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Took a wrong turn...
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jackattack
May 11, 03 16:14
Post #1 of 11 (2107 views)
So I had my first race ever this past weekend. It happened to also be the first time this event was held. It was a sprint Duathlon. I happened to start the bike in the second pack after the run. I was making great time on the bike, and then a group of riders 30 seconds ahead of me starting turning around. Apparently I was following a group that had taken a wrong turn (actually, there was no marshall to direct the turn, nor any signs or paint), and hadn't figured it out until we were well off course. I then immediately turned around and saw a long line of riders that were following us.

After a minute or so of digesting what had happened, I started yelling out to the oncoming riders that they were going the wrong way and to turn around. I did this for maybe 10-15 people, then I stopped. I stopped because I figured the people behind me would pass the message along, but also because I felt that these people would have an advantage over me and make up time. After thinking about it today, I feel I made the wrong decision. My priorities should have been with making sure everyone knew that we were on roads that didn't have marshalls directing traffic and telling people where to go, there were no marshalls at any intersections. I'm not sure if anyone after me got even more lost or hurt because I didn't say anything, but I'm embarrassed and disappointed in myself that I worried more about my own race than the safety of others. I won't make this mistake again.

The other thing that I question is the fact that the lead guys that had gone the wrong way got into a pack and started working together to get back to the transition. It just so happened that we had a strong tailwind taking us the wrong way, so the headwind coming back was tough to fight. So now a group that I was making time on took off on me. I realize that it sucks there was no one directing the turn, but is it ethical to get in a pack under these circumstances.

I guess I had to get this off my chest, but also I wanted to see what others have done or seen in these types of situations.
---------------------------------------------------------

"What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind and body can achieve; and those who stay will be champions."
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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Joe M
May 11, 03 18:50
Post #2 of 11 (2071 views)
Forget guilt... or regret... the responsibility of knowing the course is each triathlete... In fact, it's not the responsibility of the RD to provide anything but a properly noted map of the course (...although, it would be dumb for a RD not to provide good directions and course signs/markings).

It's never ethical (or accepted as an exception) to draft. The simple truth is that you make a wrong turn... you correct the error and the rules still apply. It's not your responsibility to correct others error.... besides, what if it had turned out you were wrong.

Joe Moya
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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jTenniswood
May 12, 03 2:32
Post #3 of 11 (2033 views)
Shit happens Jack. I think drafting to get yourself back onto the correct course would be acceptable, after you reached the course, drafting should not occur. I am almost embarrassed to say that I know and ride with the rider that began the wrong turn, he explained to me that a County Sheriff was at the intersection until he was called away to an emergency. Sometimes I think this guy can be somewhat of an AIR HEAD at times as well. Anyway better luck next time.

Jeff T
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [jTenniswood] [ In reply to ]
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jackattack
May 12, 03 5:36
Post #4 of 11 (1996 views)
I don't have a problem with whoever went the wrong way first. I'm just as responsible as he is for not paying attention more at the race meeting. I heard them repeatedly say we had to turn into the Oakwoods park, and I know the area, but when everyone went straight I assumed I missed something at the meeting. I'm not sure why there wasn't a sign there on the side of the road.

The scary thing is that people were blowing through stop signs at un-marshalled intersections, and I feel like I should have warned everyone that we were going the wrong way as they went by me in the other direction. I realize that everyone is responsible for themselves, but at the same time, people make mistakes. Someone getting hurt because of a simple mistake like this isn't worth me staying in front of them.

Thanks for the info, I wondered why the Sheriff wasn't there.

Jack
---------------------------------------------------------

"What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind and body can achieve; and those who stay will be champions."
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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beepbeep
May 12, 03 7:04
Post #5 of 11 (1951 views)
I think I was about the 4th or 5th person to go straight through the intersection instead of turning. I just blame myself because I wasn't listening too close during the race meeting figuring I would be following everyone else like I have done so many times before in races without a problem. Lesson learned.

Jerry
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The wrong turn. [ In reply to ]
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Tom Demerly
May 12, 03 8:55
Post #6 of 11 (1873 views)
I was the announcer for this event. I spoke for 5:23 (I timed it) about the primary hazards on the course which included:

1. Right turn into Oakwood Metro Park.
2. Railroad crossing in Oakwood Metro Park.
3. Deviation onto bike path on return to Willow Metro Park from Oakwood Metro Park.

Again, I spoke for five minutes and twenty three seconds on these topics. I said, among other things, "Despite these instructions, I know some of you will still miss the turn." Some people did.

Clearly, the race director could have provided better marshalling at this key intersection. But he did not. We knew he would not prior to the start of the race. We said this intersection would be a problem.

