We have our weekend picked out for the Whirlpool Steelhead Triathlon. (Aug. 6-7, 2005) Now we need to decide on Saturday or Sunday for the race. We have had the race on Sunday the past two years. What do you think? Do you like to race on Saturday or Sunday! thanks for letting me know. Z
Saturday so you can sleep in the day after.
Either or. Most races I’ve done have been on Sunday but it likely wouldn’t matter much to me. Some people go to church Sundays but others may work or go to synagogue on Saturdays so you can’t please everybody.
Since I work most Saturdays, Sundays are better. Most people with kids have to run them to soccer games, baseball games, and then go through the “honey do” list, etc. on Saturdays; most of them have Sunday free to do whatever.
I made out my tentative schedule for next season and the Muncie Endurathon or the Steelhead were two races I had but it was going to be one or the other. If you were to schedule for saturday that would give you the leg up in my opinion.
I have always wondered why triathlons and the super bowl are scheduled on Sundays. The superbowl is a little more obvious but I can’t think of a good reason for races.
Tom,
It seems by default that most races are on Sunday. However, over the years there have been the odd races that I have done that have been on Saturday. I have often thought that this was very cool. Race hard on Sat. Then party on Sat. night. Then you have all day Sunday to recover or do something else before heading back into work in Monday. Seems more civilized.
Fleck
I’ll be doing the Steelhead, definetly like the idea of it on Sat. Like Fleck said nice to hang out alittle on Sat night and have some fun.
Tom,
If you look around West Michigan you will find most of the races are Saturdays. I can’t speak for St. Joe but areas north like Holland, GR etc are very Christian. I think you would lose a fair number of locals that just won’t race on Sunday.
Personally, it doesn’t matter much to me, I’ll be there either way. If the race moves to Saturday, when will the kids race be held? It’s already an A race on my son’s calender 
Thom
Endlessly debateable but I vote for Sunday.
Saturday for all the reasons already listed, but to recap:
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You can party afterwards if you’re so inclined. (No problem if you’re not)
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You don’t have to rush home afterwards, so more participants can enjoy the awards and festivities.
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You don’t have to worry about the local church putting the kybosh on your race. (just kidding)
I love Saturday races for many of the reasons stated below. Basically get off work on Friday night, eat a good dinner and relax. Race Saturday AM and go out Saturday night and have fun. Nothing like a good meal and a couple of beers after a hard race, then spending Sunday hanging out with nothing to worry about. I’m 25 and would guess that younger racers will always vote for Saturday.
Keep the responses coming - score is 8 for Sat and 2 for Sunday with 2 “either or”. Z
"* You don’t have to worry about the local church putting the kybosh on your race. (just kidding) "
Actually that is an issue that RD’s have to deal with, especially when designing the bike course.
No-contest… Saturday
I vote Saturday for the reasons stated above.
Also, doing a triathlon in cities on Saturday where I have friends with whom I can stay, but they are not triathletes, means I can get the race over, enjoy it, and then spend time with them having fun Saturday night and Sunday, instead of resting for the race on Sunday.
I vote for Saturday. For a myriad of reasons, but there are two main reasosns;
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I don’t have to skip church to race on Saturday; and
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I can relax and recover on Sunday rather have to go to work the day after a race.
It really depends on the race. If I’m going to travel for a bit “Event” then I want the race to be on Saturday. I’m likely to be taking time off work anyway, and I like the opportunity to go out the night of the race and enjoy myself before I have to get out of dodge. If it’s a local race, I don’t care if it’s Saturday or Sunday, it’s really a toss up. The only time I really prefer Sundays is if the race is about 3-5 hours away and I plan on spending the night the day before. If this race were on Saturday I’d want to take Friday off which I’d rather not do.
Hi Tom: Held the Grand Columbian on Saturday – mainly so we could do a combined volunteer appreciation/athlete pancake breakfast on Sunday (which was really fun BTW). And since we were iron distance as well thought clean up on Sunday would be easier. Heard a few people doing the half complain about having to travel on Friday so I proposed changing to Sunday. It was quite funny when the Rotary club took a straw vote, had I moved to Sunday I would have lost half my volunteers to church or simply because Saturday is their “volunteer” day. I’d be curious. You might check with your volunteer groups and maybe find a few churches willing to help. I’m stickin’ with Saturday due to popular demand.
Saturday. In my opinion, it makes the weekend seem longer.
I vote for Saturday. I always hate having to go to work the day after a race.