Question on Etiquette
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jhudalla posted 18 weeks ago.
IMO since triathlon is an indiviual sport, each racer should race for themself. If I were you, and if I had the kick left to pass someone that close to the finish, sure as all heck I would have. This year at a HIM I was running to the finish line and a woman passed me with about 200 yards left... and even though she wasn't even in my age group or gender (though she still probly beat me overall due to the 20+wave start) I kicked it up and broke out into a full sprint, caught and passed her much to the crowds delight. It was pretty neat and later I thought that perhaps I saved too much on the run... anyhow, I digress.
Bottom line, triathlon is an individual sport. Think of it this way... if there was money on the line would you still have let that guy finish in front of you, or would you have tried to blow his doors off?
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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charlie6460 posted 18 weeks ago.
IMO, run your race and there is nothing wrong with a strong finish.
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tsilcyc posted 18 weeks ago.
Those who complain are those being passed in the chute. :) It's a "race". I realize there are photos and such which is why I usually try to take them down before the chute. It is also the reason I look over my shoulder heading into the chute.
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simonatc posted 18 weeks ago.
Thats what I kind of figured afterwards. Next time, I go as fast as I can no matter what. Thanks for the input everyone.
548
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314 days
jhudalla posted 18 weeks ago.
simonatc wrote:
Next time, I go as fast as I can no matter what.
That's what I tell myself every time! However, I always am able to reflect on a point when I could have pushed it a little harder. It takes alot of races to be able to know how to push it so you're minimizing those little areas.
Recently I've been telling myself that I didn't train all year and spend all this money on entry fees and travel just to lumber along and finish. I have a race in a few weeks... and for sure I'm going out there to kill it.
Good luck at your next race!
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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TriSooner posted 18 weeks ago.
As everyone has said so far, I say pass anyone and everyone even if you are on the carpet. Last time I checked, it is called a 'race.' With that said, tsilcyc has a good point: If you are of the persuasion that the finish photo matters, be mindful of other racer's positioning and possible inclusion in the photo and adjust your passing pace accordingly. (It might sound silly I know, but I'm talking about finish photos that you know in advance you will want a copy of for framing, such as IM events and marathons). For example, I may pass someone just to ensure that they (anyone!) are in the background of my photo. I am a MOP/BOP IM finisher, and I like it to look like there is someone else in the race other than just me. Also, I have purposely NOT passed someone because they are running the chute with their kids (Pet Peeve #1). Sorry, it's my photo. If I don't want your kids in my IM finish photo, you go right ahead and I'll wait. I have one IM finish photo with someone running across with a brood: Every time someone sees that pic they chortle, "Nice job. You beat some little kids. Ironman must not be too tough if four-year-olds could do it." That's what that photo looks like.
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1266 days
triNick posted 18 weeks ago.
I think you might be thinking about passing issues related to IM racing. Which, I still don't completely agree with.
I agree with what people are stating here, triathlon is an individual sport, go out there and do you best even if that mean passing someone with 100 yards to go. If that person in front of you was in your age group and there was a chance that you could be in 5th place, would you just patiently wait for him to finish before finishing yourself, HELL NO!
Don't worry about it, just go for it.
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440 days
KevDaddy posted 18 weeks ago.
Wow- my initial thought was just go as fast as you can; I've passed and been passed in the last 20 meters in races. No big deal to me when I've been passed- the other person was faster, had more left in the tank, or I was already thinking about the food line or a beer and deserved to get passed.
Reading tsilcyc and trisooner's comments has me hoping I didn't ruin someone's picture. Something for me to think about in future races.
Still, I am of the strong opinion that you should simply do your best and pass someone if they are there. Showing kindness for the picture is a good thing to do though.
Cheers,
Kevin
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1204 days
PJT posted 18 weeks ago.
Great question and one where I am not sure there is a right answer. All the points above seem fair.
I'm typically "racing" against myself and my AG these days. So if I knew the person in front of me was in my AG & wave, I would have attempted the pass without apology.
If I knew he/she wasn't in my AG, I won't ease up my pace, but I also won't pick it up just to pass them in the chute.
Generally, I try to pace the run nowadays such that I don't have the juice left for an all-out sprint. If you try to pass me in the chute, however, I may just find that extra energy. :)
688
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320 days
jsk85 posted 18 weeks ago.
In any other situation other than IM, I'd pass w/o hesitation. I've been on both sides of this in smaller races and never seen it as an issue for most people. Just do what you got to do to post the best time possible
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nyfan21 posted 18 weeks ago.
Do you know how many people I "pass" during the last leg of a triathlon near or approaching the "chute" during each race? Probably 4-6 people sometimes I feel like it's poor taste; but I am RACING that's whyI have a number on my belt and timer chip on my leg. So I don't think it's bad taste but I know why you are asking because you kinda feel bad; but I say don't.
Also I use to do in-door track in High School and Sprinting is in my blood which not alot of long distance runners have so I always Sprint to the finish...
