Just wanted to let all the Tri-Geeks out there know what I am sending to Ironman North America, and to the CEO of the Boardwalk Beach Resort.
Dear Ironman North America, and Boardwalk Beach Resort (Graham Fraser, Paula Newby-Fraser, Shelly Bramlett, and Russ Smith)
First I ask that you indulge me for just a moment as I tell just a little bit about who I am. First and foremost, I consider myself a Christian Ironman (in fact it is tattooed on my arm). I have been active in triathlon for about 9 years now, competing in over 100 triathlons including 5 IMFL and one at the Duke Blue Devil IM distance. I have been active in fund raising through my racing since my first Ironman in 2001. I am also the race director and originator of the Heel and Crank Duathlon in Huntsville, Alabama. I started this race on my own as a 100% fundraiser for ALS, and in honor of one of our local triathletes who was stricken with ALS. Since 2001 I have raised $9600 for my church, cancer research and ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). I really appreciate your drive to encourage these athletes to use our wonderful sport as a vehicle to give back to the community. This gift of course is not just monetary but of an inspirational nature as well. I run 12 miles to church every Sunday morning not only as part of my normal training, but also to be an inspiration to others around me to get off their couches and get out there and take care of their bodies. I think it helps a little more coming from a 53 year old like myself then from someone in their mid twenties. I have inspired many people in my short nine years to take on a regular exercise regime. As a matter of fact I brought someone to the race with me last year to sign up for 2006, and as of Saturday, he too is an Ironman, and yes, he signed up for 2007. Another friend came with me this year and signed up for 2007 as well. To be honest, this actually makes me feel better than giving money to charities, though I will continue to do both, as long as I possibly can.
Now, I would like to give my report of the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY of this years Ironman Florida event.
The GOOD:
As always I can not say enough about the volunteers at your events. I only wish I could personally shake all of their 3500 hands and thank them for all they do, they absolutely ROCK! I love this race in Florida, it is hands down, the highlight on my calendar each year. You make everyone competing feel like a real winner, your organization and set-up is all just outstanding. As a race director myself, I see all the small details that you guys employ which continue to astound me. Shelly, you ARE the angel of Ironman! I really appreciate your dispelling of the rumors of the seriously injured athlete. I hope you can keep the athletes updated as to his condition. I know he has the prayers and support of a very large, caring community. The finisher T-shirts for the last two years (since Ford became involved) are finally highly worthing of actually wearing, previous years shirts are waxing cloths for the car.
The BAD:
This is directed only at Russ Smith and the Boardwalk Beach Resort. The previous 4 times I have come to P.C.B. for IMFL, my family and I have stayed off site at the “$79-type” of places. In P.C.B, these places have typically been very dirty and musty. Last year we stayed at the Summit. I arrived the day before my family made it down, and it was a good thing, as I had to go out and buy cleaning supplies spending about 6 hours cleaning the place to what I would consider a liveable condition. For 2006, we decided we wanted a NICE place and we wanted to be AT THE RACE SITE and were willing to pay the extra money to do so. We were hoping my 86 yr old mother could come down with us and this was the only way she could participate. We were fortunate enough to have gotten into the Boardwalk on someone else’s cancellation. You have no idea how excited my wife and I were! When we arrived on Wednesday night, I showed the gentleman at the desk my printed out confirmation sheet (CONF NUMER ____________), and to my surprise he informed me that my reservation had been cancelled. I was extremely upset at this (Russ as an athlete yourself, I’m sure can understand where I am coming from, you make the financial commitment to stay at a beautiful place right at the race site providing convenience for your family members…) The manager at the desk said he would put us up at a place 0.25 mi down the road. We obviously had no choice so we drove the 1.5 MILES (not 0.25 mile as he stated) down the road until we found it. Yes, it was a beautiful place, but I was now paying the same price to stay that far away when I had a friend offer me their unit at the Calypso for $100/night earlier in the week. I turned them down only because I had a place at the race site. While staying at the Grandview, we started talking to others there who had similar stories, and it quickly became obvious that you had overbooked and were in cahoots with the owners down at the Grand View. Coming from an organization of your size, who supposedly is a supporter of IMFL, this was just plain wrong. I returned the next day asking for some type of compensation for the inconvenience, and the desk manager on duty would have nothing to hear of it. In fact she never would even admit that the Boardwalk made a mistake in canceling my reservation. I don’t understand how you can (a) raise rates for these events, claiming you are supporting them, and (b) refuse some form of compensation for making a drastic mistake on your part. I don’t know if you check out any websites with race feedback, but the Boardwalk has received a huge black eye from MANY athletes after this past weekend’s activities, it’s not just me.
The UGLY:
It’s race morning, I have dropped off my special needs bags, topped of my T1 and T2 bags and am walking through transition to meet my friends at the start area on the beach. I noticed a commotion behind me and look back to see two guys jumping over the fence into transition and a tiny female security officer trying to stop them. OK, now just pause a moment, what would you do in this situation? I turned around and stopped the one that got by the security officer by holding my hands up to his chest, and said hold it! This person (a tall, young man, with an accent) stuffs a badge up in my face and says “I’M THE RACE DIRECTOR, CAN’T YOU READ, YOU IDIOT!!!” Not wanting to get into a fist fight an hour before an Ironman, I just let him go. Later on, I saw him again and I said “are you really the race director?” (knowing full well he was not, but he may be there in some capacity), this guy again shoves the badge in my face and just starts ranting and screaming at me. I told him he was a very poor face for Ironman North America. This young man certainly, single-handedly makes your guys look very, very bad indeed, and could really use a dose of attitude adjustment.
On another note, shortly after turning onto Highway 20, there was a crash about 10 bikes ahead of me. Someone had pulled out into a 54 year old and knocked him down hard. I watched as the poor man skidded to a stop in the middle of the highway, and noticed the fellow that knocked him over just kept on going. THEN, to my amazement the other nine or so bikes between us just sailed on by without stopping. There were no officials or volunteers in this area. When I stopped to give aid (yes, I am trained), the gentleman was laying in the road with a large tear in his bike shorts and jersey, and of course some raw meat below, but no serious deep wounds and nothing appeared broken. Obviously a true Ironman, this guy was laying on his back in the middle of the road with his eyes shut tight in pain, looked over at me and said “how’s my bike look, is it rideable?” By this time a few others stopped, checked out his bike, the gentleman got up and tended to his ride. Now that’s an Ironman!
Thank you again for another great year at Ironman Florida, I had a great race (a PR of 11:52 in spite of the winds). I am already looking forward to next year. However, I will not stay with IMFL supporters and I will try my best to keep my nose out of security’s business no matter who comes flying over the railing.
Rick Greif
Race Director (Heel & Crank Duathlon)
256-864-8407 (evenings)
256-313-7104 (work)