For those that are dissatisfied with the cutoffs to be an Ironman, currently the ultimate standard of multisport ego-boosting there is to offer, I offer you this fictional race format:
An iron distance (or other distance, whatever) triathlon with an 80/20 rule cut off applied at each leg of the triathlon. Anybody who finishes a leg of the triathlon within the top 80% by gender, is allowed to continue. All others, do not "make the cut." To illustrate, you start with 1000 people, only 800 continue on to the bike, then 640 continue on to the run and only 512 are allowed to finish that. That's right. Merely 51.2% of starters are allowed to call themselves "finishers." The rest, those too slow on any particular leg of the race, don't make the cut. Once the top 80% finish, a sag wagon bus goes and collects the remainder. Finishing means something in this race and you can't suck too much in any one event.
Just think of the unexpected benefits of the format-- less time commitment for kayakers and other volunteers on the course. Sure, you'd really have to have the right kind of bike course and plenty of officials. Get caught drafting? You're out. No excuses.
This kind of race wouldn't be for everyone and it would certainly change some people's pacing decisions, but how cool would it be to call oneself a finisher of such an event? Very cool.
__________________________
http://www.aliciaparr.com/blog
http://www.performentor.com
Yes, I too am on Facebook. And LinkedIn. And Twitter. Which begs the question - do I exist in the physical world? Do I?
An iron distance (or other distance, whatever) triathlon with an 80/20 rule cut off applied at each leg of the triathlon. Anybody who finishes a leg of the triathlon within the top 80% by gender, is allowed to continue. All others, do not "make the cut." To illustrate, you start with 1000 people, only 800 continue on to the bike, then 640 continue on to the run and only 512 are allowed to finish that. That's right. Merely 51.2% of starters are allowed to call themselves "finishers." The rest, those too slow on any particular leg of the race, don't make the cut. Once the top 80% finish, a sag wagon bus goes and collects the remainder. Finishing means something in this race and you can't suck too much in any one event.
Just think of the unexpected benefits of the format-- less time commitment for kayakers and other volunteers on the course. Sure, you'd really have to have the right kind of bike course and plenty of officials. Get caught drafting? You're out. No excuses.
This kind of race wouldn't be for everyone and it would certainly change some people's pacing decisions, but how cool would it be to call oneself a finisher of such an event? Very cool.
__________________________
http://www.aliciaparr.com/blog
http://www.performentor.com
Yes, I too am on Facebook. And LinkedIn. And Twitter. Which begs the question - do I exist in the physical world? Do I?