To Be or Not to Be...a Clyde

This season I thought (hoped!) I would for sure be out of Athena by the time it was racing season, so I registered AG.  Sadly was not and I cried inside watching the Athena girls take home medals for times slower than mine.

In theory I thought I would contact the race director if my status changed and I could be moved, but I just stayed in the regular age group and don't bother. 

This season I am registering Athena and if the worst thing that happens is I lose enough weight, I can call the RDs and explain.  I am not, however, as close to the line as you.

I saw your thread on the tritalk forum about this. I think that was partly done tongue in cheek, but I did want to say that Clydesdale is not necessarily an award gimme.   The Clydes in my town are competitive.  So, before you worry about this, check the results for races you're interested and see if it even matters. 

Hi, thanks for the comments and the advice. Just to clarify, I don't think the Clyde category is easy, not even remotely, but based on the fact that I am 6'3" and race in Florida, I do think that smaller guys get a significant advantage due to the heat in most races. So if I qualify, I'd rather race against people who are going to "suffer" the heat similar to me.

About the post on the tritalk forum, I think you have me confused with somebody else, since I have not posted about thi topic before this post.

Thanks again!

I'm just started training for my first Tri and I'm in the same boat, 6, 1 and I'm 198 to 202. Do they weigh you before or after or both? If they weigh after, I bet I'd be under for sure.

I was going to make a similar post, but was also wondering if what I'm doing is consistent to the spirit of the class. I guess being 200 lbs and competing against someone that's 250 is similar to a 199 pounder competing against a 150 pounder....or is it?

Thanks, Jeff

Just my $.02

Do an average weight over a week or so.  Whatever your average is when you sign up, use that.  Unless you think you'll be loosing a few more pounds, then you answered the question yourself.

If the RD is going to weigh you, they do it before the race, like boxing and not after like NASCAR.

Some races, ask the RD, will let you switch OUT of clyde to AG if your weight drops before the race, but they usually wont let you go out of AG into clyde since anyone can race AG but only 200+ qualify for clyde.

Oops, sorry about that!  It was so amazingly close to the same question; I should have verified.

Depends...

what is the physical condition of the people you describe?  Usually 150#'s is not overweight, but he could be 6'3 and skinny w/ no muscle mass and therefore cant store fuel.  Conversely,  a 5'2 man at 200#'s will be in worse shape than a 6'6 'linebacker' that weighs 250.

It really comes down the individuals involved.  But 50 pounds is 50 pounds even though some peoples frames can handle the extra weight better than others.  But I would have to say that a majority of the time, w/ a majority being >51%, the 50# lighter athlete, given both are height and weight proportionate and similar training, will win.  Which is why the clyde category was created in the first place - To give the bigger athletes a chance to race and be competitive with people of a similar size and stature.

Do what makes you comfortable.

You won't get weighed at most races. If you want, you can ask at packet pickup for them to switch you to another division for timing purposes. They won't always be able to, but sometimes they can.

Some people will be unhappy to see a 200.2 racer in clydesdale, others won't care. If you think you are going to be winning or placing (getting hardware) in the race in your age/division as a clyde, you need to ask yourself if you want to get into a discussion with a disgruntled athlete about your weight.

If you are not at risk of winning, then it won't really matter to most others.

You pretty much answered my question. I'm a beginner and dont really no the Tri etiquette. I doubt I'd be a real threat in either class and wouldn't want to any waves as a new guy. I think I'd want to be weighed so there no doubt I'm legal if I entered as a Clyde.

I have a few months to figure it out, I've got plenty of other thing to focus on than which side of 200 I'm on...!

I really struggle with this because I am a faster clyde at 6'4" and 215 lbs. During the season I am closer to 206 lbs. However, I am not top in AG (40-44) but sometimes competitive depending on the field.

I have always registered and podiumed as a Clydes for 4 years now until my last race of this season where I registered as a AGer and won the category haha! Thus, I am racing locally as an AGer from now on. I think that is fair.

Regionally and nationally I will race as Clydes because its a fairer fight. Also it gives the local boys a shot at taking top spot. It also gives me a faster set of rabbits to chase locally and thus may make me work harder in training and on race day.

So, I guess its a choice for each person. I love the podium as much as anyone, but after awhile its time to be ok with not being on there.

5'11" and currently 198.  Raced at IM CdA at about 184.  190 is a comfortable weight for me, and 205 is heavy.

I don't think that I would register as a clyde (anymore) because I know that I CAN weigh significantly less.

I'm 6'2" with a race weight of 210-215.  I will race as a Clyde whenever the race has it because I like to see where I fit in with others my size.  Race the Clyde whenever you get the chance we all like to have the catagory be competitive.  I'd like to see more races with that division. 

Another thought that has been on my mind is why are Clydesdales named after draft horses and Athenas after the Goddess of War?

I think AG is the way to go is you are on the line by 2 pounds - ideally I don't think that is what the Clyde division was designed for.   If it's your first year competing, the Clyde is fair it might give you the mental boost you need for a race or two.

Most men will have 25-50# on you racing Clyde (and some even more!!)

Spoken from an Athena (who is currently no where near 150# cut off for women)

I agree but I would add that there is a distinction between racing locally and regionally/nationally. Locally, its about "man up" but at bigger races there are some bad asz clydes and athenas so i totally believe its appropriate to race big there.

Thoughts?