Let's See How Escape Series Handles DC Cancellatoin

Triathlon Forum
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So…Escape Series Nation’s Triathlon DC was cancelled earlier today…not terribly surprising given the heavy rains we’ve had the past 24 hours and the heavier rains we’re on tap for later on tonight. While I received the email shortly after returning from bike racking, it was pretty sparse on details. I have heard complaints since that they were shutting down transition at 6 pm and all bikes needed to be out by then…something not communicated in the email. Not ideal from a comms perspective, but I get it that on days when races are on the bubble because of weather, it’s on the athletes to stay abreast of developments…I guess. Still, hope nobody lost their bike!

Now, the issue will be to see what, if anything, Escape Series will offer the participants who paid, I think $150 or so, for a race that never happened. Don’t get me wrong - I don’t believe Escape owes anyone anything and I realize there’s no obligation for them to do anything and that refunds are pretty much not gonna happen - it’s damned expensive to put a race on and I’m sure DC is no bargain…BUT…this is the first year Escape is running this race and to be honest, despite their aggressive marketing, big swag bag, fancy transition area, etc., I was pretty surprised to see a much smaller transition area than I’ve seen in Nations’ Tris in years past. I would be surprised if there were 1000 folks registered based on the size of transition. Getting folks to come back next year - especially those from out of town who make this race a destination event - will be a challenge if Escape doesn’t make a little extra effort to make folks feel a little less disappointed.

What would help? Discount to next year’s race or another Escape Series race? Give out a few slots to the folks who didn’t get to race for the Alcatraz race? These are just a few ideas, but I’d be interested in hearing other thoughts.

I really hope they make some effort in the aftermath. As a local, I’ll probably do this race next year regardless, but as a proud Washingtonian, it’s nice to have a race that attracts folks for the unique opportunity to race among the monuments.

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This could be more relevant to a thread about the need for a pro-triathlete association but it’s on topic. From his Insta account today:

jarrodshoemaker I cannot explain the sadness and frustration I am feeling at having tomorrow’s Nation’s Triathlon cancelled. First, I understand where the event organizers are coming from in first cancelling the swim and then the race and I will not complain about that decision. However, as a professional triathlete who attempts to make their living by racing in races, thus earning prize money and promoting my sponsors, for a race to cancel and not either reimburse or divide up the prize money to the professional field is a dagger through the heart.
If I were a triathlete with a day job and I was doing this for fun, I would be frustrated, but my bills would still be paid, I’d have a race entry to next years race already paid for and the losses would be minimal. But as a professional, I will NOT get my bills paid by NOT earning prize moeny, I will NOT have the chance to pay for my flight ($300), rental car ($100), bike fee ($75), airport parking ($50) at all. Zip, zilch, nada. I won’t have the chance to go to another race this weekend, or earn any money at all this weekend. Instead the race organizers are planning to add the money to a race next spring in California, so although I have already lost approx ($500), I will now have to find another ($500 or more dollars) to fly to another race for the chance once again to earn prize money and that is NEXT year.
So, what do we as professional triathletes do, well, we can’t do anything, if I don’t go to this race next April then some person who was not even in DC to race and promote the DC race will be able to earn the prize money I tried to earn tomorrow.
I understand the predicament that the race organziers are in, but I cannot understand their decision to not support the professional athletes who decided to race THEIR branded race, do social media posts promoting THEIR branded race, do interviews for THEIR branded race. In return we are told there is nothing the race will do for us.
They know we have no choice.

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Was it Super League in Canada that had a race cancelled because of fires and gave all the pro’s entry into the final race in Jersey. So I dont know if there was prize money involved, but that was pretty cool gesture.

I would think with just how infrequent actually cancelling the race fully happens, we could hope that some pro association/race directors could form a mutual understanding to take care of each other.

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There’s typically a series of linked circumstances in this chain - if RDs don’t get reimbursed for their payouts from a cancellation…and if age groupers don’t get refunds for cancellations…if all the receipts are the same race or no race then there’s a pot of dough that was allotted for the pros. Would be nice to figure out away to split that up among the pros even without results.

