Hearing reports Rev3 Knoxville was a nightmare due to cold rainy weather. Reminds me of Quassy Olympic last year.
At what point do you just say, you know what, I will eat the entry fee and just skip the race?
cold, rainy?
meh
Heavy rain. Sometimes I have to remind myself I do this for fun. I’ve seen too many people go down on slick road surfaces when wet. I also know the feeling of daily washing of shoulder to knee road rash. I don’t need to pay to feel that again.
all comes down to the swim for me. Just how bad is that water looking? i dont mind rain, wind makes you work harder but its not a limiter to pull the plug. Its the sea which may one day eat my race fee. Fortunately havent had to yet, but the ride/run i dont mind so much, but swimming in slop when im a really bad swimmer would not be a lot of fun.
Agree w/ Mr Mott.
Cold and rainy just means you hafta dress properly.
Let’s see, weather reasons I wouldn’t race:
active T-storms, accumulation of snow/ice, temps into the high 90’s-100’s with high humidity.
(that last one, you’d probably know you were getting it if you signed up for certain events - which I’d pretty much never do).
The prior 2, it’s just not worth dying and all. And the race would be cancelled anyway, precluding me from making that decision.
I think it is more likely for the RD to cancel the race than for me not to show up due to weather alone.
That isn’t because I’m BAMF, it is because I’m stupidly stubborn.
Triathlon is an outdoor sport. It’s exposed to the weather and the elements. The weather is what the weather is. It’s not something you can control.
Many get worked up about this - I suspect this is because( apologies for offending anyone ahead of saying this) that many are fair-weather trainers. When its crappy outside, they dont ride or run. They skip the day completely. A number of coaches that I know that coach many athletes have confirmed this for me. The other reason is that in a control obsessed society, this is something the people can`t control.
So when they face a race day with inclement weather, they don`t know how to either physically or mentally deal or cope with it.
The unfortunate part about all this, is that years later, its training days and racing days with wild and crazy weather are the days that you really remember. The perfect day thats sunny and 70F is the one(s) you forget. It gives you stories, because when all is said and done, it`s the stories that really matter. It can be individual or bond you with others who went through the same thing with you.
As with most things it`s not that complicated. Do what you need to do. Embrace it and move forward!
I think it is more likely for the RD to cancel the race than for me not to show up due to weather alone.
That isn’t because I’m BAMF, it is because I’m stupidly stubborn.
Sounds about right for me. The stupidity, stubborn, and partly arrogant. While training in Mallorca, during pouring rains (it was a warm rain), I wanted to keep going, but after 2 hours the group called it. I brought up “would you quit 2 hours into an Ironman if the weather was like this?”, and unfortunately I was still outvoted. I should have gone solo (hindsight is 20/20).
**temps into the high 90’s-100’s with high humidity. **
Like Ironman Hawaii! 
I did it this past weekend. Local in town race here in Atlanta. Cold (mid 40’s), raining, pool swim. I got up to go and had everything ready then got an email that they were cancelling the bike portion b/c of road conditions and it would only be a swim/run. That just didn’t seem fun in those conditions so I went back to bed. Donation to PATH foundation complete I guess
**temps into the high 90’s-100’s with high humidity. **
Like Ironman Hawaii!
Yeah, exactly. (Or STX.)
Kona is pretty much Kryptonite to me, across the board:
No wettie - check!
No real hills on bike - check!
Hot and humid and full sun on run - check!
IF I were to ever qualify again (highly unlikely, for many reasons), I’d probably still go, in spite of all that.
Active thunderstorms for sure and for biking ice/snow…
Joel
Hearing reports Rev3 Knoxville was a nightmare due to cold rainy weather.
I think the way triathlons are going people will only race if it is between 70 - 80F, no wind, no rain and light cloud cover.
This is a tough sport, right?
Heavy rain. Sometimes I have to remind myself I do this for fun. I’ve seen too many people go down on slick road surfaces when wet. I also know the feeling of daily washing of shoulder to knee road rash. I don’t need to pay to feel that again.
Yep. My only DNF ever was when I came out of the pool and ran into a heavy thunderstorm(bad enough that they stopped people from entering the pool for 20 minutes after I left). I made it about 3 miles in a downpour with 30mph crosswinds before turning around and turning my chip in. It wasn’t an ‘A’ race, I had bigger goals later in the season.
Lightning coming down onto the water or the course.
Hail the size of golf balls.
Tornado? Hurricane?
Rain is just water. I’m waterproof. Rainy race means extra care and cleaning of my bike after the race, and means being extra careful in the corners. The rest is psychological.
If cold, dress appropriately.
Windy? Bring it bitches! If I’m pushing big watts and barely moving it means everyone else is too.
I think it is more likely for the RD to cancel the race than for me not to show up due to weather alone.
That isn’t because I’m BAMF, it is because I’m stupidly stubborn.
x2… The RD will have to cancel before I do. If I know I DNS because of bad condition and someone finished then it will probably bother me for a very long time.
No weather.
I’ve raced and ridden in storming rain and hail - in one instance, under-dressed as pre-race conditions were hot and steamy. I’ve raced and ridden in 35c+ temps with high humidity.
We race, we adapt. I won’t set PRs on a hot day, and I won’t take as many risks into corners on a wet day. But I’ll line up and do my best.
I’ve been through it all. Rain, harder than a car wash and 55 degrees, a tornado watch, and the morning after a hurricane, and 6pm races that began with temps in the 90’s and similar humidity. I’d have to say, the worst are the really hot ones. I’ve overheated on swims in 85 degree water and never recovered the whole race. Not sure if I would skip a race in the heat, but now that I’m older I’d definitely race differently, as in, take it easy rather than kill myself and try to pr everytime out.
Canceled race.
If it’s a running race, the reasons not to run are endless.
If it’s a triathlon, it’d take an act of God. If God’s not available, then the RD will suffice.