General Discussion Triathlon Talk » What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!? Rss Feed  
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2011-08-26 4:00 PM
in reply to: #3661296

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
Kido - 2011-08-26 10:45 AM

I tend to read most posts BUT, if you were asked a survey question on the street, would you request to know all the answers that everyone else gave the pollster before giving your own.

I think Fred should create a new poll thread.  Better yet, I think Tom should create it for him. 



2011-08-26 4:01 PM
in reply to: #3661342

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2011-08-26 4:03 PM
in reply to: #3661336

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 4:57 PM

Ok, there is a small (read very small) part of me that is wondering if I maybe, perhaps am derailing this thread a bit??

Probably not.

Apparently, sometimes a little Friday afternoon mischief is just what the doctor ordered.
2011-08-26 4:07 PM
in reply to: #3661348

Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
TriMyBest - 2011-08-26 11:03 AM
Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 4:57 PM

Ok, there is a small (read very small) part of me that is wondering if I maybe, perhaps am derailing this thread a bit??

Probably not.

Apparently, sometimes a little Friday afternoon mischief is just what the doctor ordered.

Since today is Friday...I'm sure there are people doing packet pickup as we post.  So it's still relavent.

2011-08-26 4:54 PM
in reply to: #3661317

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 4:50 PM

I guess I find it puzzling that people find the need the DECLARE that they haven't read the posts, but then provide an opinion (not necessarily here) that has been given already a few times in the thread.

You mean like people that find the need to DECLARE that they are deactivating/deleting their Facebook account?  Yeah, I don't get it.

 

2011-08-26 5:01 PM
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Edited by Fred Doucette 2011-08-26 5:04 PM


2011-08-26 5:28 PM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
I miss Gatordeb.
2011-08-26 5:32 PM
in reply to: #3661438

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2011-08-26 5:34 PM
in reply to: #3661439

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 6:32 PM
rsmoylan - 2011-08-26 6:28 PMI miss Gatordeb.
I miss new coke....

When I was young I used to drink Tab.....Amazing I'm still alive.  

2011-08-26 5:39 PM
in reply to: #3661443

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
rsmoylan - 2011-08-26 5:34 PM

Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 6:32 PM
rsmoylan - 2011-08-26 6:28 PMI miss Gatordeb.
I miss new coke....

When I was young I used to drink Tab.....Amazing I'm still alive.  



When I was a kid I loved Quisp cereal. It was sweet and crunchy, but not so crunchy that it would hurt your mouth to eat a bunch of it--like Captain Crunch. 
2011-08-26 5:43 PM
in reply to: #3661444

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
zed707 - 2011-08-26 6:39 PM
rsmoylan - 2011-08-26 5:34 PM

Fred Doucette - 2011-08-26 6:32 PM
rsmoylan - 2011-08-26 6:28 PMI miss Gatordeb.
I miss new coke....

When I was young I used to drink Tab.....Amazing I'm still alive.  



When I was a kid I loved Quisp cereal. It was sweet and crunchy, but not so crunchy that it would hurt your mouth to eat a bunch of it--like Captain Crunch. 

When I was a kid I mistakenly ate a crouton thinking it was a captain crunch.  I was very upset.  Now it's my turn to rant.



Edited by rsmoylan 2011-08-26 5:44 PM


2011-08-26 6:27 PM
in reply to: #3661307

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

TriMyBest - 2011-08-26 4:47 PM..I didn't read your whole post, and only read the last sentence. I'm sure whatever it is, you're the only one who's troubled by it. :)

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! 



Edited by fattyfatfat 2011-08-26 6:27 PM
2011-08-26 7:24 PM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

BTW, I DO read every single post, and damn it hurts.

