Oshkosh Tragedy

d-nort - 2009-08-09 5:53 PM

Man this sure can scare the new guy away . How tragic.

Is there a rule of thumb for how long one needs to swim before competing in their 1st tri? I know the obvious answer is the length of the swim leg, but should you train for more? I have heard you can't prepare for getting kicked and the anxiety.

My prayers go out to the family.

skavoovie - 2009-08-09 8:03 PM I think the recent deaths show that there should be a rule of thumb to get your heart checked by a doctor before starting in triathlon. Obviously it's too soon to know about this particular case, but the other deaths in the last year have all been during the swim, and they have all been due to a heart problem (heart attack or an undiagnosed heart condition). Also, I think that makes 4 in Wisconsin recently. It's a real tragedy.

Lake Swimmer - 2009-08-10 2:44 PM I attened the event this weekend as a volunteer and I did the event last year as a beginner and have had nothing but a positive experience with the exception of the untimely passing of the young woman. I would like to make a few corrections to the post by SSMinnow, as an individual who started her day at the Lake I would like everyone to know there were 14 lifeguards in the water during the event, 5 of those lifeguards were patroling the Olympic Race where you could touch bottom during the entire swim and the remainder of the lifeguards were watching the Sprint. The waves for the Olympic were sent off exactly 2 minutes apart, I helped with the gate and had to watch the clock, so I know this to be fact. I also helped with the gate for the Sprint, a short break was taken in between sending the last wave of the Olympics and the first wave of the Sprints, after that the Sprint waves were sent out every 2-3 minutes, again I was watching the clock, so I know this to be fact. As for this not being a beginer friendly race, I completely disagree, the course is fairly flat with a nice bike and run. The swim course is also well laid out, the problem is when word gets out that an event is beginner friendly more individuals tend to participate, as a result the swim naturally becomes more congested. Obviously after the tragedy that occured yesterday some issues will be addressed and things will be changed for next year, I just hope people do not get discouraged and stop attending the event, it truly is well run and the course is great.

firstnet911 - 2009-08-09 8:19 PM

I agree the deaths are tragic. The problem is that there are no cost effective screening tests that pick up many of the underlying cardic problems. 

A basic ECG might be abnormal in some of the athletes with cardiac problemms, the fact still remains that there inherent risks with any endurance activity.

 

SSMinnow - 2009-08-10 3:32 PM

Hey

I am not trying to pick a fight, just want to clarify my experience as a Wave 2'er. I was sent off exactly one minute after Wave 1 and the announcer did tell everyone the reason was because we were good swimmers.  A lot of us folks chuckled over it at the time.  If there were five lifeguards in the first 300 walkable yards in the Oly I never saw them and I swam wide to avoid the masses. Perhaps they were on the other side of the buoy line??  I only saw red boats 650 yards away at the turn-around. 

I do think this is a beginner friendly course.  I like Deanna's idea of a novice wave.  I have done other triathlons that offer this and in my first year I was thrilled to be in the group.

tall_tri_dad - 2009-08-10 2:46 PM

I too thought a novice wave might be a good solution, but Craig brings up a solid point...if you have a wave of 50 that ALL need assistance (instead of a wave of 50 where maybe 10 need assistance), how could you possibly have enough lifeguards/boats in the water? Lake Mills had a novice wave...seemed o.k. but the guards were busy!!!!!