There seems to be quite a stir about the calf markings of age groups… It raises a question about the definition of racing. Is it to only do your best in your age group or overall? What is your thought about this? Should age group markings play such a pivitol role in the sport or is this a small majority that only race for age group and should it over shadow the main concept of the overall race? Should races not have overall? Should we just have age group races… for example, on Saturday we will have a sprint triathlon for people in the age group of 30-34…
I think it totally depends on your race level. If you are very good, then you are racing for the overall. Any competitor ahead of you is someone to pass, regardless of what bracket they are in.
For someone who for example, is in their 50’s, then they probably want to make sure that they save their “attacks” for someone in their AG.
I will do my best reguardless of where I’m at in my AG.
With that said I am very seldom a podium threat and don’t pass many people on the run. I’m just holding on at that point and normally unable to chase anyone down anyway.
I do like the AG markings though.
jaretj
Waves, lack of swim fitness and unfamiliarity with other athletes make it very difficult for me to engage in intense head to head battles. As such, most tris are a time trial for me and my goals are for age group placings.
Duathlons tend to be smaller and more often mass rather than wave start so I’ve have a few memorable battles racing in that format because I know where I stand. With no swim I also tend to think more in terms of overall placing than in AG unless it is a larger race like du nationals.
Chad
The answers here are gonna be very varied. I myself can only worry about AG placement as overall will likely never be in my reach. However during a race I like having tons of different people racing, you may find someone to try and chase thats not in your AG but will help you push more. For some people AG wins or podiums gives some sort of tangible goal which is good. I admit that while I race for myself and push its a little nice to be recognized as fastest amongst my cohorts.
I have only occasionally looked at the leg markings as most are usually worn away by the run, I guess if I was coming close to the finish and saw someone in my AG I could catch I would push myself a little harder to get by them, but the way I race I am pushing all the time so I’m not sure where I would find any extra energy.
Depends on the race. If it’s a smaller local event and I’m near the pointy end and have any chance of overall podium I will try to pass or hold off anyone. If it’s a race where I know I’m no where near the podium yet still racing hard and hoping for an AG spot I will sometimes let someone go who is not in my AG for fear of blowing up if I try to chase them down or go with them and lose even more spots. However all bets are off in the last mile of the run and no one should be allowed to pass (although that does not always work out).
How else do you know who you should be passing? …haha. However, getting passed by someone with a 78 on their calf was a humbling experience. I go full bore, whatever the markings, but it is nice to be able to look around and asses your real age.
Calf markings are meaningless to me. I’m nowhere near the pointy end of any race, but if I’m nearing the end of the run I’m going as fast and as hard as I can. If you’re in front of me and not moving faster than I am, I’ll pass you. If you’re behind me and stronger, you’ll pass me. It’s pretty simple. Age/gender has no bearing on the situation.
owever during a race I like having tons of different people racing, you may find someone to try and chase thats not in your AG but will help you push more…but the way I race I am pushing all the time so I’m not sure where I would find any extra energy.
However all bets are off in the last mile of the run and no one should be allowed to pass (although that does not always work out).
So do age group markings make or break your race? I would think that again at the root of racing, if we were to compare you racing where you didn’t know age group, you would race your best race you know how vs a race with age group markings, where you are racing to only pass that person in your age group, sometimes not knowing how many more are in front of you… you would accomplish the same or better result in the former… That’s why i think age group markings are a dumb argument. Why make a rule for the exception to the definition of the race?
I don’t race for overall, I’m just not fast enough. But I do like the calf markings with age listed. I’ve had a few memorable battles with people in my age group over the years. These are some of my best memories in triathlon.
I’m not chasing down someone that is 34 years old, either on the bike or run, then blow up, only to get passed by someone in my age group (50-54) in the last 1/4 mile and have nothing left for the fight.
owever during a race I like having tons of different people racing, you may find someone to try and chase thats not in your AG but will help you push more…but the way I race I am pushing all the time so I’m not sure where I would find any extra energy.
However all bets are off in the last mile of the run and no one should be allowed to pass (although that does not always work out).
So do age group markings make or break your race? I would think that again at the root of racing, if we were to compare you racing where you didn’t know age group, you would race your best race you know how vs a race with age group markings, where you are racing to only pass that person in your age group, sometimes not knowing how many more are in front of you… you would accomplish the same or better result in the former… That’s why i think age group markings are a dumb argument. Why make a rule for the exception to the definition of the race?
