What happens to a race during thunderstorms?
548
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314 days
jhudalla posted 18 weeks ago.
I've had a race where the swim was cancelled due to the high winds and generally oceanic like waves on a lake. No thunderstorms though. You should email the race director and see the SOP is.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
337
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267 days
diva_mom posted 18 weeks ago.
i went to a race where there were t-storms before the start time, and well into it. RD said he had to wait one hour after the last visible lightening strike to start the swim and wound up cancelling the race because his street closure permits would expire before many would finish. got very wet waiting around for the decision and met some new tri friends. people wore wetsuits to stay warm in the rain.
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
1012
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1204 days
PJT posted 18 weeks ago.
I've done two that were delayed by an hour or two by T-storms. One, they had to shorten from an Oly to a sprint b/c the police wouldn't extend their times to close intersections. The other went off as normal even though it stormed for 5 hours right up until the race started.
Bring extra fluids/a light snack in case you find yourself sitting around during a delay.
Be prepared to get wet on the bike even if it stops raining, and be ready to run with wet feet.
I usually pack a plastic baggie in my transition bag and will put my running shoes in there if it looks like rain. I like to at least start the run with dry shoes, even if it won't last.
Above all, stay mentally flexible. Things change unexpectedly in races all the time. Just accept reality and develop a plan-B to deal with it.
4949
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1727 days
beads1985 posted 18 weeks ago.
I haven't had any issues with a tri or a swim but I have run a 1/2 marathon and a marathon in the pouring rain during a thunderstorm and there was no delay. I just ran in a garbage bag for a while until I warmed up.
Nothing to it, but to do it
316
Member
672 days
KitKat posted 18 weeks ago.
My first HIM had a massive storm. The start was delayed by 30 minutes because the Navy had a hard time planking the buoys in the ocean. They ended up losing the last one and we had to do an extra loop. Swells reached 3-5 ft, it was nasty.
Here's a picture from that morning. I thought I was walking into hell....
1192
Member
348 days
TriSooner posted 18 weeks ago.
diva_mom's and PJT's experience is a probability for you. I have heard, though, of turning tri's into du's by cancelling the swim. Lightning and high winds (waves) are the concern, not the rain.
997
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413 days
109
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1239 days
JMA posted 18 weeks ago.
PJT wrote:
Bring extra fluids/a light snack in case you find yourself sitting around during a delay.
Yes! Shivering can burn alot of calories.
38
Member
1138 days
gauntlet posted 18 weeks ago.
I did the Muncie Endurathon a couple of weeks ago...half distance IM. The swim waves were all moved up , some by over a half hour to try and beat a storm. The idea was that they couldn't make you stop after you were out of the water if the storm hit. If it started while you were in the water, lightning being the concerning factor, depending on how far you were they would have to pull you out.
I had my best swim time and the storm came hard after I hit the beach. It lasted 3 hours. Good times. Some were pulled out and did not register a swim time but were able to continue the event.
773
Member
1413 days
Star posted 18 weeks ago.
Two events come to mind:
1. I just ran an ultra in Vermont, where we endured sun, heat, humidity, rain, thunder, lightening and hail! They did not call the race. Boy, that was fun!
2. I raced a HIM in Clermont, Florida the summer we had four hurricanes come through Florida. One was threatening the weekend of the race, and the RD did not call it.
So...be prepared for everything!
"I'm more fun than an iPod!"
My blog: http://star.trifuel.net
634
Member
733 days
Ironmom posted 18 weeks ago.
I've encountered a lot of bad weather and never had a race called (including high winds, waves, torrential rain, hail), but I know they will delay or call a race for lightning around the swim start. I would be prepared for anything. Always bring 3 - 5 big black garbage bags and a roll of electrical tape to any race start. You can wear them and cover your gear with them. I've often been one of the few people running in dry shoes thanks to my garbage bags over my transition area if the weather looks iffy. Once it even saved me when timed lawn sprinklers accidentally came on and completely soaked everyone's transition area (imagine biking and running a HIM in totally soaked socks - ouch!)
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
2954
Member
1369 days
Anton posted 18 weeks ago.
Star wrote:
Two events come to mind:1. I just ran an ultra in Vermont, where we endured sun, heat, humidity, rain, thunder, lightening and hail! They did not call the race. Boy, that was fun!
2. I raced a HIM in Clermont, Florida the summer we had four hurricanes come through Florida. One was threatening the weekend of the race, and the RD did not call it.So...be prepared for everything!
Star! What a hoot...Call an Ultra because of weather? Never happens!
100 degrees and 100% humidity...still on
15 degrees and six inches of snow...yup...still on
Tropical storms...go, man go!
I did hear once of an Ultra being shortened due to a Hurricane...they went from 100 miles to 100 Km.
Always go to a triathlon ready to run a du...happens all the time and in this area of the country, if water quality issues aren't resolved, it's going to happen more often.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
I have mentally prepared myself for just about any race condition, windy, cold, hot, rainy, etc. But I looked up the weather forecast for my race this weekend and it is listed as scattered thunderstorms starting at 3AM all the way through 10AM (race start is planned for 7AM). Granted, this is also New England and the weather could totally change at a moments notice.
I know they try to make these things run as much as possible but has anyone ever had a race cancelled, delayed, shortened, etc. due to the threat of thunderstorms on race morning? I assume I wouldn't find anything out until that morning although there is mandatory packet pick-up/registration on Saturday (the day before the race). How have you handled these situations personally or seen them handled by the race coordinators? I imagine it's entirely possible for a T-storm to pick up without warning...has this happened and what did you do?
I'd like to hear your thunder/lightening race stories.