That said, I don't buy that day-before packet pickup is better, more efficient, etc, and do find it an inconvenience. I'd do only race-day pickup, if I could. Based a little in reality and a little in dreamland, I'd love a race that:

1) lets you opt out of the t-shirt, for a credit on entry fee (got a few too many),

2) doesn't give you any paper flyers for a coupon or entry blank you'll never use, or samples (do that at the expo),

3) puts your timing chip and race numbers on the rack in your numbered spot (yeah, I like numbered spots) - it's right there, and

4) Why can't an RD use the USAT card as the way to check people in?  When you drag your bike to transition, scan the card, and as long as it's connected to the USAT database (suspect) and the registration database, you should know immediately whether they're current and registered. Takes a little thinkin, but the airlines, lifetimefitness, my work, and a thousand other places do this, why can't races? Second best would be that the race sends you a barcode (a-la-fandango) that you print. Present it on the way into transition, it gets scanned to validate entry, show your USAT card, you're on your way.  You only have one point where you have to actually lay eyes on a person.

5) Still not sure on the rationale for bodymarking. Useless for the swim. On the bike, your bike is labeled. On the run, you're wearing your bib. Do away with it.

?^^^ gets rid of lots of effot, and all you really miss is some paper and samples - the only effort is sticking the chips and numbers to the rack, but some races already number the racks (little incremental effort). Just thinkin out loud, here...

2011-08-26 8:42 PM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
I like races that have a start and a finish line.  Most of the rest is optional.  If they don't have a start and a finish line, I'll probably just leave.  If I don't like the rest, I probably won't be back next year.  I do this for fun.  Nobody points a gun at my head and says 'now race'.  Constructive suggestions to RDs are great, if you've got that kind of energy.  If you don't get what you want, don't go back.  I honestly don't see how it is more complicated than that.
 
And I agree that the comments that begin "I didn't read everybody else's comments, but here's mine" are a little weird at best.  Perhaps it's because I did not grow up in the online world, but I tend to conceive of these forums as actual discussions.  Would you walk into an ongoing conversation and say "I have no idea what anybody has been saying here, but let me tell you my opinion"?  I acknowledge the temptation to do sometimes, but I don't count it as 'participating in the conversation', and when I see posts that begin with some variation on that theme, I don't read the rest.
2011-08-27 1:55 AM
in reply to: #3661313

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
ChrisM - 2011-08-26 3:49 PM
H20 Killer - 2011-08-26 1:46 PM

Back to the topic.  I don't understand the purpose at all of physical packet pick-up.  It seems like a big waste of time and energy in the digital era.  In addition, many tris I attend are trying to green up and nothing is less green than forcing hundreds of people to drive all over creation to pick up a plastic baggie filled with paper.  

I think it would be entirely possible to have as part of USAT registration, or even a tri registration, a link to a kit that includes the "home essentials" of printing your race day numbers.  This could be provided by an outside vendor and mailed separately from them.  Say, you get like 10 bibs or something.  

Then, upon registration for a tri you are presented with a PDF file that you can use to print on your own home computer.  You can always get body marked and your t-shirt/worthless coupons/keychains at the race and maybe have to present ID for this or something.  

I'm sure this is not an original idea and has its downsides but it sure beats having to miss and event due to a packet pick up the day before or having to take time off to get a packet.


Now this is a constructive idea.  No idea what's involved from the technical side, but every tri I've done recently has done all of their pre and post race communication via email.  Plus you could print out the coupons you really want (in my case, and historically, that would be ...  none) rather than simply removing them from the bag to put them in recycling

 

Let me see if I can help you with this one, Chris.  There is no way in the world that I can see USAT providing anyone with the ability to participate in a sanctioned race without presenting a valid USAT membership card and a valid identification card pre-race  - and I mean just before they get their bib and get body marked.  Since they are the governing body of the sport, no race director that wants to have a sanctioned race will be able to change that.  Whether RDs want to have sanctioned race or not is totally up to them.  I only race in sanctioned races, but I am also a USAT referee, so I tend to take the actions and enforcements of USAT more seriously than others as well as tending to value the USAT. 

 

The other part of your statement is the "printing" of the coupons that one wants.  Imagine you are in some form of sales.  You approach a company asking them to buy a slot as a sponsor in an event and you are charged with selling them that slot.  Now, which would you feel more at ease in selling for the higher dollar amount?  Actually having this coupon placed in the potential cutomers hand or offering him the ability to print a copy if he likes.  Even if it is something he might want to use - he may be like me and struggles with remembering to print it out and taking it to the store with him.

