Blackland Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 4)

Boogie7247 - 2009-09-07 1:22 PM Congrats to all who raced today...it was a hot one!

Boogie7247 - 2009-09-07 1:22 PM Congrats to all who raced today...it was a hot one!

TexTriGuy - 2009-09-09 9:35 AM

As a volunteer and spectator, I would say that this race as a long way to go to improve. I do believe that it could be a great event, but needs some help.

1. Swim exit should be NEXT to the door, not having to run along the pool side
2. The above problem also made this not very spectator friendly inside the pool area
3. Also moving the finish line away from the transition line was really weird. I had to direct many, many spectators to walk a quarter mile to the finish line.
4. FINISH LINE: The twist and turns of the final 1k made no sense. Competitors had to dodge spectators walking carelessly along the finish chute and they also had to make sure not to hit the hand rail that protruded out onto the last 10 yards.
5. No event shirt or swag I also heard was a negative reflection

This could be a great tri, just needs to be re-evaluated!

TexTriGuy - 2009-09-09 9:35 AM
1. Swim exit should be NEXT to the door, not having to run along the pool side
2. The above problem also made this not very spectator friendly inside the pool area
3. Also moving the finish line away from the transition line was really weird. I had to direct many, many spectators to walk a quarter mile to the finish line.
4. FINISH LINE: The twist and turns of the final 1k made no sense. Competitors had to dodge spectators walking carelessly along the finish chute and they also had to make sure not to hit the hand rail that protruded out onto the last 10 yards.
5. No event shirt or swag I also heard was a negative reflection

wkirbytri - 2009-09-09 7:57 PM

I was one of those people that signed up online the day after the "guarantee" of a shirt -- I had the race on my plan for a long time, just not the money to pay for it yet.  I whined a bit about not getting any swag, but this probably had more to do with me still being in a bad mood because my Sooners lost two days before that   I said I probably wouldn't do this race again, but I'm sure when it comes around again next year I'll still sign up.

The Good:  I Loved the fact that my daughter did her first tri!  She didn't train for it much and wasn't fast at all and struggled in the run, but she loved the feeling of crossing that finish line and getting a medal.  Now she is asking me if there are other youth tri's for her to do and wants to start training for them.  That to me is awesome!

The youth tri is only going to GROW!!  This will make the sprint start even later (and possibly hotter).

 Kuddos to your daughter. Glad she had a good time and is interested in training.  Following Dad's footsteps perhaps?   I'll be there next year and I will be sure to sign up early enough for the cheap rate!  I'm from Oklahoma so sorry about the Sooners...not too sorry since I'm an OSU fan!  But I have to root for the Big 12 teams so that was a tough loss to watch! 

 

TexasHeatRunner - 2009-09-09 9:38 PM

love_the_sport - 2009-09-09 7:32 PM

TexTriGuy - 2009-09-09 9:35 AM
1. Swim exit should be NEXT to the door, not having to run along the pool side
2. The above problem also made this not very spectator friendly inside the pool area
3. Also moving the finish line away from the transition line was really weird. I had to direct many, many spectators to walk a quarter mile to the finish line.
4. FINISH LINE: The twist and turns of the final 1k made no sense. Competitors had to dodge spectators walking carelessly along the finish chute and they also had to make sure not to hit the hand rail that protruded out onto the last 10 yards.
5. No event shirt or swag I also heard was a negative reflection

#1 is logical

#2 Seemed fine to all the spectators that were there for us.  Prevented crowding around the pool so you could see better.

#3 Perhaps the spectators didn't read the maps in advance.  I agree that the finish in the amphitheater was really cool instead of in some lame parking lot which is so typical.

#4  I had no problem with the FINISH LINE ... except with my time to get there. LOL
      I figured when I heard the band it was time to turn on the jets since I knew it ended in the
      amphitheater according to the directions.  Did you get to see the map before going out
      there?

#5  I got my shirt and swag.  I thought the T-Shirt was pretty cool.  You know there are always those guys that wait to the last minute to sign up because they're "Special" and they don't understand why there aren't any shirts left.  When I've been that "Special" person in the past, I always felt appreciative that they made room for me to be in the race.

Wow, it's weird to see people complain about this when I thought this was the best race I had been to in a while.  What races did you experience that were so much better and why?  Are any of them in the next month or two?  I only have time for two more this year.

Last but not least ... I know all of us who ran the race really appreciate all the hard work and time the volunteers put in.  Thanks for being there man!  That's another reason I love about this sport ... overall, the people are pretty cool.

KSH - 2009-09-10 10:36 PM

Timing boxes? Do you mean the timing mats? I'm not sure what you mean... timing boxes being taken up.????

Please explain.

I'm sorry that happened to you (whatever IT was- as I'm still confused). Having been at the BOP at races, I can tell you that while we are out there to have fun... it's still hard... the crowds thin, the food is gone, etc. I certainly feel for the BOP people, since I've been there myself!!!!