30.3 mph in the bike leg of the Willow duathlon. That’s insanely fast. How do you do it?
jaretj
I am told about 10 people turned left going back into the park instead of turning right. Athletes who went left rode a slightly shorter course than athletes who went right, the long way around.
You can tell the athletes who went left becasue they’re splits are a little faster than normal. Had Eric turned right his average speed would have only been about 30.1 mph instead of 30.3. 
I was one of the people to turn the wrong way, but I didn’t even realize it until this morning thanks to this forum. I like Willow Du alot, nice & flat, but this is the second year there has been course problems (first year I did take the correct course). I hope that they make changes to the bike course for next year or man the corners better.
I don’t think it was that big of a deal. First off, I spoke with two of the athletes who made the wrong turn. They said it was their fault, that they realized it instantly and that they decided to not correct it.
Secondly, it occured in the park and was not safety hazard at all. Someone mentioned the athletes who went off course last year- there were over 40 possibly as many as 60 in 2003 and they did it on the main road because there were no police. This year there were four volunteers and police.
In my eyes this is completely different. The race was greatly improved over last year.
I figure the “detour” was worth about 5 minutes. Also looking at the results I counted about 18 people who took the detour (Anybody over 26mph was counted).
Last year Eric was around 26mph, and he is usually the fastest biker out there.
It would 29’, correct, that means it’s just over 25 mph. He won it last year with something like 26 mph, so I’d guess the 5’ offset is probably realistic, plus or minus a bit. I wonder if anyone placed because of it. Not to be a dick, but wouldn’t a DQ be appropriate? We all have to follow the rules, and while it is highly probably no one was maliciously cutting the course (I know Eric seems like a real stand up guy), it seems that this is the correct action to take. But maybe these things aren’t monitored that closely at these smaller races. I know at the Steelhead triathlon last year (a different race company), a bunch of people cut the swim (accidentally), and I don’t think anyone of them got DQ’d, so maybe it isn’t that big of a deal at the local races.
Actually, I should have checked the results before I wondered if anyone placed because of it. I didn’t check the women, but the men all seemed to either be way ahead (more than 5’), or the people who cut were deeper than 3 in the AG, so it seems it wouldn’t have made a difference place wise (in the top 3 at least) if they would have cut or not.
Wow, do you really think it was 5 minutes? My guess would have been, like, 2 minutes max. I could be totally wrong though.
I think the cards fell where they would have anyway.
Hey Tom,
I guessed at 5 minutes by taking my bike time of 27:27 at 27.2 mph and comparing it to somebody who biked 23mph (roughly what I thought I had biked) and his bike time was 32:27. Which gave me the 5 minute difference. Thats just my own estimate though… Still liked the race and it really wouldn’t have changed the results any. I would have dropped from 7th in AG to 8th or 9th.
Shouldn’t people who didn’t ride the correct course be DQ’ed anyway, even if the placings would be the same if they rode the correct course? This is what the USAT rule says (although we know that 3D events are not USAT sanctioned):
Entire Course. Participants must cover the prescribed course in its entirety. It is the participant’s responsibility to know the course. Any violation of this section, even if no advantage is gained, shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage, or (ii) the violation constituted endangerment under Section 3.4(l). In the event the Head Referee makes such a determination, the penalty shall be disqualification.
Certainly some sort of time penalty should have been assessed, even if it doesn’t change the final results.
Nope. It isn’t a USAT race.
Now I wish I hadn’t brought this up. I know that Eric is a class act and wouldn’t have intentionally cut the course. It must have been an accident.
Sorry
jaretj
I don’t even think Eric was leading on the bike, I am sure he did the same thing as me and just followed the person in front of him.
I know it’s not bound by USAT rules. But surely there ARE rules? Or does that mean that “anything goes” on the bike course at 3 Disciplines races?
Whether or not there is an official rule to cover this, to me it is just the wrong thing to do to leave the results as-is without making some sort of correction. Even if that correction doesn’t change anyone’s final placing.
Tom, I know you see this year’s ‘poorly marked bike course’ problem as a different issue than last year, but I think it’s just a different manifestation of the same problem. What if one of the lead cyclists had realized they went the wrong way and decided to turn around, and there was another cyclist right behind him? Now the ‘no big deal’ problem just became a safety issue. And even if it’s not a safety issue, it’s these ‘little things’ that seem to happen at every 3D race that bug me.
Carol
Your point is valid and correct.
I looked at the race I participated in on Saturday from my perspective and the perspective of the athletes I spoke with, set against the backdrop of the editorial I worte last year.
I re-read that editorial, called “Collateral Damage” on our website at bikesportmichigan.com
Following my review of the editorial I wrote last year and my experience from this year’s event I made a comparison of the two.
I found many, many more improvements in key areas than I found shortcomings. My opinion was those should be the focus of my comments, since they were my predominant impression of the event, and the predominant impressions of the majority of athletes I spoke with after the event- even during the event.
Is going off course an error? Certainly. However, the incident occured at an intersection that, according to my reports, WAS marshaled by a race volunteer. Last year’s incident occured at an intersection that was, I was told, unmarshaled at the time of the incident.
I see that as a key difference. That is what I focused on. For balance, in the editorial I am posting later today on our website, I did report that several (approx. 10) athletes did go off course. I offered my opinion that this was predominantly the responsibility of the athletes involved- since the corner was manned (I am told). It was also manned when I passed through it and the race marshal indicated the correct route to me with hand and arm signals.
I do not intend to back pedal. I hope it doesn’t feel like that if you read my editorial. I am interested to hear your comments also, if you could be so kind to pass them on.
Tom.
Eric was 4th on the bike (in a group of 3) closing Willow Rd on the way back (after the turn-around in Oakwood Park’s Nature Center).
He usually wears his Timex S&D so I’m sure he’ll chime in w/ his ride-length.
I talked to him after the race and he mentioned something about the bike-course being short (11.6 miles) - probably not knowing about the wrong turn.
… 28:16 mph - sounds just about right for him! 
That sounds right to me.
Hey Shony, good racing with you. Thanks for not kicking my ass.
Raul Sosa is going down at Nankin Mills.
It’s not a USAT race but here are some of the rules from 3Disciplines website:
Note we will follow and enforce the sports governing body rules while strictly enforcing the following rules. There will not be any warnings given. These rules are in place to make every event Safe, Fun, and Equal for all athletes, and spectators. These rules are judgement calls on behalf of the officials we will fully support all infractions that have been called. No disputes will be taken. Race officials will be trained and determined by 3d staff.
Knowledge of course: It is the athletes responsibility to know the ENTIRE course. A course map is provided at EVERY race, as well as larger maps placed in the transition area, and packet pickup area.
http://www.3disciplines.com/rules.html
Tucker
Good point.