Equalizer in Lifetime Fitness

Triathlon Forum
1

So I was just looking at the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon website for this Julys race in Minnesota. I was thinking about what time these LF’s math whizs will come up with as the “equalizer” for this year. The equalizer is the amount of time the woman are given a lead/headstart over the men for those of you unfamiliar with this race…so that the entire field (men and women) is actually competing against each other. This race has prize purse of $500,000 so this equalizer is a big deal for these pro men (as well as women too) I am sure. I just read too on ESPN that all six Athens medalists in triathlon are expected to compete as well.

I think its a “no brainer” what the equalizer should be. Wouldn’t you just use the previous years Top Womens time minus the Top Mens time?

(Loretta Harrop) 1:57:58 minus (Craig Walton) 1:49:33 which should put you somewhere around 8 minutes and 25 seconds…

Somehow, Lifetime came up with 11 minutes and 9 seconds for this last year. I guess when you put up the $500,000 cash you can pick whatever time you want but I just think this way would be more exciting. Also, a female has won this race every year. Any comments?

http://www.ltftriathlon.com/website/battle/index.cfm?strWebAction=equalizer

2

I love this idea, and I love that women have won every race. But I’m perhaps a bit biased eh? :wink: What a challenge, you have to think each competitor will pull out all the stops, either to beat the guys or not get beat by the girls. Anything that brings out the best in athletes is a-ok by me. :stuck_out_tongue:

4

I don’t know…I’ve been to the race a few times (worked at it last year), and I don’t really know how they determine it. I do know that the race hasn’t been that close however. It seems the margin the men have to make up is almost too overwhelming. It just doesn’t seem fair. The men have never won either. For the biggest prize purse in the game, I think they need to put more time/effort into figuring that “equalizer” out. There should be photo finishes in that race, and tho this point there haven’t been. I don’t think the men have ever won. I think we’ll know the equalizer is truly “real” when the men actually win for once.

6

So what you’re saying then is that some pros could design their season around peaking at this race as it’s the BIG $$$ race for the time being… I wonder if they maybe should take into account the past 2 years’ performances for the pros that are there for the big many…hmmm… Averages DO mean everything here. And yes, some women turn in the performance of their LIVES at this race - interesting.

That said, with that kind of money on the line, I just don’t know if it can be fair enough. The whole “Battle of the Sexes” thing is amusing, but not particularly interesting anymore. I don’t know - I kind of see it as Braham’s chance to get out there and showboat a bit. It is a GREAT platform for the marketing of Lifetime Fitness though, although having been a member there for a number of years, they don’t seem to cater to triathletes (or even make a real effort to include them – of course, that’s just my opinion…), and they don’t schedule much in the way of group fitness classes (leaning towards tri-specific) that make it in any way convenient for us “clock-punchers”. They are at odd times of the day, and, for instance, there is a swimming class at the club I go to that starts at 6:00 and goes to 8:00 - great if you need to be in this class, but it REALLY SUCKS ASS for those of us who would like to get in a workout during the “prime” hours. A little myopic IMHO. There’s only one evening other than Friday that the pool area is open for use.

7

It’s called a fix.

9

A pro race is a RACE…folks jockey for position and understand their own strengths/weaknesses as well as their competition. It’s not like an AG race where folks are concerned about PRs. The pace can be slow…or it can be fast. Many pros have entered the race for camera time. It’s not about the money…until you win it.
Make it the same course as last year…8 minutes 25 seconds equalizer. I must of missed it last year when Loretta Harrop “jockeyed for position” on Walton…

10

First of all, that wasn’t a dig on Bahram, just my observation… I’m guessing you work there? However when you read about the big money (see this: http://www.insidetri.com/news/fea/1337.0.html ) and hear about it non-stop on the telecast…well, you come to your conclusions and I’ll come to mine.

