My name is Zach Winchester, and I have formerly competed as an elite. I qualified for my elite license in 2009 and subsequently had a few decent races. I was excited about my elite career. After two years of racing I was battling some medical issues , so I hung up my cap. I had an intense knee surgery, two colonoscopies (with not-so-fun results), got married and started working full time. I would love to attempt a triathlon in my future, but given certain circumstances there is no way I could box like I used to. Are you telling me that I must race as an elite even though my old, crippled and out of shape ass might barely be able to cross the finish line? What else am I supposed to do? Never show up to the sport that meant so much to me for so many years?

In bike racing I've raced against a former world champion and Olympian. She beat me. I rode a personal best.

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I think you're really failing to realize that Susan Williams is an EX-pro. She hasn't raced professionally in SEVEN years!!!!!
After that kind of break it's up to her whether she wants to try to get back to the pro level or just have some fun racing age group cats.

If you want a skill based categorization system (like cycling) then maybe you would have a debate. But I think you are failing to see how self-centered your argument really is looking to most of us. There is not some huge amount of ex-pros who are just running the tables at USAT nats. You're singling out one. Frankly, it's stupid issues like this that are one of the major reasons that most of us former pros stop doing triathlon all together!

I enjoy a challenge. Let me try to interpret this post by drohc.



Apparently drohc feels that his level of participation (or ability?) in events consisting of swimming, biking, and running, qualifies him to call himself a triathlete. Also, he likes to preface this statement by calling you a "Dude."



I think drohc is saying that, because he thinks he is a triathlete, that your arguments regarding an unrelated issue (e.g., whether it is fair that SW competed at nationals in the AG category) are invalid. Thus, he wonders if you will concede that he is right on all points regarding this unrelated issue.



Drohc would like to know which races you will be competing in this year. Apparently, drohc feels that the races you plan to compete in have some bearing on the validity of any arguments you might raise regarding the unrelated issue mentioned above.



Drohc feels that he has not only raised an issue of profound significance to AG athletes, but to "Elite" athletes as well. The "idea surrounding [his] original question" appears to be that certain particularly fast individuals should not be able to compete in the AG category. This, of course, means that these particularly fast individuals would have to compete in the Elite category (if they competed at all). It follows that the Elite category would become more competitive and Elites would now have to not only defeat other Elites, but also these particularly fast individuals who would rather be competing in the AG category. Drohc feels that Elites would fear this new "policy" because they would have to contend with these particularly fast individuals who have been prevented from participating as AG athletes.

Note: In the above interpretation, I'm assuming drohc is a man. I could be wrong though.

I hope this clears up some of what Drohc is trying to say. Please let me know if you need further assistance with interpretations.

What's even more interesting is that a friend of drohc raced AG Nationals last year in the same AG as Susan Williams and was obviously beaten by her. Makes you wonder what this is really about.

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But by excluding SW, you're making it an UNFAIR playing field. Don't you see that?
You're also forcing out a great ambassador for the sport.

Actually, I did not get my butt kicked, but who cares.

I do not understand your questions. Do I still race today? Why not, I am racing against myself and my abilities. I cannot control others and who cares, this is a hobby for fun.

.

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I have about 14 friends beaten by her last year. Like I mentioned earlier, there was alot of comments made after the awards ceremony last year that rasied the question. Should an Elite/Pro/Olympian race against AG'ers?

There are so many things wrong with this statement that I need to memorialize it.

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Over the past couple of decades, Lance Armstrong has had a much better support and development network than any professional triathlete I can think (something he earned BTW, good for him). When he started racing triathlon again, most pros were excited at the opportunity to test themselves against him. Racing is a competition, imposing rules limiting competition runs counter to the spirit of racing.

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Forcing out? Stop drinking the cool-aid, just re-arranging.

Even h20fun disagrees with the guy! I think this thread needs to be locked :)

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Again, not limiting just re-arranging. Lance was a Pro in Cycling and, races Pro!

That's your threshold for calling someone (assuming they are male) elite?

Weak.

Would this change in policy affect your training business?

And here is the crux of the whole issue. drohc has his panties in a bunch because he, or more likely his friend that was in SW's AG, didn't get to go to worlds. Too bad. You want to go to worlds then expect to beat the best in the country. Not get a handout or have it made easier for you. Wanting something like that is such the antithesis of competition its beyond me how anybody who would want to earn a spot to compete at a world championship could feel like they deserved to compete there after having excluded anybody they felt was "too fast" for them to beat.

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You obviously have not been in the Lavandar Room.
Didn't you know that ST IS the general consensus?

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You don't get that people at the top level who would be earning a worlds slot are interested in competition. Not just checking off a box that says they got to race worlds. You want to get there then earn it. You only want it re-arranged to make something easy that shouldn't be.

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This guy should have a talk with Adam Carolla....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GmsCdyGD00

This one makes my head spin.

• You have enough info for what? What info did you get here that you plan to put into your fabled letter to USAT? If you cite this shitstorm to USAT your credibility will be shot. Ditto if you don't clean up your spelling and use of punctuation.
• You're asking hard questions?
• "Look deep inside"??? Oh my.
• If someone wants to go to worlds then they'd better prove they belong there. It may be "easy" to get to Nationals but getting beyond that should be reserved for those that truly excel.