With all the buzz over IMC becoming Challenge Penticton, the one piece that caught my eye was the relay aspect. And I'm really not sure how I feel about that.
Do they get to say they did an Ironman, or whatever the new term is, Ironchallenged? Can you imagine how it's going to feel on the run, after you've swam miles 2.4 AND biked 112, to have some one in their run gear go flying past you on fresh legs?
Before Sunday's race I was talking with a very sweet woman maybe in her late 50s that mentioned she did a half-Iron last year. At first I was impressed, then she mentioned that "she did the swim portion" referring to a relay.
Personally, I think the relay concept is horribly flawed. It shouldn't be each do a leg, it should be each do a third of the leg, you know, like a relay. Which would probably only work on courses with three loops.
It also seems like it goes completely against the very concept of triathlon. Now it's just an early swim race for some, a nice bike race for a few others, and a bizarrely late marathon for the rest, none of who are triathletes. Why not just offer those three as stand alone races for anyone that feels like just doing just that part?
I also couldn't imagine having to be the runner. You'd sit around for anywhere from 5 to 10.5 hours wondering where your cyclist buddy is. Then I'd assume they'd call your number, "359, your cyclist is approaching, number 359 please make your way to the transition area." I figure you'd get those little pagers you get at restaurants.
Now that I think of it, why would you even need to bother waiting for your other person. Just start the swimmer, biker, and runner all at the same time, or at designated times. Do you really even need a hand off? It's not like there is a baton to drop.
Okay so I've now put at least 4min of thought into this, and decided the relay should be 421.8 miles, now THAT would be impressive, like Ragnar. A guy jumps in the water and swims 2.4 miles down the river. The rest of the team drives down to meet him/her so the next person gets in, swim another 2.4 and so on and so on. Everyone bikes a few legs, then runs a few legs. It would almost be the distance from San Diego to San Francisco!
Thoughts?
Do they get to say they did an Ironman, or whatever the new term is, Ironchallenged? Can you imagine how it's going to feel on the run, after you've swam miles 2.4 AND biked 112, to have some one in their run gear go flying past you on fresh legs?
Before Sunday's race I was talking with a very sweet woman maybe in her late 50s that mentioned she did a half-Iron last year. At first I was impressed, then she mentioned that "she did the swim portion" referring to a relay.
Personally, I think the relay concept is horribly flawed. It shouldn't be each do a leg, it should be each do a third of the leg, you know, like a relay. Which would probably only work on courses with three loops.
It also seems like it goes completely against the very concept of triathlon. Now it's just an early swim race for some, a nice bike race for a few others, and a bizarrely late marathon for the rest, none of who are triathletes. Why not just offer those three as stand alone races for anyone that feels like just doing just that part?
I also couldn't imagine having to be the runner. You'd sit around for anywhere from 5 to 10.5 hours wondering where your cyclist buddy is. Then I'd assume they'd call your number, "359, your cyclist is approaching, number 359 please make your way to the transition area." I figure you'd get those little pagers you get at restaurants.
Now that I think of it, why would you even need to bother waiting for your other person. Just start the swimmer, biker, and runner all at the same time, or at designated times. Do you really even need a hand off? It's not like there is a baton to drop.
Okay so I've now put at least 4min of thought into this, and decided the relay should be 421.8 miles, now THAT would be impressive, like Ragnar. A guy jumps in the water and swims 2.4 miles down the river. The rest of the team drives down to meet him/her so the next person gets in, swim another 2.4 and so on and so on. Everyone bikes a few legs, then runs a few legs. It would almost be the distance from San Diego to San Francisco!
Thoughts?
