I raced the 70.3 Nationals yesterday in Stony Point, NY. There was the Long Course nationals triathlon, duathlon and Aquabike all on the same day and all on the same course.
The swim was cancelled on Wednesday before the race - about 4 days before race start. There were also a few races on Saturday where the swim was cancelled as well. This was all due to algae in the water. Iâve been doing triathlons for 30 years and never remember and single cancelled swim from the early 90âs until just a few years ago, but I guess thatâs the way of the world right now.
Anyway, beyond that, I just feel like this is a forgotten race. Where as at Texas Multisport nationals and Milwaukee - Sprint and Olympic, there were USAT representatives there and social medial posts celebrating the overall winners and a large expo - at Long Course Nationals - there was essentially nothing. Like really NOTHING.
* The âExpoâ was one small tent full of Toughman bike jerseys and long-sleeve t-shirts. That was it.
* If one was able to win a National Championship, they ran out of âNational Championsâ Jerseys quickly and we were told âWe have XXL and womens sizes only left overâ. So all these men had to take home womens shirts. This was REALLY disappointing. Say what you want, but for those that worked hard and won, taking home a womens shirt just wasnât right.
* There were NO bike marshals on the course at all. None. I checked with a few people and NO ONE received a penalty of any kind. (Sort of like a PTO race but colder).
* Just the whole experience felt very âsmall town race-likeâ. I understand you can only race who shows up but this WAS a national championship race with national championship fees and such people came from all over the United States to race this.
* the volunteers were AMAZING - especially the crew from Kings Point, NY who were just all over the course cheering you on and manning every aid station. Amazing.
* But whereas in Texas they did a social media post EVERYDAY with the overall winners and such USAT did nothing. Zero. Crickets. And today - nothing. USAT totally silent.
Why does USAT ignore this race? Because it isnât mid-summer? I just donât get it. Itâs a national championship and you donât post ANYTHING at all? Nothing?
Itâs a national championship race and you donât bother bringing enough shirts to give national champions something to take home that they can wear and post and maybe increases USAT membership? Itâs a national championship race and you donât have a single draft-marshal on the bike?
Why?
The swim was cancelled on Wednesday before the race - about 4 days before race start. There were also a few races on Saturday where the swim was cancelled as well. This was all due to algae in the water. Iâve been doing triathlons for 30 years and never remember and single cancelled swim from the early 90âs until just a few years ago, but I guess thatâs the way of the world right now.
Anyway, beyond that, I just feel like this is a forgotten race. Where as at Texas Multisport nationals and Milwaukee - Sprint and Olympic, there were USAT representatives there and social medial posts celebrating the overall winners and a large expo - at Long Course Nationals - there was essentially nothing. Like really NOTHING.
* The âExpoâ was one small tent full of Toughman bike jerseys and long-sleeve t-shirts. That was it.
* If one was able to win a National Championship, they ran out of âNational Championsâ Jerseys quickly and we were told âWe have XXL and womens sizes only left overâ. So all these men had to take home womens shirts. This was REALLY disappointing. Say what you want, but for those that worked hard and won, taking home a womens shirt just wasnât right.
* There were NO bike marshals on the course at all. None. I checked with a few people and NO ONE received a penalty of any kind. (Sort of like a PTO race but colder).
* Just the whole experience felt very âsmall town race-likeâ. I understand you can only race who shows up but this WAS a national championship race with national championship fees and such people came from all over the United States to race this.
* the volunteers were AMAZING - especially the crew from Kings Point, NY who were just all over the course cheering you on and manning every aid station. Amazing.
* But whereas in Texas they did a social media post EVERYDAY with the overall winners and such USAT did nothing. Zero. Crickets. And today - nothing. USAT totally silent.
Why does USAT ignore this race? Because it isnât mid-summer? I just donât get it. Itâs a national championship and you donât post ANYTHING at all? Nothing?
Itâs a national championship race and you donât bother bringing enough shirts to give national champions something to take home that they can wear and post and maybe increases USAT membership? Itâs a national championship race and you donât have a single draft-marshal on the bike?
Why?