 

This gives you something else to consider as it pertains to pre-race day pickups.  Say that you pursue a local hotel as a potential sponsor.  What do you think your chances of selling such sponsorship to this hotel is if you "require" pre-race day pick-up.  Thus, you can lower the price of the entry fee/increase the prize give-away/schwag. 

2011-08-27 2:09 AM
in reply to: #3661502

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
rkreuser - 2011-08-26 7:24 PM

5) Still not sure on the rationale for bodymarking. Useless for the swim. On the bike, your bike is labeled. On the run, you're wearing your bib. Do away with it.

?^^^ gets rid of lots of effot, and all you really miss is some paper and samples - the only effort is sticking the chips and numbers to the rack, but some races already number the racks (little incremental effort). Just thinkin out loud, here...

It would be against USAT rules, or at least the determination per Charlie Crawford (head of officials).  Charlie would go so far as to tell you that he believes that all body marking is necessary.  If you lose your swim cap - it needs to be marked somewhere that it can be seen (he would prefer a hand).  They get lost off of bikes more often than you think, and you would be shocked at the number of people that head out of transition without a bib on (the most common penalty that I write on the run stage).

 

If you have never had the opportunity to speak to Charlie - the first thing that you will notice is that he is a gentleman that sees no shades of Grey.  He is a very black and white kind of decider.  Having been involved in several conversations with him, I would be shocked if that changed any time in the near future in Charlie's professional capacity. 



2011-08-27 5:50 AM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

"Let me see if I can help you with this one, Chris.  There is no way in the world that I can see USAT providing anyone with the ability to participate in a sanctioned race without presenting a valid USAT membership card and a valid identification card pre-race  - and I mean just before they get their bib and get body marked.  Since they are the governing body of the sport, no race director that wants to have a sanctioned race will be able to change that.  Whether RDs want to have sanctioned race or not is totally up to them.  I only race in sanctioned races, but I am also a USAT referee, so I tend to take the actions and enforcements of USAT more seriously than others as well as tending to value the USAT.  "

 

The other issue with this is insurance.  USAT provides insurance for the vast majority of races and if you do not follow USAT procedures for check-in, the coverage can be compromised.  Just scanning a USAT card doesn't prove that you are who you say you are (and that you're covered), that's why you need to show the card AND an ID.

2011-08-27 8:12 AM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
I think some sponsors may want packet pick up at their location. A few are at running stores which I'm sure generates a ton of revenue. I don't enjoy driving 35 minutes to pick up a packet filled with things that go straight to the trash. This year I finally just grabbed swim cap, rules, Bib and chip and left the bag filled with junk there.
2011-08-27 8:44 AM
in reply to: #3661703

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?
kaburns1214 - 2011-08-27 5:50 AM

The other issue with this is insurance.  USAT provides insurance for the vast majority of races and if you do not follow USAT procedures for check-in, the coverage can be compromised.  Just scanning a USAT card doesn't prove that you are who you say you are (and that you're covered), that's why you need to show the card AND an ID.

And someobdy picking up a packet the day before does not does not prove the person racing is the same person that picked up the packet.  People race under other peoples bibs/numbers all the time. Joe picks up his packet with his USAT # and drivers license and then sells his bib/number to Mary so on race day Mary has Joe's race numbers and is checked in and races under his name. Not a perfect system either.

2011-08-27 9:56 AM
in reply to: #3660151

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Subject: RE: What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

Well, I guess I'll never admit that I did not read the previous 8 pages worth of  posts before responding to the OP.  It'll be obvious once I repeat what others have said.  It's just sometimes a thread catches my eye and I want to respond to it, but only have like 10 minutes before I have to head out somewhere.  I like reading through all posts but sometimes I have to come back to them when I have more time.

jami

2011-08-27 11:41 AM
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