So one of my friends went to the mandatory athlete meeting yesterday. And apparently this is the first 70.3 that actually makes it mandatory by stamping your hand when you get there. You can’t get your package without the stamp. But I digress
At the meeting they said according to WTC rules no pacing devices are allowed. They mentioned Garmins, foot pods and metronomes. So at the end someone specifically asked if they could wear their Garmin for the race and the answer was a flat NO.
I think this is a large departure from the norm isn’t it? Anybody have any insight into this?
Are you allowed to wear a watch if you’ve graduated pre-school? The only thing I can think of is that it’s a sponsorship issue, but this and making the mandatory meeting mandatory are bullsh!t.
Are you racing? Did you miss the mandatory meeting? I know I wouldn’t have gone and I wonder if people didn’t go and won’t be allowed to race?
If I were racing I’d wear the Garmin and dare them to DQ me. That’s how I roll!
apparently there was a lot of community support for the race with a lot of people doing the race as their first triathlon ever. that heat and humidity with the newbies is a recipe for disaster so I think that’s why they made the meeting mandatory.
As for the garmin, i think this is getting out of hand. really, why is the run so different from the bike?
Are you allowed to wear a watch if you’ve graduated pre-school? The only thing I can think of is that it’s a sponsorship issue, but this and making the mandatory meeting mandatory are bullsh!t.
Are you racing? Did you miss the mandatory meeting? I know I wouldn’t have gone and I wonder if people didn’t go and won’t be allowed to race?
If I were racing I’d wear the Garmin and dare them to DQ me. That’s how I roll!
You can’t pick up your packet without attending the mandatory meeting. Walk up to the registration area and they will ask to see your stamp. So, yes, if you miss the meeting you can’t race.
Plus there are >3000 people racing. But that’s another issue.
making the mandatory meeting mandatory are bullsh!t.
Devil’s advocate here but if they called it an optional meeting than making it mandatory would be BS.
btw I don’t go to them either but it looks like another example of new management actually (or at least trying to) enforcing their rules (e.g. finish line)
Assuming this is true, then the strange part is that there is no usat rule against wearing a pacing device; which is itself iteresting but also the head referee’s letter makes no mention of it.
This sounds like a local person who is vaguely familiar with the rules and laws. Louisiana doesn’t have a helmet law. Because this is a first event for LA, if you are really wanting a Garmin, I think you should get someone who can really represent IM to give you an answer and set a set in stone policy.
FWIW, at Lake Steven’s 70.3 last year the meeting was mandatory as well. They closed the doors to the ballroom on the hour, and if you were 5 mins late, you had to wait an hour til the next one. (ask me how i know that). The halls of the Holiday Inn at Everett are a great place to spend an hour, lemme tell you.
Assuming this is true, then the strange part is that there is no usat rule against wearing a pacing device; which is itself iteresting but also the head referee’s letter makes no mention of it.
In general, I can’t find the official wtc rules anywhere. They should be published somewhere prior to the event.
I couldn’t find the WTC rules anywhere either. And apprarently they didn’t mention anything about beeping. They were spicifically asked the question: Can we use Garmins. And the answer was No, you cannot use your Garmin during the race.
Granted, I am telling my guys to wear it anyway. Just found it very odd.
Just finished the mandatory meeting. Re guy said YES garmins are okay, you just have to have them on silent. No audible pacing devices are allowed.
Meeting was quick and not a big deal. I would rather have the new people go to the meeting and have to sit through it than not.
One interesting thing is that this bike course is supposed to be fast fast fast. They awknowlwged that it’s going to be hard to stay draft legal because of the 3000+ athletes. They are looking for blatent drafting violations.
I’ve done Lake Stevens twice, I think or maybe it was 3 times, and traveling north for an hour to attend the meetings and drop stuff off the day before is a big hassle. First year I did it I picked everything up that morning. It was great!
Only the PEM IM 70.3 races have “mandatory” race meetings. Check the web sites at the other IM 70.3 races to see about their meetings - Ironman 70.3 Kansas and Steelhead have race meetings, but they are recommended by not mandatory. Z
