An old acquaintance is currently in Mallorca and had signed up to the 312 short sportive. Complained that she DNF’d because they’d packed the aid stations away and that it was elitist and wasn’t designed for people like her. It is designed for everyone if you want to put in the training so you can ride at a reasonable speed. It’s a bit like complaining MDS is hot or UTMB is too long, too many hills and isn’t designed for slow runners.
9 Likes
But, but, but everyone has a “right” to finish these events 
1 Like
Tell that to Georgia Taylor-Brown! 
1 Like
Um…yes, races are actually elitist! 
2 Likes
Failure to obey a Marshall is a DQ though?
a.) A disqualification is a penalty appropriate for severe rule violations, such as (but not limited to):
(v) Failing to obey marshals or the police;
So how does a competitor know what instructions from a marshall can be ignored, and want can’t - particularly as a marshall saying “You must stop” is exactly the sort of important instruction a marshal should be giving in a safety situation?
This is when you get these situations where the athlete is stuck between a rock and a hard place:
- Directed to go wrong way by marshall, obey and DQ as athlete’s responsibility to know the course.
- Directed to go wrong way by marshall, ignore them as you know the course, DQ for not obeying marshall.
Athlete has no way of knowing if the marshall is in error or genuinely directing them around an accident or other issue.
ETA - I’m genuinely not knocking marshalls, I do it myself and make a point of thanking them whenever I pass, it’s a no win situation on both sides of the fence sometimes.
6 Likes
You’re correct - I didn’t fully explain
there are situations where TOs rely on using marshals in certain positions and we entrust them with the power to record violations (we have forms for this so records can be kept in case of appeal). Situations such as compulsory foot down at junctions; traffic light violations; static draftbusters etc. However marshals cannot DQ and this is down to the Chief TO or Race Referee (a TO with a specific brief) to do so but based on feedback from said marshals. These should be outlined in the race info and race briefing so athletes are in no doubt that they are being watched for infringements.
3 Likes
Both those situations happen and both should be reviewed before applying a penalty.
-
Athlete can leave a course but come back and re-enter at the point they left and complete the correct course without being penalised
-
No way would a DQ happen here on my watch as long as the athlete completed the correct course.
There is a 3rd scenario - when athletes follow instructions from a member of the public and go the wrong way. I was Chief TO at a champ event when that happened because the marshal at that very key spot was delayed getting there as he was attending to someone who had crashed on their bike and was in a bad way and the marshal was waiting for medics to arrive. He got to spot after the leading 10 runners (might have been a few more) had already passed by. Was the marshal wrong to look after someone injured, or the athletes wrong to listen to a member of the public??
3 Likes
I find this attitude of ‘entitlement’ difficult to understand, but acknowledge that it exists in many people. If I enter an event, I will make sure I prepare for it according to the course and my aspirations.
That people sign-up for events, with what should be full awareness of the course, the distances and the cut-offs, and then complain that it’s too hard or the cut-offs are unfair is lamentable. But how often have we discussed this.
It may surprise some of you to learn that people even pitch-up to SF Selection and bomb out on day 1 due to failing fitness tests they were fully aware of… 
5 Likes
When I did the 312 sportive I arrived an hour before the start and joined the back of the queue. It was 40 mins after the gun went off before I finally crossed the start line, such were the numbers. Getting through the aid stations even if you didn’t want to stop took forever with the roads blocked by selfish spactards. If she started way back and she was ill prepared then she was never going to manage it.
Interesting in the context of recent MDS. Seen lots saying it should have been stopped due to the extreme heat and outbreak of gastro around the camps.
My first reaction was that of entitlement, when if you sign up for an event that bills itself as the hardest foot race in the world (despite some saying it can be done as a steady profession now it’s become so mainstream) then bad luck with harsh weather is part of it and might force you to drop out; you make your own safety decisions ultimately.
But their accusations were that the medical staff were also falling ill and therefore unable to provide cover, and one claimed that they felt shamed into carrying on after medical staff gave IV rehydration and said she was safe.
My gut feeling remains that you’re ultimately responsible for your own safety, and if you choose to continue that’s on you rather than blame the organisers for not stopping the event. But I accept there is a nuance with organisational responsibility.
4 Likes
Too many people don’t take responsibility for their own safety these days and often try and blame race organisers etc.
The kit some people turn up for in fell races is really pushing requirements to the letter.
3 Likes
Problem is that if you’re in that bad shape, your own decision making may be impaired. The organisers must have a risk assessment for that and act accordingly.
1 Like
Again there’s nuance here too. Everyone is trying to travel light; but the real difference lies in the experience of the person ‘pushing the limits’.
I think there is a difference in something like MDS, ultras etc and IM branded races. Yes there have been some IM races that have gone south due to weather but in reality, at an IM race, are you really in any danger, proper danger? Help is nearly always close at hand and aid station is pretty close compared to some of the other endurance endeavours.
I think some people can be genuinely caught out, despite experience but there aren’t really an IM. No medical staff coverage out in the boonies is very different to being unprepared fo an IM I reckon.
2 Likes
+1
There’s people who have no tools on the bike and/or can’t deal with a puncture but apart from that, IM has no risk to it.
Apart from the swim death from being drowned by other competitors.
3 Likes
Yes, but they can still get lost if visibility is poor on the top of a fell, or slip etc., then it doesn’t take long to get very cold. And some are lucky if they’ve got an ultra thin jacket that won’t insulate for long.
3 Likes
As I’m on a running ‘thing’ I went to LetsRun and searched for triathlete to see what they had to say…all the first page results were variations in “triathletes vs runners”
They’re all funny but this OP and first response has me laughing
4 Likes
Yanks are mad
1 Like
2nd response was pretty good as well
3 Likes