I guess I would say I like AG’s but the markings have no bearing on me, at this point they do not make or break my race. That said if I was towards the pointy end of my AG and markings were something that actualy didnt wash off I guess I’d like to know if I was mere seconds behind a higher place in my AG.
There is a difference between who I should pass and who I’m able to pass
jaretj
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Have you been in the last few miles of an ironman believing that you are in contention for a roll down spot for Kona? Believing that each person in you age group that you pass or that pases you might make a difference in achieving the goal that you have worked a year to achieve (on top of the work from the preceding years)? If you have, then you know that you are not out there strolling along, you are SUFFERING and by that point trying to guage how much more suffering (pace)you can handle. Is the amount of suffering you can handle increased by the motivation provided by someone in your age group just ahead of you that maybe you can catch? You bet it is. Does someone outside my age group provide the same motivation, no, not even close.
At the rolldowns on Monday, those guys ahead of me in other age groups are long forgotten but the guys in my age group just ahead and just behind are also at the rolldowns and our placing between ourselves becomes all important.
That’s the way it is for me.
I applaud those who go all out to beat everyone they can. But I suspect even for those guys, some"victories" are more important than others and provide that extra motivation to suffer even more and go even faster.
There is no way I will be within the same county for overall
(was racing 60-64 now 65-69) My point in racing is to do the
best I can on any given day. That being said I do enjoy passing
younger folks and it feels good to be told while passing or being
passed that they hope they can do as well when they’er my age.
Of course that may be all or part BS but it still feels good.
I’ve had some good memories of pushing to pass or stay ahead
of other folks in AG. Locally in my AG I’m alone or very little
competition so I enjoy going to bigger races sometimes I get my
ass handed to me but often I place. So I think AG markings are
good. As a general rule there is a very select few that have a
realistic chance at overall placing.
in a wave start race it makes a little difference to me as i like to see if i am passing people who i know started before me or if I am getting passed by people who started behind me but bottom line is if you are in front of me and I can pass you i will no age descrimination here…
I just really like being able to see everyone’s age before and after the event in general. I think its a fun people watching bonus, and also very telling about what exercise and diet can do in your older years.
I think the AG markings are stupid. You dont have them in regular running events. If you’re that competitve, you should know who your competition is or find out. Being M40-44 is wierd anyway. Techincially, I could be the 9th M4044 and still place in my AG.
I go as fast as I can in every race regardless of who’s around me. And, I never make any excuse when someone beats me. I never say, “Oh, it was a “C” race for me” or “Well, I just did a 20 miler Wednesday” or “I’ve been sick.” No, we all made the same decision to race or not race and if you beat me, you beat me.
My goal is to run with the elites. If on the way I win the AG thats just dandy. But as of NOW I can only place in AG in small town races that just started. But it’s not for lack of "TRI"ing. Until you hit a certain level there should be AG’s. So it’s right or after 35 you can call it a masters div.
99% of the time all body markings are meaningless for me, but racing from the front is a different experience and knowing where you are within your AG and what the splits between you and the racer ahead/behind you are become very important. You can conserve energy in certain parts of the bike or run in order to make an attack later, or conversely, push hard to try and break a chaser while gambling that you won’t run out of gas first.
I’ve only been in this situation a few times, but knowing who the competition is and where they are is a key part of the race.
Since I’m just an AG’er and have no interest in ever going to Kona (assuming I could even get there) there’s nothing on the line for me, but for those with a stake in the race losing that information so a bunch of people can wear goofy looking, ineffectual socks is pretty pathetic.
<< so a bunch of people can wear goofy looking, ineffectual socks is pretty pathetic >>
Ah yes, I remember not too long ago the exact same thing was being said about aero helmets.
They’re dorky, they don’t really do anything, people are posers for wearing them.
Have you tried compression socks? I fully 110% agree, they may be the dorkiest thing yet (ok, not worse than a speedo or man-bra, but right up there), but I think they are useful at times.
I’d be more than happy to write my age w/ a sharpie on mine. I’d probably put 44 instead of 43, so it would be good for this year and next (assuming it didn’t wash out by then anyway, in which case, I’d put it on there again).
I’ve had the bodymarkers put my age behind my knee, or just above on my lower hammy, so my competition ‘knows’ I’m in their AG. It’s only fair.
I like knowing/seeing AG info. Can be very motivating on the run, passing people, or trying to stay w/ someone who passes you.
Also nice to check out the hottie ladies who often amaze me when I see their age on their calves. Fitness is a good thing. : )