I’ve also voiced my complaints to LTF from time to time via email to customer service - to no avail (never mind when I direct a complaint straight to the club management - they don’t get paid enough to care - my wife is one of the managers there, so I KNOW what they’re getting, and for what they put up with EVERY day, it ain’t enough!!). LTF isn’t terribly interested in what one person has to say. I’m sure Bahram probably wouldn’t be terribly intersted in my thoughts either. When I volunteered to work the event last year, Pete S. didn’t have time for any thoughts/criticisms/creative ideas after the event was done and over with ( and there was PLENTY room for improvement - just in the organization of the pre-race stuff. It went okay, but it was not because of the organizers. It was because of the volunteers.) - oh well…I don’t work there, so why should he listen to someone like me? Needless to say, I’m not volunteering for the event again, and I think it’s too bad, because having triathletes who work as race volunteers can be a valuable asset - we know what’s ging on, and have been to races that have been run smoothly.

As far as working out with LTF athletes, Plymouth is a LONG WAY from St. Paul, and since I go to work at 7:00 on the border of MSP/STP, it ain’t happenin’. I don’t doubt there are plenty elite tri-folks that work out at LTF, although I haven’t run into many (I’m a far cry from elite though - just a competitive age-grouper with a really good swim here…). I had my day in the sun, but that was 15 years and 40 lbs. ago! I don’t race the same at 175-180# as I did when I was 135# or so…but I had no muscle (or fat) then either! Just a scrawny 18 year old who could swim and bike - and hang on through a run!

Now back to the equalizer…

I don’t dispute anything anyone has said here. LTF should make money on this race, as they are the chief sponsor - if they don’t, well, too bad. Then they need to get their house in order. to me, this even is ALL about the money as it is touted as the biggest purse, as well as the “Batlle of the Sexes” part. Since it is all about the money IMHO, I just take issue with the fairness of the “equalizer” - it just seems so arbitrary. For that kind of money - at least for those in the hunt for the paycheck, not just the exposure - you’d think the finishes would be closer, but unless the men put in a super-human performance, I just don’t think there’s a way for a male to win that race.

Interesting discussion! I’m enjoying this!

12

Yeah, it’s a BEAUTIFUL course - for a much smaller event. I plan on watching it from my friend’s front yard this year. Minnehaha Parkway isn’t bad seating if I don’t say so myself! I thought about working it, but with the lack of interest in feedback last year (and I’ve worked a number of LTF events since I’m in the running club and get many chances to volunteer - including an even bigger fiasco – the Torchlight Run. They just don’t want to hear it from anyone other than coordinators), I’m going to enjoy it as a spectator.

Overanalyzed? I think so. The “battle” concept is good from a standpoint of pitting all the pros against each other, but the handicap of being male seems to be a bit much in my eyes. I love seeing all the pros going against eachother, and I could care less if they are men or women - but as long as they don’t start together, then it isn’t a true competition. Obviously the men are stronger, because they can’t be beat on an even playing field. It kinda makes the point before anyone even gets in the water.

What I do appreciate about this event is that it is one of the only REALLY strong events that gives tri’s their due time on TV (with exception of the IM Hawaii, of course). It should be an advertising bonanza to all involved, as it’s on early in the day on a Saturday in the summertime, when there really aren’t many other sports to compete with. It gives life to our sport. I just hope it doesn’t do to the sport what Tiger did with golf - I don’t golf anymore. Too many people!! No room/time to play anymore. I can’t stand going to a golf course anymore - too slow of play, too much duffing, lack of knowledge of the game, cheating, ignorance, lack of etiquette, etc., etc… The LTF tri needs to grow the sport, but only to healthy levels.

13

I agree pretty much with everything you have stated in this thread. Very accurately said…maybe we should get Peter or Charlie to post some comments on here?

14

would you fill us in on who was turned down? (if you can do so…)

they should have the race going with a mass start…the men would beat the crap out of the women during the swim and the time difference at the start would have no impact!

That’d be called X-treme Tri :slight_smile:

15

This year they definitely have been able to be veyr selective about who is going to be there. I know that they have only announced the siz Olympic medalists so far, but with the restructuring of the prize purse, it’s definitely been a race of interest to a lot of pros. And hopefully they’ll have them all out at their new flagship club that’s opening one week before the race. Somehow, I doubt it’s a coincidence that they’ve bumped up the opening of the club by a whole month now…