I know this would be hard on a mom-n-pop operation but we’re talking about IMG right? How deep are those pockets?

Ian

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I know this would be hard on a mom-n-pop operation but we’re talking about IMG right? How deep are those pockets?

So here’s kinda the hard part in all of this. This is an organization that I think is doing some really really good things for promoting pro racing. I’m thankful as hell that one of my athletes was able to do 1 event (was going to be 2 with this race) and even gotten some prize money from it. So they are trying to promote and grow the pro field (and the pros are right along with them doing their promotional side of things for the races), but by moving the prize money to the next race, they are sorta cutting the legs out from underneath the very people they are trying to promote. Sometimes all you can do is chuckle.

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well you are spot on about the positive side of this. We can now, pretty much count on one hand how many non-draft, short course triathlons have a pro purse in the US (in the Americas?).

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they are sorta cutting the legs out from underneath the very people they are trying to promote. Sometimes all you can do is chuckle.

do you mean escape? or do you mean the elite athletes asking for escape to pay the prize money because of an act of god cancellation? because, while you’re chuckling i’m face palming.

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I’m saying if the race organizer is trying to promote it’s race series, to then move the money to another event and hurting the very athletes it’s needing to promote/use/be apart of, seems to be cutting at the very people it wants to improve it’s brand. Seems like it’s unnecessary, if the money is already there and it’s already an “expense”/cost part of doing business of putting on an pro race.

ETA: If the prize purse is a separate and individual race item (prize purse is already per race correct) I’m not sure what the harm is in dividing it out. Especially as it helps the very people you want it to help (the pro athletes) promote/grow your race series.

So are they “losing” money if they gave out the prize purse? Seems like it’s a complete separate already accounted for expense…but that’s just how it comes across. It’s not as if they don’t have the money, or else they wouldn’t have already stated it’s moved to the next race.

So it kinda seems like the money is already allocated, they just aren’t dividing it out because the didn’t race. So my point was, if you are the race organizer and want to actual promote/grow/improve your race that YOU are putting on and buying into, it would seem to me, to take care of the very people you are needing to be part of that growth.

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I’m saying if the race organizer is trying to promote it’s race series, to then move the money to another event and hurting the very athletes it’s needing to promote/use/be apart of, seems to be cutting at the very people it wants to improve it’s brand. Seems like it’s unnecessary, if the money is already there and it’s already an “expense”/cost part of doing business of putting on an pro race.

why do you think, other than NYC, life time pays no money at all anymore? you couldn’t find a bigger supporter of the elite triathlete than bahram akradi. what happened?

So it kinda seems like the money is already allocated, they just aren’t dividing it out because the didn’t race. So my point was, if you are the race organizer and want to actual promote/grow/improve your race that YOU are putting on and buying into, it would seem to me, to take care of the very people you are needing to be part of that growth.

the only person they need to “take care of” is the athlete PAYING to enter the race with no expectation of anything but a race. he or she is their customer. that’s the athlete they care about.

when a pro athlete says, “hey, it’s tough all over. everybody gets hurt. nobody’s fault. act of nature. lots of hurt all the way around. so… you make me whole. that’s what’s fair.” right.

honestly, i am SHOCKED they’re agreeing to repurpose the money to the next race. if they’re going to get a toilet flushed on their head by making THAT decision, okay. good luck to you.

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the only person they need to “take care of” is the athlete PAYING to enter the race with no expectation of anything but a race. he or she is their customer. that’s the athlete they care about.

Then why have a business plan that spends $$/time/resources on something (pro field) they are going to then put said partners in a “pinch” (pros by pulling prize purse)? That’s a weird business plan to invest in something and not take care of that product. But that’s just me.

ETA: And I think if your only interested in the AG field who’s paying your race, then don’t put on pro prize, if that’s the only athletes you should care about. So what I’m saying is, this organization is investing in something, and I just think they are missing a point by not taking care of their “partner”. You may feel otherwise, and I can disagree and respect it at the same time. But to say they should only care about the paying customer to me is stupid business practice decision, IE- then why in the hell invest in the pro race if your not willing to take care of it.

