Florida gets the last word
Written by: Dan Empfield
Date: Wed Nov 07 2007
Here we are, Wednesday, fielding complaints about last weekend's drafting at Ironman Florida, predicting this weekend's drafting at Clearwater 70.3. Of course there was drafting. When you stick over 2000 athletes on a pancake flat course, what did you think was going to happen?
Not a micron of sympathy here for those who raced and who now complain; who are shocked, shocked to find that drafting is going on here! To quote the ambulance chaser, "You knew or should have known."
It's not cheaters who are to blame, or bad marshals. It's flatness. Flatness caused last weekend's packs, it'll cause this weekend's packs. Flatness caused the same thing at both these races last year.
But I feel sorry for the State of Florida, taking the heat for the formation of packs at triathlons. So I thought I'd give Florida the last word here. If a state could speak for itself, here is what I think Florida would say to those who found Florida a less than hospitable bike course host.
"Son, we live in a world that has packs, and those packs have to be enabled by states with flat roads. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Mister Slowtwitch Forum Candyass?
"I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That these packs, while tragic, probably saved time. And that my flatness, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves time. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at tri club meetings, you want to be in that pack, you need to be in that pack.
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain my topography to a man who softpedals and freewheels in the packs formed by the flatness that I provide, then questions the flatness by which I provide for them. I would rather you just said thank you, and rode on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you enter Ironman Lanzarote."
Not a micron of sympathy here for those who raced and who now complain; who are shocked, shocked to find that drafting is going on here! To quote the ambulance chaser, "You knew or should have known."
It's not cheaters who are to blame, or bad marshals. It's flatness. Flatness caused last weekend's packs, it'll cause this weekend's packs. Flatness caused the same thing at both these races last year.
But I feel sorry for the State of Florida, taking the heat for the formation of packs at triathlons. So I thought I'd give Florida the last word here. If a state could speak for itself, here is what I think Florida would say to those who found Florida a less than hospitable bike course host.
"Son, we live in a world that has packs, and those packs have to be enabled by states with flat roads. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Mister Slowtwitch Forum Candyass?
"I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That these packs, while tragic, probably saved time. And that my flatness, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves time. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at tri club meetings, you want to be in that pack, you need to be in that pack.
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain my topography to a man who softpedals and freewheels in the packs formed by the flatness that I provide, then questions the flatness by which I provide for them. I would rather you just said thank you, and rode on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you enter Ironman Lanzarote."
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Comments
Drafting in Florida
Reviewed by: Eric Schrading, Nov 30 2007 5:37AM
Eagleman in Maryland is flat as a board...probably flatter than Florida, cause the bridges don't span the ICW, but I have never seen drafting at Eagleman that I saw in Florida. Don't give cheaters an excuse. Drafting at Ironman 70.3 WC was intentional and obvious. It's time that athletes race with integrity.
Florida Drafting
yeah, yeah, but I was there at Worlds 70.3 and I s
Reviewed by: Matthew Mace, Nov 20 2007 3:23PM
I understand the writer's feelings, but I just don't agree. I was in the race at Clearwater and I don't believe the argument. It was wave starts with a very good - for the most part wide - course. I just can't fathom how 45 miles into the race 15+ guys fly by in a peloton and argue that "it's just one of those things that happens because it's a flat course." Nonsense; you're sucking somebody's wheel that far into the race it's because you don't know the rules or just flagrantly don't care.
Drafting
Reviewed by: Michael Ruddock, Nov 20 2007 6:16AM
Why do triathletes worry so much about bike drafting, in the name of maintaining the incorrect impression that the sport is a 100% individual effort against the clock, when the blatant wash riding (drafting) that goes on during the swim leg by the pros and age groupers alike doesn't seem to be regarded as a problem? The extra pull from a swimmer in front, or beside and slightly ahead, is similar in magnitude to the boost from a bike draft, so where is the difference? Correctly positioned, a swimmer is actually surfing slightly on the wave from the swimmer that they are riding.
For that matter, there is even a lesser, but not insignificant, advantage available when drafting another runner, especially into a head wind, but this doesn't seem to be a problem, or to merit criticism from the triathlon purists.
Maintaining a specified minimum distance between runners would be easy to police, however policing swimming would be a real challenge.
Most other sports just consider drafting to be part of strategy, and a valuable skill to learn.
For that matter, there is even a lesser, but not insignificant, advantage available when drafting another runner, especially into a head wind, but this doesn't seem to be a problem, or to merit criticism from the triathlon purists.
Maintaining a specified minimum distance between runners would be easy to police, however policing swimming would be a real challenge.
Most other sports just consider drafting to be part of strategy, and a valuable skill to learn.
Florida Flatness
Reviewed by: buddy blanke, Nov 17 2007 1:46PM
you rock slowman....I'm stationed in the AF near Ft Walton Beach and saw some of the drafting at IMFL as a spectator, but you've got it nailed.
Its still cheating
Reviewed by: Heath, Nov 17 2007 9:30AM
It doesn't matter that a coarse is flat or hilly. Cheating is cheating. No matter how you slice. Mister Florida is flat so that is why you can draft and be a big freeking cheater to try to place better in your age group. It was great to know and bask in the glory of passing all those stupid drafters when I got to the run. I know that I could have placed better if I would have got into one of the packs, but I got into this sport cause it is an INDIVIDUAL sport, and so I could always say that I DID IT, not i did it under my breath cause I now that out on the bike I was sucking wheel the whole time cause I know that I need to cause I can't run a freeking marathon if I don't. I don't think it is the states fault ya Florida is flat so what. It is NA Sports fault that there was drafting on the coarse and they were not catching the cheaters. I watched on guy get red carded at mile 35 or so in a pack of 7 or 8, ONE guy. I could not believe it, but what made it worse for me is to pass that guy at the penalty tent serving his time. Then to get repassed by that same guy a little while later in another pack. What is up with that crap. I just know that I road the entire ride by myself know one around me at all till they would come flying by me in packs. But I don't mind all that much cause I know it wasn't me in those packs faking that I placed higher than I should have. I am exstatic on how I did. Because when it comes down to it in the end it shouldn't ever matter if you beat anyone else or place in your age group, just as long as you beat your own time and your own goals. That is what makes a true Ironman Athlete.
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