I recently completed an online survey from WTC. One of the questions was whether I cared about people picking up their kids from the crowd and carrying them across the finish line. Do people really care about this? I’ve done 4 IMs and at every race people have done this. It didn’t affect me one bit. Who really cares??
Hmmm, yeah, this topic has never been visited before.
I think it is great when family can share the experience.
There was a cool article in Triathlete about this a few months back that got a lot of people stirred up. I think if you are beyond a certain time and you’re not getting in the way of other racers, they carry away!
It takes a lot of time and commitment from the athletes and their families to get to that spot, why not take them along for the big moment.
As long as they don’t interfere with other competitors I don’t see a problem. Hopefully it will help motivate the children to get active and participate in physical activities.
I recently completed an online survey from WTC. One of the questions was whether I cared about people picking up their kids from the crowd and carrying them across the finish line. Do people really care about this? I’ve done 4 IMs and at every race people have done this. It didn’t affect me one bit. Who really cares??
I have no problem with race finishers picking up their own kids and carrying them across the line. However, I am opposed to race finishers picking up random children in the crowd and crossing the finish line with them. This has gotten out of hand and we have to put a stop to it.
Don’t mind it as long as it isn’t interferring with others trying to finish. I was watching some of the finishes yesterday waiting for a friend and some dude decided to stop, pickup his kids, and carry them across the finish line. As people were swerving to get around him or just plain stopping behind the family. While everyone looked cool with it I can’t imagine being 5 feet from the finish line and have to stop while someone gathered up kids and crossed the finish line. Screws up the finish line photo. 
All 282 posts of that particular thread…enjoy!
It boils down to sportsmanship. If grabbing your kids, your grandmother, the dog and your mailman to share the experience of crossing the finish line with you doesn’t compromise anyone else’s hard-won finish (and photo)- then by all means- celebrate! But if there are a large number of finishers headed into the final mile with you and you sense the finish chute will be crowded- show some consideration and cross as a good sports(wo)mam with the rest of athletes.
i just completed my first at IMCDA after 9 months of neglecting a 20 month old and my 3 month pregnant wife. I finished sub 12 and crossed the line with wife and child in tow. Did I interfere with anyone else…no I actually let another guy go by and enjoyed the last 50 meters of the finish chute with my wife and child. I’d do the same thing again unless I was racing for money. The pictures and memory alone were worth every extra second it took to cross the line. Do I care what someone else thinks…no.
Why people take their families to an IM is beyond me. It’s not really a vacation. I think taking your young kids to an IM, having them wait for 12-17 hours in the heat or rain or whatever while you finish is the real travesty. They get to see you in T1, T2, and maybe once or twice on the course. Most boring spectating sport in the world.
I don’t see any issues with carrying them across the line. But please try to keep them home.
Do I care what someone else thinks…no.<<
Nice attitude. MEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
People carrying kids are a danger to themselves and others and should be shot and thrown in the same pit of despair with all the ipod wearers and dog owners.
I wanted to share my opinion about this with you all, except that:
- I’m friends with the baby-stroller-across-the-Kona-finish-line guy and his family.
- I coach the first-guy-across-the-finish-line-carrying-a-baby at IMAZ 2006.
- I coach this guy who carried his baby when he won a sprint last week.
So yeah, my hands are kind of tied here…
**I coach this guy who carried his baby when he won a sprint last week. **
Where on his wetsuit did he carry the baby? That is impressive indeed!
I agree with you 100%…as long as everyone else gets their pictures it is all good with me.
pit of despair with dog owners? Where does Mikey Vick fall into the big picture?
People carrying kids are a danger to themselves and others and should be shot and thrown in the same pit of despair with all the ipod wearers and dog owners.
You forgot the smokers, fat people and 16 hour finshers!
Sue Bonness
No attitude really. I was sitting here with my wife as I was typing this and we were laughing because she too is a triathlete and IM is a goal of the two of us. I was very aware of my surroundings and was sure not to impede anothers progress or block someone elses photo. I didn’t actually carry my daughter because I was too tired. If it was all memememe then I would have crossed without them 
I clicked on this thread hoping there’d be a new funny video of some guy stumbling at the finish line with his family on his back. Those are comedy gold.