-Mat
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1727 days
beads1985 posted 18 weeks ago.
As long as you are not 'in the chute' , and you are not pushing a shoving somebody to get around them, then you are fine.
Nothing to it, but to do it
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295 days
spomeroy posted 18 weeks ago.
Pass him/her.
Yeah at 70.3 Florida last year I was in the chute and coming up on a guy who was already there where they held the tape up for the guy to hold over his head..(OK here's a bit of a rant, but I really dislike that. I know its all personal achivement based but IMHO the only people who should be able to get to do that is the #1 male and #1 female, even if pro. To go further sure, #1AG would be fine too but all that mess at the chute/line is a pain in the ass) I got stiffarmed across the mouth as I came across when Joe Blow: and my time was nothing spectacular raised it up over his head. I sure wasn't going to wait around until he was done with his Kodak moment. And yeah I got video of it, Ill post it when I can.
Besides what if that last push is the difference btwn an AG win or a Slot win?
"Well sir you were in front of me 200m away so by all means..go ahead and take it."
cheers
S.
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1645 days
kylie posted 18 weeks ago.
It's a race, go for it. I believe that for all distances, all genders and age groups, etc. It is a race, and I like to see what I can do. If I have enough in me to get by, I do. I like to see how I stacked up overall, in my gender, and in my age group. Front, middle, or back, I still want to see how I did.
If they want a certain picture, it is up to them if it is worth changing their pace to get that shot. If you want a certain picture, again then it is up to you if it is worth waiting for. But there is no reason not to give it your best start to finish. I'm there to post my best time on that day. The pictures are just a bonus :)
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1142 days
NotAsFast posted 18 weeks ago.
Take it to the wire.
Picture three Clydesdales sprinting into a chute designed for two........ I came of the best, and we all are still talking and laughing about it today.
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TryScott posted 18 weeks ago.
Before I even started my first marathon, my wife had an idea for my finish photo. Someone she knows put the photo in a frame with their finisher medal. Anyway, the race had 10,000+ people, so I wasn't the only person finishing in around 3.5 hours. When I went across the line I felt someone fly by and bump my elbow, but I didn't think much of it. A few days later when we the photo's were online, we found out that the sprinter hero that brushed by me was actually a crazy looking old guy with a huge smile and the bib number 666. My wife refuses to buy a picture with the mark of the beast in it. I think the situation is funny, but she's upset.
As for the original question, I'll never get upset for somebody sprinting at the end of a race. If you want to hold back the energy to do it, or push yourself enough to vomit in the chute, have a ball. As for me, I try to push the last 400m or so. My defination of "push" is a pace of 6 min/mile for that 400m instead of the 7 or 8 min/mi that I ran the rest of the way. Not an all out sprint.
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1519 days
hipfan posted 18 weeks ago.
Two weeks ago, I got passed with less than 50 meters to the line. I was basically with him the whole 5 k, he would run hard as nuts, then walk. I would pass him, he would sprint again. we did this a couple of times. I just kind of laughed at the end. Finishing 43 or 44 out of 110 didn't mean that muh of a difference for me. Now if it was for a top 10 finish, I might have been more upset.
Of course if I was competing for a top 10 finish, I would be dreaming.
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1153 days
deepbluex posted 18 weeks ago.
yeah it's totally fine to sprint out and pass someone in the last millimeters of the race. That's what a race is. If you don't want to get passed, just speed up!
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jonovision_man posted 18 weeks ago.
overcome wrote:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xo-nbnw8zSI&feature=related
Hey, he ruined that other guy's picture!!! ;)
jono
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ChunkyB posted 18 weeks ago.
overcome wrote:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xo-nbnw8zSI&feature=related
Is it just me, or did that look more like a bike race than a running race. Maybe I've been watching too much TdF.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
872
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tsilcyc posted 18 weeks ago.
overcome wrote:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xo-nbnw8zSI&feature=related
The song being played "Lose Yourself" has meaning to me. I was out on a training run, visualizing my race and that song came on my MP3 player. I found it to be inspiring and kept in my mind even after the song was over. Now fast forward to race day... I'm waiting to enter the water and it came on over the PA system. Needless to say, I took it as a good omen.
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So this is my fourth year competing in triathlons, but I have only done one race each year. More about the money and traveling to races than anything else. I raced in the NJ State Sprint triathlon yesterday. Finished in 1:05:50. (7/47 in my age group and 47/1023 overall). I was very pleased with my result for the most part. My question is this: On the run, someone passed me with about 1 mile to go and he was moving pretty quick. I just figured he was faster than me and I was fine with that. Well, either he slowed down alot or I started moving pretty well, because with about 200 yards to go, I was almost caught up to him. I could have fairly easily run by him just as we were getting to the finish chute (if that's what you call it). However, I have heard people complain about spinting past someone near the finish. Should I have just run by him and figure he should speed up if he doesn't want to be passed? Or should I stick behind that close to the end?