I’ve seen the lottery Kona argument on here several times Since I am not a tri person (or a least not an IM person) I don’t have any word that argument.
A recent thing came up that actually reminded me of that argument though. Each year there is a lottery to send company employees to some kind of sponsored endurance event. Airfare and hotel covered, just have to take vacation days if part of it is during the work week. They ship your equipment out for free also.
Now, this event is always in a location and at a distance that would challenge even a moderate “clubbie” with avoiding a DNF.
I never considered it, but we’ve got people entering this lottery drawing to go that have zero endurance sport experience of any kind. They’re going to DNF.
But, they’re folks that wind up on occasion winning spots to go.
Mind you this is not a competition kind of thing (you get a time though), but it just seems really crappy that people are all Johnny-come-lately to register for something free that they’ve got zero business doing. I say that because the training time isn’t like a year or even six months for someone going from zero.
Seems a bit childish to sign up for a lottery so you can get a free vacation somewhere while fluffing off the fitness commitment part.
What’s the reason this benefit is in place? Seems like an attempt to challenge people to push their limits. If only those capable of completing the challenge would be eligible, it would be seen as a fake or cheat benefit that was created to cover the cost of a hobby for a few individuals. My guess is that the benefit had an executive sponsor who also hoped to ‘benefit’ by it.
It’s a lottery… of course anyone should be able to enter. Get off your soapbox. Just because you are slightly more in shape than them, doesn’t entitle you to deserving anything additional from a company wide competition. Maybe winning the lottery will inspire them to become more fit and actually enact positive change (like your company is likely intending)
If you want to go to the event, sign up, put in the training, and then scoff at all those underserving freeloaders who DNF. /pink
Oh come off it. It’s all for fun. Get past your perception of how people must experience events.
If they offer a week at an all inclusive beach resort, do only the people who have been drinking the most margaritas in their spare time get to go? Maybe only the people most dedicated to the off-season tan?
Being a lazy freeloader is the right way to behave.
That’s not what’s happening and you know it. The company gives away vacations. It happens to be some sort of endurance event. You just hate that some people may not experience the event iteself in full and you think that somehow wastes it. You’re wrong. And here’s how…
I don’t see it any different than if people faked a gym membership or participation in something to get a health insurance discount.
No one is lying to get this vacation. No deceit at all, it seems. It’s a benefit offered by your company. Just a free vacation.
I’m with you, I’d find it kind of annoying. If they’re not a great athlete, fine. But if the won the trip I’d want them to take it seriously and make a sold attempt to finish.
Maybe winning the lottery will inspire them to become more fit and actually enact positive change (like your company is likely intending)
I get Indianacyclist’s point about inspiring something. That’s a great point. It’s a logical conclusion to inspire others instead of give away to folks that already could do it. I’ll accept that feedback.
I’m just not buying the whole idea of a’la carte choosing the dessert and not eating the salad part. If the person registers a DNS or somehow doesn’t appear in the results list…isn’t that defeating the purpose of enacting any kind of positive change?
I have a hard time with Cujo’s argument, if I’m interpreting correctly. It sounds like saying that it doesn’t even matter if they do the event or not while on the trip. I’m pretty sure there are stipulations that you HAVE to do the event or reimburse for the trip. Not finish, but at least show up. I’m pretty sure there’s been DNS’s for this thing aplenty in the past.
They’re using their vacation days if necessary. Sounds like a lottery for a free vacation and … “oh by the way, there’s this endurance event if you want to spend the next X months bettering your fat self to do it while you’re there.”
Are people entering it with the intention of finishing the event, or are they entering it with the intention of going on a vacation and dnf’ing? There’s a huge difference.
Training for an event is massively different for each individual. Many just don’t understand how to do it, others just do the bare minimum for various reasons, etc. In my office I’d wager only about 5% could actually train properly for an event like Ironman.
Let people enjoy things. Let people swing for the fences. Quit being so judgmental. It makes you look ugly and is clearly creating negative energy within yourself.
Take your own vacation, go to the event, crush your lottery winning coworker, take a shower, use all your extra finishing time to relax and nap, head back to the finishing area to meet said coworker so you can say: “I’m better than you, na-na, na-na, boo-boo, stick your head in doo-doo.”
So what if they DNF or DNS are you existing as this person? maybe they have big aspirations but need a push. Maybe even getting into the head space to sign up for an endurance event is their first step.
You’re probably the kind of cyclist that bitches when you get close passed on the road yet dishes out punishment passes all day when you’re the one being held up by a cyclist.
If a “non-worthy” employee wins, why not reach out and offer to help them train for it? Might help them get into a healthier lifestyle and complete the event, and give you a sense of accomplishment. Senior management might also notice your team spirit and hook you up somehow in future years’ lotteries.
Majority of people running marathons or IMs don’t even like running or swimming or biking.
But without them there would be probably two marathons and one IM per continent per year. That’s life. Or at least life in current demand/supply world.
Our company’s race payment policy (which doesn’t include travel expenses, just race fees) is for reimbursement of the race by providing evidence of your finish from the organizers. Otherwise, no payment.
What is the event and what all does the lottery winner get? If they are doing a lottery for the western states 100, that is different than a spot on a ragnar team.
A company that pays for your schooling only pays if you pass. They could do the same thing with the event. If you don’t complete it you are on the hook for all the expenses.
Are people entering it with the intention of finishing the event, or are they entering it with the intention of going on a vacation and dnf’ing? There’s a huge difference.
Training for an event is massively different for each individual. Many just don’t understand how to do it, others just do the bare minimum for various reasons, etc. In my office I’d wager only about 5% could actually train properly for an event like Ironman.
Same furiousferret as on bikeforums? I’m the same guy here.
But yes, mostly folks entering with intention of vacation and a DNF.
It’s not pre-empting some outrage. They came home talking about the fun they had, so I checked the results. DNS. Not a DNF…a DNS.
Yeah, that would bug me a bit but a company really shouldn’t put their employees in that position to start off.
The company is providing a perk with close to impossible requirement for some, so they have to ask if they want to provide it for everyone or just for those with the chance of finishing. If our work had a Kona slot that was given away in that manner, I’d be pretty peeved if someone just used it for a vacation.