And just like local races where there is an elite field and it doesn't count towards age group divisions, it seems it was the same on Sunday.

TG shows up in overall, not in age group.

As I think we have all concluded here, there is a lot of confusing language that WTC is using. I am sure they didn't expect this to happen, but I am not surprised in the least bit. Just curious to see where this all goes. Are pros banned from racing these races? I think that would be very unfair, and look at TG's reasons for racing Sunday to see why.

See Jack Toland's post on the first page of this thread about Melanie McQuaid racing at her local WTC race earlier this season, Victoria 70.3. The only difference for that race and TG at IMW might be that she signed up for the race earlier.

I have not asked for any performance bonuses and I would not expect any. I didn't pump up the fact that I was going to race, nor did I ask for any special recognition post race. I was going to craft a social media message with the simple message, "occasionally as pros we get lost in the search of money and forget why we got into sport for the first place #ForTheLoveOfTheGame". But since there were no photographers there was no decent finish photo so I didn't bother.

And yes I asked if there was any special sanctioning from WTC in regards to this particular issue. There is not according to Heather. I am sure when/if Dan/Herbert do some reporting on this issue they will figure it out.

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For the record, I couldn't go anywhere because my keys where in my bag and my bag was not available to retrieve so I grabbed a laptop from a vendor and got to work. In case you don't know, there are time limits in place for filing protests about stuff and I wanted to make it known right away publicly that there was an issue and protesting it. At the race sight it didn't seem that anyone from Ironman was to interested in getting to the bottom of this quickly.

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This is not a dig against you Colin at all. For those that don't know we actually had a nice discussion post IM Racine 70.3. But it is really easy to sit there and say you are going to pull out. Had you gotten off in first and the spotlight been on you then you may have done something different - like run. Had I stopped off the bike or stopped at 13.1 I would have had so many people ask why would you drop out when you had such a big lead. I would have received the same sort of hate - likely the hate would have come from other people but there would still be a ton of hate.

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I cant figure out if you really don't get it or you really don't care or both.

BTW, I ran 18 miles on Monday. People doing an Ironman don't run 18 miles on the Monday before.


And you are coming back from injury? You are crazy and that's why I love you...

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Swimmer
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I have not read this whole thread, but Frederic Limousine, a French pro who raced in 70.3 worlds the other week, won the overall at 70.3 Hawaii this year, which did not have a pro field. He did not get age group awards but he was brought up on stage, announced as Ironman 70.3 champion and they put a huge wreath around his neck.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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Fair has nothing to do with this. It is not fair that people are more attractive, have more talent, more money, more intelligence. Life is not fair.
Of course he didn't break any rules. He did not race age group. The only difference was that in this Ironman there was no pro payout. No elite.

He did not take anything away from you or any other athlete. He had every right to race. Just as much as you. Your Gwen analogy is not valid as you had to qualify for AG nationals.

Thomas --

Let me first say that I think you're totally in the right here. Once Ironman took your registration and handed you a bib and a chip, you were legit. If you cross first, you're the winner. I'd even have no problem saying they were right to let you in.

That said, there are a few things you need to own here.

One, getting into the race two days out is not something that just anyone could have pulled off. Regardless of whether anyone else got in at the last minute, if you and I had walked into Monona Terrace together on Friday, I would have been told "sorry charlie, sold out" at the solutions desk. So you need to acknowledge the "unlevel playing field" critique, at least as it pertains to registration.

Two, the "just seeing where my knee is at" rationale is awful. You could have done that any day last week or this week, on the IM course or on any of your (our) other local routes. You didn't need a race environment for this purpose.

Three, "I would have gotten a bunch of hate if I dropped out" is obfuscating. Fact is, with the day unfolding the way it did, you probably didn't want to drop out. Seems reasonable to assume once you were leading off the bike, you wanted to finish, and you wanted to win. That's hardly something to apologize for, so don't.

All you need to say is, "I wanted to race, they let me race, so I raced to win, and I did win."

Hope that didn't come across as overly harsh. If we ever cross paths running or biking, I'd love to chat for the 60 or so seconds I could hold your recovery pace.

He dosn't get it! And around Dec 31st he'll be pounding he's chest, telling us about all the miles he's logged.......vanity is a funny thing.

100% BS

Yeah but he really kicked some serious ass this weekend tho....pink

Have u ever seen me show up to a group ride? I bring the wordt bike imaginable, almost to the point that people are embarrassed, I can assure you - vanity is not my thing.

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I think fair has everything to do with this. He didn't break rules so this wasn't cheating, but was this fair play or not?

I don't think it's fair for someone who chooses to race the WTC pro series to drop down a category to race against amateurs. Yes, it's a grey area and I can see the other side of the argument since he didn't break rules. I also understand his motivation to race, and I'm not upset he did the race. I just don't think it's fair for pros to drop down.



Yes he did. He took the overall win away. It's a race and we race for position and he took a position away.

Thomas, I think this was all very ill advised.

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Team ZOOT
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QOTD

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Fruit snacks are for winners

Why is Thomas getting so much crap for this when other pros have raced WTC races without pro fields this year and won? Is it just because he is a slowtwitch member?

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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Yes I have......I was a Bucky (but moved) and Tucson is my second home also....

So yes, I know who you are...you only came whining on ST b/c you know there is always some one willing to take the anti-ironman position. You could have just walk over to the officials, got what you needed and taken your lumps like a PRO. But that's just me.

Wrong. You can't "take any thing away" if you never had it. He earned the win. There was no pro purse or pro category but he was free to race. And win. End of story.

I must have missed those other pro's threads and podcast interview.

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-Of course it's 'effing hard, it's IRONMAN!
Team ZOOT
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That's what I mean. There were no interviews or threads that I am aware of. No one seemed to care until this.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Yep and as you said, you didn't read the whole thread, the same thing happened at Ironman Victoria 70.3 with Mel Mcquaid. She got the whole finish line experience.

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Funny to click off this thread and find this article...

http://www.ironman.com/...d.aspx#axzz3lAozGx2h

Thomas,

Can you find the terms of your annual pro membership? Why did you have to purchase separately an entry to IMWI? Where in your pro membership agreement does it say that your membership allows you to race WTC events for free and on short notice, but only for races that have a pro purse and KPR points?