MAIN INDEX RULES & LEGEND LOG IN  

Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Vineman Half IM swim course question

 
   
Tri ForumTri
ClassifiedsClassifieds
Lavender RoomLavender
JobsJobs
The WomensWomens
NoticesNotices


mediocreathlete

Jul 17, 12 11:21

Post #1 of 16 (1420 views)
Vineman Half IM swim course question Quote | Reply
A friend of mine said that it's easy to cheat/cut buoys on the Vineman swim course (he's never done it, that's just what he's heard from other athletes). Having never done the race or seen how the swim is set up, how valid is this claim? Normally I figure it's hard to cheat during a swim (minus sneak-using a pull buoy or fins or something) and cut corners since you'd be pretty easy to spot by volunteers but I'm curious to hear what those of you who've raced there/know the course have to say.

(Also, I'm not asking so I can cheat next year or anything like that, was just curious.)

Mediocre Athlete: Stumbling across the finish line since 2008.
http://www.mediocreathlete.com


Dave Latourette

Jul 17, 12 11:31

Post #2 of 16 (1401 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mediocreathlete] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Is it possible to cheat? sure ... Easy? Not Likely ... with the volume of kayaks patrolling making sure athletes stay "outside" the buoys and that athletes stay safe ... the water safety and course crew is very good.
-------------------------
Dave Latourette
http://www.traintoendure.com
http://www.davelatourette.blogspot.com


Trieatalot

Jul 17, 12 11:44

Post #3 of 16 (1382 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mediocreathlete] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Two years ago, a friend of mine was accused by race officials of cutting the course due to her swim time that was 5-8 minutes faster than anyone else in her wave (or possibly the entire race). She was guilty until she could prove herself innocent by showing her "resume" including her past participation on the Olympic swim team.

My point is the race officials are aware it is probably easier and more tempting to cut the course since it is an out and back with only 8-10 feet separating the directions in some places, so they look for outliers in swim times and as the previous poster said, there are kayaks stationed everywhere on the course.

It is possible to run a good portion of the course especially at the turnaround but I'm not sure that would be considered cheating ;-)
Trieatalot

http://tricycliststempo.blogspot.com/
A somewhat humorous multisport blog


AwesomePossum

Jul 17, 12 12:05

Post #4 of 16 (1338 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mediocreathlete] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
the lifeguards were very good with monitoring the center line. Whenever someone swam crooked even near the center, they'd block them with their paddles. You would have to be pretty bold and stupid to actually cheat here.


mediocreathlete

Jul 17, 12 12:11

Post #5 of 16 (1324 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [Trieatalot] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
My friend knows someone who raced at Vineman and posted a swim split that's 5 minutes faster than his previous best, hence the suspicion that the guy cut the course somehow. I don't think it was suspiciously fast enough to garner the attention of the race officials, but it was a pretty big leap that put the swim split close to pro times.

Mediocre Athlete: Stumbling across the finish line since 2008.
http://www.mediocreathlete.com


mediocreathlete

Jul 17, 12 12:31

Post #6 of 16 (1298 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [AwesomePossum] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
AwesomePossum wrote:
Whenever someone swam crooked even near the center, they'd block them with their paddles.

Haha, I picture the Santa Claus from 'A Christmas Story' pushing kids down the slide via a boot to their heads.

Mediocre Athlete: Stumbling across the finish line since 2008.
http://www.mediocreathlete.com


tbrahana

Jul 17, 12 12:39

Post #7 of 16 (1291 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mediocreathlete] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
There were a lot of kayaks that I think would prevent sneaking across. A potential way to resolve whether someone did or not is to ask about the turn-around buoy. They didn't publicize how it would be marked in advance, so you could just ask anyone suspected of cheating what was special about the turn around point. I, for one, just kept swimming, and lo and behold finally there was a bouy with balloons on it. I guess it also helped that the people in front of me started turning there, too...

But the times were fast there this year, no doubt.


mallaire1

Jul 17, 12 12:50

Post #8 of 16 (1273 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mediocreathlete] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
I was in the very last wave (M42-44) on Sunday and the turn around point is in about 3 feet of water. A lot of people were walking just because it was easier than swimming, me included. I literally watched a guy cut the first buoy short by about 4', swim toward the second buoy and then cut that one by about 2'. Sort of a "U" turn versus a square turn. I laughed and said "nice course cutting" but the guy floundered on. I dolphin dived a few times until it got deeper and then left him behind me.


Trieatalot

Jul 17, 12 13:31

Post #9 of 16 (1228 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [mallaire1] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Was that a dolphin dive? Looked to me more like a drunken manatee.


lmicah3

Jul 24, 12 9:26

Post #10 of 16 (1052 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [trifaster] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Hey Dave.... any more information on water temps? Leaving tomorrow and trying to decide which wetsuit/ speedsuit combo to pack.

Thanks!


ppd2003

Jul 24, 12 10:09

Post #11 of 16 (1007 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [lmicah3] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
I think the water temp was ~71 or 72 degrees when I did the swim a couple weekends ago at Vineman 70.3. You should be fine (i.e. no overheating) in a full wetsuit.

If you go to vineman.com and click the "Forum" tab it will take you to the active.com event forum. The RD (or someone affiliated with the race) has a thread regarding the water temp where they post it every couple days.


lmicah3

Jul 24, 12 10:11

Post #12 of 16 (1001 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [ppd2003] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Hey, thanks for the reply. I've been debating full or sleeveless. And I've been monitoring the forum but there has been a water temp update in quite some time.


Canyon93108

Jul 24, 12 10:40

Post #13 of 16 (982 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [lmicah3] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Water is still around 70. Thankfully it looks like the fog has returned, so it should stay around 69-70 for Saturday.


ojorgenson

Jul 24, 12 21:04

Post #14 of 16 (903 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [ppd2003] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
This is my second trip to Vineman and last year I only had a sleeveless, which worked fine but with warmer water. I liked the freedom of movement with the sleeveless and my new full-sleeve suit is pretty flexible. For a mid-pack swimmer, is the full suit considered advantageous compared to sleeveless (i.e. better buoyancy, hydrodynamics, whatever)?


gemnilocs

Jul 25, 12 19:35

Post #15 of 16 (805 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [Trieatalot] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
yeah If you are tall, the turn around almost forces you to stand up. with each stroke I was grabbing rocks. lol just finished Vineman 70.3 this year...my very first half and it was a great day and race.
you're stronger than you think


torrey

Jul 25, 12 20:20

Post #16 of 16 (784 views)
Re: Vineman Half IM swim course question [ojorgenson] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
As long as it fits and you don't get too hot, a full suit is going to be faster.

   
 
 
 
Cycling shoe footbeds
Do you have or are you considering custom cycling shoe footbeds?
Don't have, don't see the value
Don't have, might want
Do have, me likey
Tried them, didn't help
Haven't thought about it