I really didn’t want to have to do this. I would have preferred to keep this issue private. However, recent events have dictated that I bring this to a public forum so that the triathlon world can see how a guy who simply followed the rules got (and is still getting) screwed.
First, a little background: I raced the Fla Half last weekend. I finished 5th OA amateur - 2nd in my age group. I fully intended to take the Kona slot that I earned. At the award ceremony, I was unpleasantly surprised to find that I had been dropped out the top 5 in my age group due to a 12 minute penalty. My slot was given away to someone else. I quickly found one of the referees and asked him what the Rule 1.4 violation that I received was. He told me it was for not wearing a shirt on the bike leg. I, along with 7 or so others, did not wear a shirt on the bike. I then asked where in the rule books (USAT, INMA, Fla Half and associated race websites) it specifically states that one must wear a shirt on the bike. NOWHERE, that’s where! On Monday a.m, I emailed the Head Referee and IMNA to 1) verify my penalty and 2) to please show me where the bare torso rule on the bike is written. The Head Referee emailed me back and stated that they accidentally double counted my penalty. It should have only been 4 minutes instead of 12! I would have retained my 2nd place spot with a 4 minute penalty! I would have been given the Kona slot too! Nobody was able to point out a written bare torso rule for the bike.
This vague little rule: OK. I admit. I’m a IMNA newbie. Prior to last week, I never raced an IMNA event. The day before the race, I diligently read the Athlete Guide and IMNA Race Rules. In both of these publications, there is no mention of wearing a shirt on the bike. However, it specifically states in the run section: “Runners must wear race number at all times on the course. Race numbers issued by IRONMAN identify the official contestants in the race…NOTE; SHOES AND COVERED TORSOS ARE REQUIRED AS PER DISPENSATION OF USAT RULES AT IRONMAN NORTH AMERICA EVENTS.”
Well, I did wear a shirt on the run as was required.
Now, here is where the fun starts: I received a call today from the race director. He started the conversation asking first if I agreed that my penalty was valid. I said that no, I don’t think it was valid. His response was that only 7 out of 1900 people didn’t wear a shirt. Therefore, I should have inferred that the bare torso rule applied to the bike. I responded that if the onus was on me to infer, then I could have inferred that the bare torso rule was in effect on the swim as well. He then went on to accuse my wife of running into the transition area during the race and giving me a shirt to wear on the run (so the rumor goes, he says.) This is where I get really pissed off. That is one big bullshit lie of a rumor. And I would defend that with my life.
I was also told that it costs $1500 to acquire a slot from WTC. The RD basically ‘offered’ a slot to me if I was willing to pay half of this amount in addition to the $450 entry fee. I said no to that as well. We pretty much ended the call right there.
The fact that I got screwed out of a Kona slot because race management was incapable of providing clear race rules is one thing. The fact that they will not admit this failure is another. But to accuse my wife and myself of somehow cheating and then asking me to cough up an extra $750 for a Kona slot is at a whole different unacceptable level.
If this is the way that IRONMAN NORTH AMERICA chooses to conduct itself, to admit no wrong when it is clearly wrong, to sully its accusers wife, and then to expect the wronged to pay more money then I don’t want a part of it. Their actions are undeniably piss poor.
I was simply a guy who trained his butt off to particpate in this event and hopefully earn a spot to Kona. I followed the rules. I didn’t want to be a pain in the ass. I just thought I’d receive a little fairness. Guess that’s asking too much.