ETA #2- Dan your smart as hell business person. If you have a business and part of that business is X, you make sure you do everything you can to make it work, right? I just feel that they are showing they want the pro races, they are investing in the pro races, they are showcasing it as part of their business/race plan. That by moving the prize purse, you are potentially hurting your own investment.

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Then why have a business plan that spends $$/time/resources on something (pro field).

life time asked themselves that same question. as did rev3. as did hyvee.

if your only interested in the AG field who’s paying your race, then don’t put on pro prize, if that’s the only athletes you should care about.

i thought the point of the pros was that they were a marketing vehicle, to get paying AGers to the race.

iI just think they are missing a point by not taking care of their “partner”.

why isn’t that responsibility symmetrical?

to say they should only care about the paying customer to me is stupid business practice decision, IE- then why in the hell invest in the pro race if your not willing to take care of it.

bud, we just don’t see things the same way.

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And that’s fine to see things differently. All I’m suggesting is that if your going to spend the time and resources on something in a business, you do everything you can to take care of it. We just seem to disagree on what constitutes taking care of it. And that’s ok. I’m just pointing out that they are in fact putting their “partners” in a pinch. If you don’t think that matters, cool.

eta; i love the “bud” comment, that did make me laugh, and brought up funny comments from a sports radio host i listen to semi-frequently. colin cowherd does that whenever he wants to be dismissive to someone on the radio.

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And that’s fine to see things differently. All I’m suggesting is that if your going to spend the time and resources on something in a business, you do everything you can to take care of it. We just seem to disagree on what constitutes taking care of it. And that’s ok. I’m just pointing out that they are in fact putting their “partners” in a pinch. If you don’t think that matters, cool.

eta; i love the “bud” comment, that did make me laugh, and brought up funny comments from a sports radio host i listen to semi-frequently. colin cowherd does that whenever he wants to be dismissive to someone on the radio.

escape didn’t put these people on a pinch. mother nature did. and then at least one of them took it public. some partnership.

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Precisely, races can do anything they want with the pro fields, and the pros have no “hand” in the decision making, and just have to go along with whatever decision it is.

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Precisely, races can do anything they want with the pro fields, and the pros have no “hand” in the decision making, and just have to go along with whatever decision it is.

pros can do the same thing AGers do: not race! race a different race! start their own races!

look, this is just… one… more… case where the race director is fitted out to be “the man” taking advantage of the little guy. no. this is a brand new series, already had to cancel one race (well in advance of the race), and now this. this is a hard pill to swallow if you’re the RD, canceling this DC race. and now their “partner” is bitching that “the man” is taking advantage of me by not paying me the prize money for the* race i didn’t race*. instead, the big bad man is taking that prize money and (as i understand it) adding it to a future race. oh, the horror!

every time you post, brooks, every time bill burke or james leitz reads another one of your posts, that prize money is that much more likely to disappear.

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Word on Facebook is no refunds or deferrals. A few people there have been in contact with the race officials but there has been no kind of official communication. I get it, they have no obligation to refund us for circumstances outside of everyone’s control, but I’m definitely frustrated with the lack of communication.

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I’ve not once said they are beating up on the little guy. If you can read my posts, I’ve said they are in a business with pros by providing a pro racing series, and that by moving around the very money these pros need to “partner” with Escape series, they are hurting each other.

So no you are completely incorrect in saying I’m saying they are shitting on the little guy. I’m showcasing that if your business practice includes the pros, it likely would benefit Escape to take care of them when something bad happens like this. If your suggesting they are doing that by re-allocating the money, fair enough.

