General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Annual Madcow Question Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
 
 
of 2
 
 
2005-07-18 7:33 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

SF Bay Area, Mountain View
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
now if it was a cone GIRL i'd make sure to be last and chat her up...


2005-07-18 8:05 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Veteran
298
100100252525
San mateo
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Cavu9,

That's beutiful

Edited by nj newbie! 2005-07-18 8:05 PM
2005-07-18 8:13 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Extreme Veteran
557
5002525
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
So yesterday was my first tri and I could picture your question coming into play...well not really.  I was so last that the cones were gone and the bike racks were gone AND they had stopped the race clock and were keeping my time by hand.  I was about 40 minutes after the next to last person!  (I have a RR up if you are at all interested)  With that being said, if the guy who was next to last had been there with me and held back to keep me going...there is no way I would want him to cross last!  And yes, I think there is great honor in finishing last...at least there was for me.  Of course that doesn't mean that I always WANT to be last!
2005-07-18 8:25 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Elite
3201
20001000100100
South Florida
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Having been DFL in my first race a few weeks ago (see my new avatar - my glorious finish) I now know it isn't all that bad. So, if I came upon this situation I would a) be so proud of myself that I was maybe able to beat someone then b) probably do the run side by side thing. I think it would be nice to cross together.

Edited by MomX3 2005-07-18 8:27 PM
2005-07-18 8:31 PM
in reply to: #201459

Elite Veteran
781
500100100252525
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
I would let the first-timer finish before me. For several reasons, really. The first is that if I were second from the last/last place at a race, something happened (like a flat or I was sick or something) and it wasn't my day. Notice that I didn't say last on the bike leg because that is pretty close to the truth, but lately I've been able to catch and pass lots of folks on the run.

I remember one of my fears at my first tri was finishing last. In the end, I finished last in my AG, but there were a few folks who finished later than I did. My first tri wasn't particularly fun (undertrained, and riding a MTN bike on a windy day) and I'm not sure if I would have stuck with the sport if I was DFL. So, if they couldn't beat me honestly, I'd let them have it. But, it wouldn't be in an obvious, condescending way. I'd claim a side stitch and wish them luck while clutching my side.
2005-07-18 8:33 PM
in reply to: #201459

Veteran
294
100100252525
MO
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question

I hate being "allowed" to win -- it's meaningless unless you earn it. If someone just hands you, while you're sitting at your desk one day, a first-place ribbon, does that mean anything to you? Of course not! I'd rather be DFL and know that I tried my best and gave it my all, and had a fair race, than be next to last and know that the guy behind me LET me win -- ugh.

Edit -- and this is for all you RDs out there: hold the cone guy back a little, please! It sucks to feel like everyone's waiting impatiently and irritatedly for you to finish so they can clean up the course and go home. Waiting five more minutes to collect the cones isn't going to kill you!



Edited by Angie 2005-07-18 8:37 PM



2005-07-18 9:01 PM
in reply to: #201735

User image

SF Bay Area, Mountain View
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
If someone just hands you, while you're sitting at your desk one day, a first-place ribbon, does that mean anything to you? Of course not!


that's not quite the same. assume that you are running the Western States 100. do you think that i'ts about position for the ones that come in last? no, it's about finishing.

and for me, that's what counts. unless you might be among the first 10, what does it really matter?
you did your best. and if, as the original question stated your positioned last and second to last and you can't give someone the satisfaction to not come in last if it matters for him/her and that persons spectators you're just a bad loser. i'd rather be Dead Last and have at least someone feel good than be second to Dead Last and make feel everybody like shit.
2005-07-18 9:13 PM
in reply to: #201459

Elite Veteran
781
500100100252525
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Heh, Angie, could you PM me the races where people give away the first place position? I think I'm running the wrong races.

My take is the question deals with being the second from the last or last racer in a tri, and the person you're racing with is a first-timer. I'm totally acting my way into a last place finish (side stitch, hamstring cramps, calf cramps, whatever). The first timers ego may be strong enough to handle it, but I'm not taking any chances. I want the first timer to be a second timer, and he or she might take great strength by knowing that they weren't dead last at their very first race, ever. They beat somebody. Isn't that why Sally Edwards promises to end each Danskin race last?*


*I'm going on memory about Sally Edwards. If I have the details wrong, my apologies.
2005-07-18 9:18 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Coach
10487
50005000100100100100252525
Boston, MA
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question

Sprint to the finish line and see who comes in 1st. I rather prefer to give it my best shot and EARN the last place, rather than someone LETTING me finish ahead of him/her. After all, I am not trying to beat him/her, I am trying to round up all the hours I spent training.

Edit -- and this is for all you RDs out there: hold the cone guy back a little, please! It sucks to feel like everyone's waiting impatiently and irritatedly for you to finish so they can clean up the course and go home. Waiting five more minutes to collect the cones isn't going to kill you!  I'll make sure we don't do this at our race :)



Edited by amiine 2005-07-18 9:20 PM

2005-07-18 9:19 PM
in reply to: #201765

User image

Member
43
25
Blaine, Minnesota
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Don't leave out the before and after experience. If you let someone be last, their story instantly becomes "in my first race, i came in dead last, but since then, I've built up to come in ....."
2005-07-18 9:25 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Master
2447
200010010010010025
Marietta, Ga
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
If I'm Madcow, and the other person is Happycow, I'd wait and let her pass.  Anyone else gets dropped like a hot stone.  You gotta remember, the sweetie is the "bestthingthateverhappenedtoyouCow" and if she ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.


