Do you have to swim in the swim section of the event

Originally posted by mike761 running up the shore line instead of swimming will get you DQ'ed. This is a 3 sport event, if you can't swim, don't sign up.

Originally posted by BuckHamilton this is for you rules officals out there. the race I am looking it is a swim in a narrow river where you swim upstream then turn arround and swim downstream back to swim exit. the rules say "Swimmers are required to stay on course, swim clockwise, and keep turn buoys on their right. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.". So if went wide to the left I would be in shallow water and I could walk up the side of the river on the river bank. is there a rule of how close to the buoys you need to be?

Originally posted by ChrisM

USAT sanctioned?  Legal:

 

4.2 Bottom Contact and Resting. A participant may stand on the bottom or rest by holding an inanimate object such as a buoy, boat, rope or floating object. Excluding the bottom, a participant shall not use any inanimate object to gain forward progress. A violation of this section shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his/her sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage, or (ii) the violation constituted endangerment under Section 3.4(1).

Sounds miserable to me, but legal.   And I think getting into ankle deep water and running may (should IMO) get you into hot water.   That's a violation of the spirit if not the letter

IMO

Originally posted by ChrisM

USAT sanctioned?  Legal:

 

4.2 Bottom Contact and Resting. A participant may stand on the bottom or rest by holding an inanimate object such as a buoy, boat, rope or floating object. Excluding the bottom, a participant shall not use any inanimate object to gain forward progress. A violation of this section shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his/her sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage, or (ii) the violation constituted endangerment under Section 3.4(1).

Sounds miserable to me, but legal.   And I think getting into ankle deep water and running may (should IMO) get you into hot water.   That's a violation of the spirit if not the letter

IMO

Originally posted by Goggles Pizzano

I think it has to be noted that you cannot exit the water for it to be a violation ?  I read about a race a ways back where this was an issue because part of the swim was really close to the shore.  I say it has to be noted because then it becomes a matter of following the prescribed course

a. Entire Course. Participants must cover the prescribed course in its entirety. It is the participant’s responsibility to know the course. Any violation of this section, even if no advantage is gained, shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage, or (ii) the violation constituted endangerment under Section 3.4(l). In the event the Head Referee makes such a determination, the penalty shall be disqualification.

 

Originally posted by ChrisM

Well, you're parsing exiting the water, and sounds like you're looking for a justification to run in really shallow water for some unexplained reason.  

Originally posted by Goggles Pizzano

Try again.   It goes in context with the rule you posted.  About how to AVOID people running the swim course. 

Originally posted by mike761



I think most ref's would give at least a time penalty if not a DQ for running up the side of the river instead of swimming. It's a different story if your a bad swimmer and you stand or slow walk(slower than the swimmers) in waste deep water to stop from drowning. If your just trying to go faster and get an advantage by running up the side in ankle deep water your a total D'bag. IMHO

Originally posted by BuckHamilton plus its fun to get a good argument going here

Originally posted by g_shotts Probably not, especially if lots of people are doing it.The Buffalo Springs Lake HIM is a beach start on a small cove. A few years ago, when the gun went off to start the men's pro wave, the pro's took off running along the shore of the cove for about 200-yards to the main body of the lake, then waded in and started swimming. All the following waves saw what they did and followed suit. Ref's reviewed the rules, and concluded there was nothing that prevented this. The next year (and every year since), the RD has put buoys on both sides of the beach and made a channel that the rules explicitly required people to stay inside. The IM races in both Louisville and The Woodlands typically have people walking during shallow portions of the swim, but these sections are usually 3' or 4' deep. Even slow swimmers end up passing them, but that's a little different than running along the shore or wading in ankle deep water.

Originally posted by ChrisM

 

Yeah, as long as you round turn buoys on the right side, you've done the course.  If they set them up so you can run to a closer entry, that's not illegal (IMO)

Originally posted by BuckHamilton

I think I could do a 1.25 miles of walking in 6 inches of water in about 20 min compared to 40 minutes of swimming it. plus if there s a good current walking upstream walking would be faster than swimming in the current. I do not see where I would be breaking the rule walking 3 inches of water as the course is defined as to the right of the buoys. I am not leaving the water


Just having some fun with this as it popped into my head during a long swim workout.