ETA: What do 1st year businesses usually have to do in order to be successful? They usually have to “eat” a lot of costs, right? When I first started coaching, I did things that I now would never do. I did free clinics, I led group rides, I did things that I knew I had to do in order to make it work. You do things to make it work as best as possible, to make it work long term. You seem to suggest that the only decision was to re-allocate the money, and my whole point was…is that really the case? Did they really not have any choice to pay the pros, even though they didn’t race. If that’s the best practice, fair enough. I just dont think it’s unfair to have that discussion is it? If your telling me, we cant discuss a business decision, for fear of it simply being taken away…kinda proves just how little pro ranking/series matters to the sport. ETA #2- which is what Ian was saying by talking about it may need to be part of a different thread to be part of “pro association discussion” etc.

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One final statement on the record.

A- My statements have never been to bash Escape. My statement from the beginning was to showcase that this is a business decision for Escape to provide a pro racing series. And that means protecting your “investment”, ie- the pro athlete. That was all. It had nothing to do with siding with either side, as I was showcasing that when you invest/support a pro series, you then basically have an obligation to also help them because then it helps YOUR own business.

B- This idea that you have that if you don’t like it, go start your own series or leave, that’s the whole problem. That attitude, makes no sense, as if having a discussion on the topic is bad, this is exactly how you improve things when IDEAS come out of these discussions. That a race series has to think of ways to protect that investment in the best way it can, not hang it out to dry. Maybe re-allocating the money was the best middle decision it could have, and that’s fine…I was simply asking out loud is it? And I was bringing up that that decision is a very important decision for their very own investment in their race series.

You’ve seemingly failed to see that- I’m not for or against either party…I’m for BOTH parties. I want BOTH to be successful here. I simply saw them re-allocating the money to another race as acknowledgement that they do in fact have the money, it’s not as if they are taking it out to “cover” other costs. They are re-allocating it, and that may be the best business option Escape had. That’s fine, I was just wondering out loud just as Ian did from the beginning, “is there not a way to divide up the pro purse in instances like this”? This isnt a race with 150 pro’s in it like an itu race, this race had what 30ish pros. Dividing $20k over 30 athletes (or whatever the specific breakdown is per gender, I think there were more males than females entered), helps them offset a flight/hotel cost much better . So I was in no way bashing Escape, I’m showcasing how protecting your investment helps YOU (the race series) as well. We just see differently on what constitutes protecting your investment in this particular case.

So good day on all this.

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Then why have a business plan that spends $$/time/resources on something (pro field).

life time asked themselves that same question. as did rev3. as did hyvee.

if your only interested in the AG field who’s paying your race, then don’t put on pro prize, if that’s the only athletes you should care about.

i thought the point of the pros was that they were a marketing vehicle, to get paying AGers to the race.

iI just think they are missing a point by not taking care of their “partner”.

why isn’t that responsibility symmetrical?

to say they should only care about the paying customer to me is stupid business practice decision, IE- then why in the hell invest in the pro race if your not willing to take care of it.

bud, we just don’t see things the same way.

Here’s a thought for for race directors who face this issue in the future. You had $20,000 allocated towards prize money, and 30 pros entered. Some of the pros MAY legitimately feel they earned the prize money for the race from promotion they did for the event. The race is approximately 2-hours, so what if you offered every pro $500 for 2-hours of work. Some idea of that work could be:

  1. Writing a 10 week sprint distance training plan
  2. A blog on race nutrition, and guidelines on using ‘*Series Nutrition Sponsor’ *product (don’t forget that the race sponsors are SOL just like the AG athletes, so you want to provide them some value where you can)
  3. Promotional videos for the race and series (I expect you have photographers/videographers who you’ve already paid for the race)
  4. Swim clinic at a local pool (maybe tough to organize on short notice, but a good way to provide some value to the paying AG customers)

The list can go on. For a race series this is a great opportunity to create content that can be used for a variety of races throughout the year. Sure, not every pro will take you up on the offer, but I think a number would. This would be more challenging for a one-off race, but I think this could have been a viable option for the Escape Series.

*Full disclosure, I race as a pro (BOP), though I’m more of a good AGer who much prefers heads up racing to rolling starts, so I race as a pro. But you might decide my opinion is biased.

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I know this would be hard on a mom-n-pop operation but we’re talking about IMG right? How deep are those pockets?

Is it Premier Event Management (PEM) holding on to the cash?