Lemme be honest, I was at a race a few months ago and as all the athletes began to pack-up their bikes and head home there were still a few people hanging around waiting for the awards ceremony. Now these hangers out were the guys and gals waiting for their top 3 awards in their age groups and in the overall. OK, thats cool, but what really bothered me was that none of them were at the finish waiting for the last few folks to cross the line. Hell, even the event organizer was busy pulling the times from the chip computer and was oblivious to the situation. This is weak. We ought to make it an informal etiquette out of mutual respect to wait and cheer on all finishers. Is their accomplishment any less than yours? If you do stay for all the finishers to cross than kudos for being a compassionate soul, but if you are one of those self-absorbed losers who thinks the whole world evolves around themselves than poo-poo on you, bad form and I hope you get three flat tires on your next ride or race. Happy Holidays!
I’m in agreement. I like sticking around to watch friends finish but I always leave before the awards ceremony. They are long and boring. A race well run is its own reward. Well, I guess though, that said I did really enjoy the awards ceremony at RBTT Fatum Bank Triathlon in Curacao.
I agree, no need to stay for most awards. Not that I have many, but what do you do with them once you get them home anyway? The one exception is the Starkerrman in Gaylord where you get those great beer steins. I have taken mine to work to drink water out of after making the mistake of using the first one for rum and cokes.
I stayed for that. The Mermaid and I went for a swim in the lake after.
I like sticking around to watch friends finish but I always leave before the awards ceremony.
Hmmm. I’m not sure where I stand here. It seems kind of unsportsmanlike not to stick around for the awards ceremony and applaud the winners. At one of the sprints I did this year, they handed out medals to each age group winner, and by the time they got around to doing it, 2/3 of the people had already left, and most of the others were milling around the refreshment table snarfing down oranges or whatever. It seemed rude.
Would you stick around for the awards if the ceremony was shorter and more to the point?
“Would you stick around for the awards”
I’ve got no choice. My wife always gets an award. I’d usually be leaving a lot sooner other wise.
I wouldn’t dare leave before everything ended…might miss out on some of the amazing draw prizes they hand out (RP Ekynox glasses, Hammer Gel, Gatorade mix, hats, clothes, whatever…)free is free and unless you’re rich enough to not want free why not stay. Heck even if you have more than you can ever need…why not accept the prize and toss it into the crowd…or find the last place finisher (or a first timer to the sport) and give it to them. Talk about making someones day and boosting your ego all at the same time (call it a performance booster that costs you nothing). For that matter it is one of the rare times sponsors get a chance to plug their wares…and if you leav you’re taking away their share. Where would races be without sponsors. I do it to show support for my RDs because all too often most people just bitch to them about stuff abd all too rarely get a pat on the back.
I definitely wish they’d shorten up the awards ceremonies. Waiting around is fine if you’re there solo, but so many people have spouses or kids at the race and said dependents really start to get all wilty and cranky from lowblood sugar by 10:00 am since they’re been up since 4:45 too and haven’t gotten to eat quite so many gels or yummy orange slices. (Though I have gotten to the point of making sure my husband-sherpa has a pb sandwich in the glovebox he can eat while I’m out on the bike course)
My deal with the sherpa is that we only have to stick around after the race if I win something (yes, I like collecting shiny bits of metal, plastic, and award beer mugs) or if the door prizes look relly, really good and I’m hoping I’ll get a nice raffle prize.
I definitely wish they’d shorten up the awards ceremonies. Waiting around is fine if you’re there solo, but so many people have spouses or kids at the race and said dependents really start to get all wilty and cranky from lowblood sugar by 10:00 am since they’re been up since 4:45 too and haven’t gotten to eat quite so many gels or yummy orange slices. (Though I have gotten to the point of making sure my husband-sherpa has a pb sandwich in the glovebox he can eat while I’m out on the bike course)
My deal with the sherpa is that we only have to stick around after the race if I win something (yes, I like collecting shiny bits of metal, plastic, and award beer mugs) or if the door prizes look relly, really good and I’m hoping I’ll get a nice raffle prize.
I’d prefer to stay and wait for final finishers and awards but family/time does not always allow for it.
Good point Kent. I won a pair of shoes in the draw prize one time. You don’t win if they draw your number and have already left.
the season ending draw where I won the Polar 625 was by far my best win…and I’ve won my fair share over the years.
I’ve had some good luck also on draw prizes, but nothing as nice as a Polar. I also won another set of shoes in a 5 kms for “middle of the pack” award.
lol…almost no point in guys like us winning running shoes now is there
cycling shoes on the other hand…
guess I better stock up on tubes.
Yeah, it would be great if early finishers stuck around to cheer in the more leisurely amongst us. And, yeah, it would be great if the awards ceremony was a short and sweet affair. But the thing that really burns my ass is the when the younger age groups, who get to receive their awards in front of a crowd of other award-getters, leave as soon as they receive their award and applause! The crowd keeps thinning out until the “more mature” age groupers get their just dessert in front of only each other! It’s bad enough that we have to stand around at the start watching and cheering as wave after wave of younger AGers go off.
Either stay for all of the awards or go right the hell home!!
Frank
It is not easy for most people to to stick around and applaud others for their awards. This is a pretty self-centered sport, and award ceremonies and recognitions for any sporting event, no matter how efficient, are always long, right when you are getting ready to get on the road.
Not many people today demonstrate much basic courtesy, even if it means thanking the volunteer old lady who helped you get a drink or registration bag, etc. I tell my children that you should thank the volunteers as if they were your mother/father/brother/sister, because they are someone’s…
While it less than cool for people to not give a half hour of clapping to add to the psyche of the event, it is a really poor showing for those who do win awards to take their awards (and applause) and leave before the later recipients have gotten theirs.
Alright, the deal is we all ned to lighten up and live a little. So relax, have a donut.