2005-07-18 9:32 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

New user
117
100
Alberta(think texas with snow.)
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Depends. If its a friend , I'd kick and make him eat my dust. If I've just met the person, I'd go with finish together. Since I'm having the worst race of my life and sitting at the back, kicking to beat one person seems pretty damn trivial. I'd cross together, exchange a hug(and if shes a looker, hopefully phone numbers) walk over to my family and go get some bananas. Wouldn't let him or her win though, I'd match their kick
2005-07-18 9:37 PM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Expert
623
500100
Wye Mills, MD
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Almost similar kind of thing happened at my last race.  I usually sprint across the finish line, grabbing as many valuable seconds that I can (making sure that I am firmly ensconced in the exact middle of the pack).  Well there is a guy ahead of me who is cruising to the finish line, then he stops, picks up his kid (~2-3 y/o) out of the crowd to carry across the finish line.  I thought, "It's his moment and he doesn't need somebody busting past him at the last second."  His wife was probably taking pictures... so, I backed off and let him finish ahead of me.  (He wasn't in my age group anyway). 
2005-07-19 12:01 AM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Elite
2468
20001001001001002525
Racine, WI
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question

I would probably kick with the person and cross either with or half a step behind them.  If I'm that close to last in the race, at least I'd still get to go home feeling like I was the person I want to be.  I'd pace with them and make them earn it tho! 

2005-07-19 6:56 AM
in reply to: #201459

Extreme Veteran
323
100100100
Kochi, Japan
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Kick it in hard and stop just before the finish to tie my shoe, wait for them to pull almost even, then cross just before them while doing my best evil laugh. And I mean e-veeel like the fru-eets of the dev-eel.


WHAAAA-HAAA-HAAAA
2005-07-19 10:23 AM
in reply to: #201769

User image

Veteran
123
100
San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Motivated! Smart man! Great answer.


2005-07-19 10:34 AM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Elite
3020
20001000
Bay Area, CA
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question

As a person who has come in last more than once, if I knew the person was going to have a mental breakdown from coming in last, then I'd let them go first (or cross the line together), cause in the end it is all about fun, and it's not like there's a big prize or anything for coming in 2nd to last.

For me though, I know I don't want somebody to "let" me be first, cause that totally ruins the accomplishment of actually being faster than somebody.  So, since in this scenario the person is starting to kick it in, I would too and we would race to the finish.  Let the best triathlete win!

2005-07-19 11:17 AM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Pro
5153
50001002525
Helena, MT
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
I'd say "Let's race!" and take off. That way, whoevers got a little more left gets through first and neither of us has to feel bad about it.
2005-07-19 11:29 AM
in reply to: #202216

User image

Expert
666
5001002525
St. Thomas, ON
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question

As someone who finishes at the back of the pack on a regular basis, I'm sprinting the last 200 yards. Keep up with me or get dropped. At my first sprint I passed a girl in my age group in the last 200 yards. On Sunday, I passed a guy with about 50 yards to go. He just didn't have anything left. Afterwards he was ribbin' me. "You just couldn't let me stay ahead huh?" It was all in fun, and in reality, he was almost 4 minutes ahead of me time-wise.

At a running race a couple of weeks ago (a 5/10k affair) I ran for the first 2.5 miles with a girl who was doing the 10k. At one point she said "go ahead, I need to slow down". I teamed up with another lady doing the 5k a few minutes later. I would have been happy to run to the finish with her (or at least until the final sprint), but she said "I can feel you pushing the pace, go, get a good time", so I did.

I don't want anyone letting me win, no matter how much I look like I need it.

2005-07-19 11:38 AM
in reply to: #201494

User image

Extreme Veteran
382
100100100252525
Quebec City
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
T in Liberty Lake - 2005-07-18 4:02 PM

They can have the glory of beating the cone guy, I'm kicking their ass.


HEHEHE I SECOND THAT!
2005-07-19 11:48 AM
in reply to: #201459

Expert
680
500100252525
NC Illinois
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
If I am one of the last two people on the course, I doubt I would really care if I finished last or next to last.

I'd most likely just want to get it over and get off the course and get back to work so that I can be certain I won't be the last two on the course.

I would have no problem with letting the person beat me. The feeling of "I'm such a good person for letting them win" would be greatly overshadowed by the thoughts of "Dude, you were one of the last two people on the course". For me and my personal situation, that would not be a good thing.

I would congratulate the person on their finish, buy em a beer/beverage, make a friend, go home, and start working on improvement.

------------------------------

As a side, there was a funny thread/pic on Slowtwitch awhile ago about a guy that went slow entire IM and then sprinted the last few 100 yards to make it "look good". IMO, if you can sprint the last yardage ... you weren't going hard enough to begin with. The thread was started by a guy who had their pic taken as this fellow was passing them while wearing a (quote) "shit-eatin' grin". The thread (and pic) was hilarious.

Edited by TripleThreat 2005-07-19 11:51 AM


2005-07-19 11:54 AM
in reply to: #201459

User image

Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Annual Madcow Question
Personally, I would hate to feel like someone let me get ahead of them. So, I guess that I would do the best that I can and assume that the other person is going to also. That being said, there are always exceptions and I can certainly see situations where I might not adhere to that. It would largely depend on the situation.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Annual Madcow Question Rss Feed  
 
 
of 2