This is deeply disappointing to me. I can't pinpoint precisely why. I'm disappointed the race director did not provide better marshalling. I'm disappointed racers did not spend two minutes reviewing the race map (included in their packet) before the event. I'm disappointed few people listened to me or race director Kenny Krell in the pre race briefing. You could chalk this up to lessons learned, but I am not happy with that. This is a lesson learned a long. long time ago. USAT rules dictate "It is incumbent on the athlete to know the course." However, my philosophy on race direction is that race directors are in the entertainment business, providing an entertainment product to participants. When things like this happen, it compromises the participants quality of experience. That is disappointing to me. Very disappointing. I'm not sure what else to say. It was a diappointing end to a disappointing week.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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Fleck
May 12, 03 9:43
Post #7 of 11 (1824 views)
In my many years in the sport, I have seen and experienced it all.

Fortunatly these days races are much better run. However, back in the early days it was not the case. Over the years I have gotton completely lost, sometimes while leading a race. I have been directed totally off course by cops( who's going to argue with the police). I have been directed off-course by race offcials. I have followed race directional indicators that where clearly wrong( "I could have sworn we were supposed to go left back there!")

I recall one race years ago that late in the run the lead group of 3 of us realized that we were way off course, but we decided amongst ourselves that we would make our own route back to the finish-line. Perhaps the first adventure race ever!!

I recall another race where I was in the lead and hammering along on the run, when the race director pulls up beside me in the car and asks, "What are you doing? You are two concessions off the route. Follow me to the finishline" OK Pal.

Now RD's wash their hands of the directional and marshalling issue by defering to the rule that clearly states thet it is the athletes responsibility to know the course - full stop. That's great and I accept and agree with this, but what happens when it is a race offcial or a cop or an improperly marked course that leads one off the course! Whose "responsibility" is that? These things still do happen, although thankfully, to a lesser degree than they did years ago
Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
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Re: The wrong turn. [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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jackattack
May 12, 03 10:08
Post #8 of 11 (1817 views)
That's the crazy thing about the race. I've cycled Willow and Oakwoods 3 times in the past month AND I heard you talk about the turn into Oakwoods. You would think that by the time I got to the intersection at Willow and Huron, or even by the time my computer said 7 miles and we weren't heading back yet, all these things would stop me right there, but I continued to follow everyone all the way out to Sibley road. It was kind of comical to turn around and see all those people behind me. I was just cruising at 25 mph with that tailwind having a great time, then we turned around and had to face that headwind and the reality that we had just majorly screwed up.

While I definitely think there were steps the RD could have taken to help prevent this, I understand that there were a lot of factors that contributed to the situation (heavy rain keeping volunteers away, an emergency call to the sheriff at the turn in question, a new event, lack of attention by racers,etc.).

I didn't post the message here to complain about the race, actually I posted it to see what other people would have done in the same situation. I had a good time at the race, and I'm glad I did it, it was great experience for me.
---------------------------------------------------------

"What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind and body can achieve; and those who stay will be champions."
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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TooSlow
May 12, 03 11:19
Post #9 of 11 (1788 views)
Sorry to sat it has happened to me. A buddy and I did a 50 mile race that turned into a 70 mile "adventure" - we were in 3 & 4th place at the time. We learned the next that the guys in 1 & 2nd place only went 60 miles (under police escort), we declares ourselves the winners ;-)

On the better side (I hope that none of you were there...) I was doing a local USCF road race a few years back and was taunting the pack off the front. Well the pack decided that they should take a left turn behind me. Yep, the whole pack took a wrong turn with me in the front. I slipped a 20 mile TT mode @ 23.5mph and proceeded to finish 2 minutes in front of the pack to win. In defense, my buddies were slightly blocking the pack.
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Re: Took a wrong turn... [Jack in Mi] [ In reply to ]
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nosmo king
May 12, 03 11:33
Post #10 of 11 (1777 views)
Similar story, but on the swim leg--Last summer I was in a local sprint tri, in the second wave. While waiting on the beach to start, we all watched the lead swimmer in Wave 1 bypass the second bouy and take a diagonal heading over to the third buoy, cutting about 100 yards off the swim course. About half the pack (20-30 people) followed him (Swim Drafters?). Some eventually realized their mistake and went back around the second buoy, but most did not. After the race, the RD asked all those who bypassed the second buoy to report in for a 1 minute penalty. He only got about two volunteers, so he ended up not assessing any penalties. While this didn't affect my placement since I was in a different age group, I felt it showed a real lack of integrity on the part of those who shorted the course. I used to golf, and found out there is a difference between a golfer and someone who plays golf. A golfer will assess his own penalties without being watched while a person who plays golf will not. Sort of like the saying that "Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking."
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Re: The wrong turn. [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Matt Berner
May 12, 03 13:34
Post #11 of 11 (1706 views)
You know the disappointing thing is that Kenny very casualy mention in is post race result page that he did not have a enough volunters. I think we went the wrong way coming into T2 as well. I think as race sponsor should be ready for almost any case especially one that has been around a while. Recruit people from the crowd? I don't know but I wasn't to happy, especially because I think there was enough time to change the transition area from the swamp to the big parking lot. We as racers could have helped move the racks and what not. I think it was a poor showing on Kenny's part. The Roads out the park were a little to be desired as well. We were coming into T2 and there was a spectaors car right where we were coming thru the gate? No one there even saying anything. But I tell you there were some fast runner's there. Too bad I'm not one, yet.
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