I searched the tri forum and couldn’t find a good thread on this, so what are folks feelings on relay entries at triathlon events, or duathlons for that matter.
I raced Timberman 70.3 with an all male team (I was the runner) and got some feedback from competitors who saw the ‘R’ on my calf.
It seems to be a good way for people who might be interested in trying parts of a triathlon to do so in a competitive forum.
Or someone with a swim/bike/run specific injury that might prevent them from doing the race solo.
Based on the way the waves happened at Timberman, I was able to help pace some friends, etc…
I guess my question is directly towards those who are opposed to relays. Why and how strongly?
btw…the comments were pretty innocuous like, “give me those relay legs” =)
We had a local sprint this past weekend here east of Seattle that’s been going on for 13-14 years, and the relay / Friends and Family wave has been quite popular. It’s how I got into this sport - did the bike leg at one sprint, then the bike and run at the next, then decided it was time I learned to swim (given my swim times, it’s not clear I have )
I think they’re great… my wife’s father can’t run anymore, but is a keen cyclist, so we take it in turns to make up a team with him to make the local events a family thing.
What would be cool though would be to have days where the relay is the centrepiece… would make for a great spectator event. You could have a weekend where you had individual races on the Saturday and relay on the sundays in, or across age groups…
d. Unauthorized Assistance. No participant shall accept from any person (other than a race official) physical assistance in any form, including food, drink, equipment, support, pacing, a replacement bicycle or bicycle parts, unless an express exception has been granted and approved, in writing, by USA Triathlon. The receipt of information regarding the progress, split times, or location of other competitors on the race course shall not be considered the acceptance of unauthorized assistance. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable
time penalty.
Okay, so pacing was probably a bad word. I caught up to a friend in wave 3, we ran side by side for a mile or so, I gave some words of encouragement and finished the last 2 miles alone.
I don’t have a problem with relays, but I do wonder: Are the swimmer and cyclist allowed to cross the finish line with the runner? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
I coach track and the general rule is that if you’re a participant in a
race, you are allowed to run with someone (ie pacing). What are they
going to say, you can’t run side by side? If someone is NOT in the
race, they cannot run with someone and a disqualification would result.
I think what the person did at Timberman was racing within the rules.
Hell, I receive assistance in EVERY race I do. Who’s pacing me? The
guy/gal in front of me. I ALWAYS run faster with someone in front of me.
I coach track and the general rule is that if you’re a participant in a
race, you are allowed to run with someone (ie pacing). What are they
going to say, you can’t run side by side? If someone is NOT in the
race, they cannot run with someone and a disqualification would result.
I think what the person did at Timberman was racing within the rules.
Hell, I receive assistance in EVERY race I do. Who’s pacing me? The
guy/gal in front of me. I ALWAYS run faster with someone in front of me.
Well now, that is totally different. The OP made it sound like he was actually pacing the person and not during his segment of the race.
For me, I don’t think that there should be relays. It seems to me that the uniqueness of triathlon is putting the whole race together - all three sports. If there are three separate people doing the three separate parts, then it’s just not triathlon to me.
As for relays bringing more people into the sport, that may be true. But I’m not so intent on bringing more people in. Yes, I agree that more people can mean more races - but in our current world it more often seems to mean higher prices at overcrowded existing races.
The other point I’ll offer comes with a plea - as in please don’t lecture me to just ignore it… but for me relay people on the course are discouraging. I’m competitive, and when someone goes flying by me it takes a bit out of me. Or, stupidly, I might think to try to keep up. Then as they go by I see the “R” and realize that “hell, that person is only doing 1/3 of what I’m doing today, screw 'em.” Should I not care, maybe. Do I? Sure, and I would guess that many others do as well.
I guess I should just be happy for them, and HTFU.
I did the 10k run of an Olympic distance relay 19 years ago. 17 years ago I started doing tri’s and have not stopped. I think relays are great! Let them have fun.
Relays are a blast. I do a sprint relay with my son every year. Nothing quite
like the feeling of being able to hammer on the bike knowing you don’t have to
run afterwards.
other point I’ll offer comes with a plea - as in please don’t lecture me to just ignore it… but for me relay people on the course are discouraging. I’m competitive, and when someone goes flying by me it takes a bit out of me. Or, stupidly, I might think to try to keep up. Then as they go by I see the “R” and realize that “hell, that person is only doing 1/3 of what I’m doing today, screw 'em.” Should I not care, maybe. Do I? Sure, and I would guess that many others do as well.
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Most races I’ve done that have relays I’ve gone faster than all or nearly all the relay teams. They seem to attract beginners who couldn’t manage the whole thing. I know there are some races where people try to get fast teams together but I don’t think it’s the norm based on what I’ve seen.
I grew up at swim meets and track meets. Later in life I got into cycling. I’d love to be doing triathlons, but I can’t. I was hit while on a training ride by a teenage driver who was distracted by her cell phone. I can’t run. Well, I can, but it would be really stupid. I CAN ride my bike. I train very hard and I race every time trial I can get to. Unfortunately, there aren’t many in my area … not even local club events. So I put together relay teams and enter triathlons.
Most of my friends and folks I train with are triathletes and they offer encouragement. I’ve made quite a few triathlete friends at the events. There are a few folks who clearly look down on me as if I’m a lower life form. I try to disregard their small-mindedness.
And to one of the other posters … I’ve posted the fastest bike split of all participants a number of times and I’ve never recieved any acknowledgement for it. Where do they do that?
I like relays. It gives every one a chance to compete. I Compete in relays and individual events. My last relay event, Festival of folwers oly tri. was a blast mes some nice people and saw Psycholist put down a lightning fast 25k. Some people take it seriously, others do it just to compete. I’ll be back next year in South Carolina to take on Psycholist’s team again.
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