organizers can still complete the event and participants can cross the finish line. This is an appropriate development for safety and an excellent innovation.
5. Ironman Texas is $600 general entry. Go indie (Rev 3, Vineman, Beach 2 Battleship, Great Floridian.)
6. Triathlon Magazines. Triathlete Magazine which owns the market share of this category is WAY too dense for the average triathlete. I very much enjoy Triathlete (and Inside Tri) over the years and have been reading both for 15 years so I have some basis for this observation. But the average beginner-intermediate triathlete is going to get bogged down in the attempt to present hard-core scientific articles. Triathlete magazine needs to keep the material user-friendly, and a little shorter than an encyclopedia. In the meantime consider adding Bicycling and Running Times to your subscription list.
7. Equipment AND learn how to use it....I've been to some triathlons lately. Nothing makes me more frustrated as a coach then to see triathletes who have clearly dropped some $$$ on bikes, shoes, apparel, entry fees, etc but clearly do not have the skills to match. I call this "earning" your bike. Some areas that are clues if you have the appropriate skills include: bicycle handling, smooth transitions, form in swim-bike-run, good ettiquette, and overall fitness. Don't cut corners, and don't re-invent the wheel. You will feel much better when you improve YOU first, then add the equipment upgrades afterwards.
