My local running/biking club holds a pretty popular sprint tri (500m, 12m, 5k) every summer here in central New Mexico (Socorro, 1 hr south of ABQ). We do a time trail format that starts in our olympic pool and continues on to the run. Because of that format, we are pretty much limited to 350 participants and sell out 1+ months early.
In order to accomodate more athletes (yes, we are gluttons for punishment) it has been proposed to split the race into a men’s race on one day and a women’s race on the other day. We should then be able to take in 250 of each sex, at least, as we usually see a 50/50 split.
Our objectives are to accomodate more racers & bring more people into our small town (Socorro has about 9k in population) while maintaining a well-run race.
Pro’s
More racers, better prizes
more satisified tri community
less racers turned away
spouse can watch each other race
some spouse may even volunteer
Con’s
Almost twice the volunteer work needed (small town, too)
Some couples may not want to wait over a day to both race
less of a family feel at awards since it is only one sex
relays would have to be on one day or the other
Have to spend the night
We & the city have to really organize events for that evening (music, festival, trips to VLA)
What are your thoughts?
Would you prefer a format like this or would it turn you off?
Other ideas? I would really appreciate your feedback on thsi as our group is evenly split about the idea.
I think it might be an interesting idea to try. Between the people that do the race every year and new people that will be attracted by the new format, I’m pretty sure you won’t have less participants than in the regular format.
Also let me congratulate you for having one of the few swim-bike-run triathlons in the state
I like that idea, I got shut out of Chili Harvest this year and was not happy about it. I think that by allowing more slots like you mentioned it could also raise the competition of the event. It seems like lots of the smaller events in NM get sold out really quickly and many of the more serious athletes can’t get in. like Jay Benson and Chili Harvest as well as Milkman. I really wanted to go under an hour at Chili Harvest this year after my 1:03 for 11th OA, I wanted to try to get on the podium…but got shut out. If you can find a way to let more people in, that would be great.
Well it was worse than usual this year as we had to cut the 350 person field to 120 due to the city failing to renovate the pool in time.
I would really be interested in hearing from someone who would be have to wait an extra day to watch their spouse race. Would that be a deal breaker? that said, there aren’t that many husband-wife combos that I know about.
Thanks Paulo - I can’t stand reverse tri’s… my wife does too as she always bumped into the Clydesdales and had trouble passing.
I think it might be an interesting idea to try. Between the people that do the race every year and new people that will be attracted by the new format, I’m pretty sure you won’t have less participants than in the regular format.
Also let me congratulate you for having one of the few swim-bike-run triathlons in the state
A similar type format was performed here back in May. 2 races, one Saturday and one Sunday. Pretty much same distances, with filed limits @ 400 each. You could race either day, or do both days with special award categories for combined times. Very successful.
Here in northern CA, Envirosports is introducing this idea to us locals for the first time. In the past, they’ve done a women’s-only sprint (which ALWAYS sells out early) on one day and a half ironman the next. I guess the half-iron didn’t sell well, because this year they’re keeping the women’s race and replacing the next day’s half ironman with a men’s-only sprint tri. It might be interesting to see if the men’s tri sells out or attracts a lot of interest - or not. Dates are October 6-7.
That’s a very interesting idea if our course could pull it off.
A similar type format was performed here back in May. 2 races, one Saturday and one Sunday. Pretty much same distances, with filed limits @ 400 each. You could race either day, or do both days with special award categories for combined times. Very successful.
Luckily I got to race the last two years when friend’s dropped out. That’s two years in a row I waited too long and the race filled up.
Here’s my take. I’m against two different race days for not other reason than I will have to make the trip to Socorro on Sat and Sun. One day to race and the other to support the other folks half of the team members. Plus, its always nice to race with the fairer sex! Unfortunately I don’t have a good solution to the problem. Is the 350 limit because of permits or just the amount of time it takes to run 350 people through a TT swim start?
BTW The race is always one of the best run races in the Southwest challenge series! Thanks for putting it on!
Mark aka Bones
My two cents… is that you turn away out of town folks where the husband and wife race… like my wife and I. We were disappointed the we missed the cutoff due the exceptionally small limit on the field this year (120 people). I liked the race when I did it two years ago, nice bike course and decent run. Like Paulo said, it is one of the few races in the area that is in the right order-- very few race directors in the area seem to have broken the code on how to do a time trial swim start. However, I am not sure if we will be back if it is spread over two days.
And bring back the kids race. My daugther had a blast last year.
It is a tough one, on one hand, it really sucks to get shut out of local races, 120 limit is ridiculous, especially when the gap between the podium and 4th place is that big, for gods sake, I probably could have won the thing this year, which would have been awesome, but I digress, there really isn’t anything to do in Socorro after the race finishes Saturday, last year, after I met you Ephraim, I sat around drinking beer out of a Nalgene for an hour until the awards happened, So what are folks supposed to do in that town for the rest of the day/evening? go to the brewery? I think a kids race would help, but thats just the start of what you would need to keep people there for two whole days. Why not just a 500 person race, 250 Saturday, and 250 Sunday?
The limit is just due to the size of the pool limiting the number we can start in this format. And thanks for the compliments!
Luckily I got to race the last two years when friend’s dropped out. That’s two years in a row I waited too long and the race filled up.
Here’s my take. I’m against two different race days for not other reason than I will have to make the trip to Socorro on Sat and Sun. One day to race and the other to support the other folks half of the team members. Plus, its always nice to race with the fairer sex! Unfortunately I don’t have a good solution to the problem. Is the 350 limit because of permits or just the amount of time it takes to run 350 people through a TT swim start?
BTW The race is always one of the best run races in the Southwest challenge series! Thanks for putting it on!
Mark aka Bones
Next year we will at least be back to 350 (or so) and expect to do the kid’s race. Thanks for the input.
My two cents… is that you turn away out of town folks where the husband and wife race… like my wife and I. We were disappointed the we missed the cutoff due the exceptionally small limit on the field this year (120 people). I liked the race when I did it two years ago, nice bike course and decent run. Like Paulo said, it is one of the few races in the area that is in the right order-- very few race directors in the area seem to have broken the code on how to do a time trial swim start. However, I am not sure if we will be back if it is spread over two days.
And bring back the kids race. My daugther had a blast last year.
I hope you understand that we were forced to either do a 120 person limit or cancel the race this year.
I agree that giving people something to do is the hardest part here in Socorro, along with getting enough volunteers.
Can you explain your last sentence? That is exactly what we are proposing as an alternative to 350 on Saturday.
Thanks for the feedback!
It is a tough one, on one hand, it really sucks to get shut out of local races, 120 limit is ridiculous, especially when the gap between the podium and 4th place is that big, for gods sake, I probably could have won the thing this year, which would have been awesome, but I digress, there really isn’t anything to do in Socorro after the race finishes Saturday, last year, after I met you Ephraim, I sat around drinking beer out of a Nalgene for an hour until the awards happened, So what are folks supposed to do in that town for the rest of the day/evening? go to the brewery? I think a kids race would help, but thats just the start of what you would need to keep people there for two whole days. Why not just a 500 person race, 250 Saturday, and 250 Sunday?
