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I got my first DNF on Sunday.
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 2014-09-25 3:54 PM |
Extreme Veteran  544   Shawboro, NC |  Subject: I got my first DNF on Sunday.The Sandman Triathlon I was doing was an ocean swim. NOTHING blocking us from the Atlantic, at all. There were talks starting on Saturday about putting the kybosh on the swim, but they didn't nix it. Some people looked at the waves, then turned around and walked away from the start. Not this guy. When the horn for my heat sounded, out I went. I was able to make it about 25, maybe 30 meters out. For about 10 minutes straight, the waves knocked me hither and to, and nothing I did worked to get me moving forward. I finally gassed out and had to tap out. WORST. FEELING. EVER! I'm sure I could have finished if I could have gotten past the breakers, but I just didn't have it in me. A severe lack of experience swimming in surf did me in. They took my chip and let me finish the race, though. I finished it up being timed by my watch. From crossing into T1 to finish took me 1:17:23. Having looked at the posted race results, I don't feel as bad about the DNF. The swim times for the few returning Clydes was much longer this year compared to last. One guy last year did the 750m swim in just over 18 minutes; this year it took him over 40. There were SIX USAT reps at the race, and I specifically heard two of them say that they thought the swim should have been nixxed. Twenty percent of the field DNF'd. All of that aside, the ride was fast, and I had a decent run, though not my best. As for doing the race again... I highly doubt it. The cost of the race was the same as the Outer Banks Olympic race, and the swag was nowhere as nice as what OBSE gives out. The overall atmosphere wasn't that great, either. I also had the misfortune of "competing" against some of the rudest triathletes I have ever raced with. |
| 2014-09-25 4:32 PM in reply to: SpeedKnight |
Member 2689  Denver, CO | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. As your avatar says, DNF trumps DNS. You gave it a shot and made a reasoned decision to call it quits rather than putting yourself in danger. Then you went ahead and did the bike and the run instead of giving up completely. Way to fight as hard as you could and be realistic about your current (ahem, sorry!) abilities. Too bad the race organization, etc., was sub-par too. At least now you know you can cross that one off your list and save your money for a better race next year. |
| 2014-09-25 5:11 PM in reply to: SpeedKnight |
Champion 5345 Carlsbad, California | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. Originally posted by SpeedKnight The overall atmosphere wasn't that great, either. I also had the misfortune of "competing" against some of the rudest triathletes I have ever raced with. Good for you for recognizing you were "In Over Your Head" when it comes to the conditions. Better to call it a day to race again than to be fished out later. |
| 2014-09-25 5:38 PM in reply to: WaterDog66 |
New user 1351 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. Originally posted by WaterDog66 Originally posted by SpeedKnight The overall atmosphere wasn't that great, either. I also had the misfortune of "competing" against some of the rudest triathletes I have ever raced with. Good for you for recognizing you were "In Over Your Head" when it comes to the conditions. Better to call it a day to race again than to be fished out later. Yea I'd like to hear some clarification on the other competitors. What were they doing that was rude? I've also never experienced negativity from other competitors, so I'm hoping it's not becoming a thing. Congrats for giving the swim a shot, and finishing the race anyway! |
| 2014-09-25 8:31 PM in reply to: 0 |
| 5 | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. I was not in the race, but I was on the 9th floor of the hotel one street up from the start of the swim. I was getting alerts on my phone all weekend about dangerous rip currents and rough surf. I knew it was going to be tough when the lifeguards on paddleboards couldn't make it out past the breakers. Check out my post from earlier in the week. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... Edited by TriScott00 2014-09-25 8:32 PM |
| 2014-09-26 7:04 AM in reply to: SpeedKnight |
| 754 | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. That stinks. You gave it your best shot, though, and you were smart enough to know when the danger was too great. Better to live and race another day. And yeah, encounters with rude racers suck. Triathletes like to pretend that everyone in their sport is an ultra-supportive angel, but there are jerks everywhere. Do you have any more races this year? I hope you don't have to end the season with such a bad experience. |
| 2014-09-26 6:27 PM in reply to: happyscientist |
Extreme Veteran 544 Shawboro, NC | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. Originally posted by trijamie Yea I'd like to hear some clarification on the other competitors. What were they doing that was rude? I've also never experienced negativity from other competitors, so I'm hoping it's not becoming a thing. Congrats for giving the swim a shot, and finishing the race anyway! Every race I've been in and the ones I've spectated, the racers would call out when they were passing. They did this during the bike, and during the run. On Sunday, I think maybe 6 people called that they were passing me. It was wet out, as it was raining most of the day. Several guys that passed me came back over so close that I was taking rooster tail to the face. There was one guy who was riding to the left, with no one on the right. I called that I was gonna pass to his right, and he lost it! He gave me the third degree. When I asked for the left, he acted like it was totally troubling to get over to the right. These are just a few example, and only from the bike leg. There were some pretty rude runners, also. Originally posted by happyscientist Do you have any more races this year? I hope you don't have to end the season with such a bad experience. Last tri for my season, this one. Sadly, the only one for the year, too. It's been a fiscally taxing year, so far. I do have the Outer Banks Marathon coming up on November 9th. |
| 2014-09-26 8:54 PM in reply to: 0 |
Regular 302 Georgetown, KY | Subject: RE: I got my first DNF on Sunday. Originally posted by SpeedKnight Originally posted by trijamie Yea I'd like to hear some clarification on the other competitors. What were they doing that was rude? I've also never experienced negativity from other competitors, so I'm hoping it's not becoming a thing. Congrats for giving the swim a shot, and finishing the race anyway! Every race I've been in and the ones I've spectated, the racers would call out when they were passing. They did this during the bike, and during the run. On Sunday, I think maybe 6 people called that they were passing me. It was wet out, as it was raining most of the day. Several guys that passed me came back over so close that I was taking rooster tail to the face. There was one guy who was riding to the left, with no one on the right. I called that I was gonna pass to his right, and he lost it! He gave me the third degree. When I asked for the left, he acted like it was totally troubling to get over to the right. These are just a few example, and only from the bike leg. There were some pretty rude runners, also. I'm not trying to say they were being nice, but I do want to point out a few things in their defense that will help you on your future races. Calling out to pass is a courtesy, it is not required When someone passes you, it is your responsibility to drop back to avoid drafting It is illegal to pass on the right. It is illegal to ride left if you are not passing too, so this guy was in the wrong, but that is when you should call to pass and ignore that he is being troubled, he was breaking the rules. Good luck on your next races! Edited by Bradleykd 2014-09-26 8:55 PM |
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