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November 13, 2005
USA Triathlon Announces New Race Series
"Six new race series will satisfy everyone from youth to duathletes to long distance triathletes." That was the headline on the USAT website last week. I knew this was coming down the pike after chatting with USAT's Skip Gilbert earlier this summer. The press release continued with the following:
The Grand Prix Series will include the following formats:
USAT Youth Grand Prix Series
Ages: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15 (non-drafting)
Approximate distances: (7-8 and 9-10): 100m swim, 5k bike, 1k run
(11-12 and 13-15): 200m swim, 10k bike, 2k run
USAT Sprint Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
USAT Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
USAT Long Distance Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 3k swim, 80k bike, 20k run to 4k swim, 120k bike, 30k run
USAT Duathlon Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 10k run, 40k bike, 5k run
USAT Long Distance Duathlon Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 16-plus kilometers of total running and 50-plus kilometers of total biking
My first thought was why so many Grand Prix Series? Why not just roll out one and make it awesome and then follow-up with the others later? I've learned the hard way what over-extending your abilities can do to the end result.
I then started looking for page two, but it was nowhere to be found! That didn't make sense to me. Why make such a bold announcement without at least identifying some of the races, especially the championship races? I think the plan is to just take the regional championships and turn those races into the Grand Prix Series. If that is the case, I wish they would have told the race directors that before the regions selected their championships. In many regions the regional championships don't really mean much, and Florida has always been one of those regions. Had event directors known those events would be part of a new series, more event directors may have applied.
I know the USAT Board met last weekend, maybe some news will trickle out soon.
Posted by Fred at 09:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | More in: Triathlon, USA Triathlon
November 09, 2005
Wow, what just hit me?
That's what I was asking myself following this year's Great Floridian. As events go, this was one of the toughest I have ever been involved with. The most challenging part was the week leading up to race day. With Wilma looming down in the tropics, I had no idea if the race would even take place. I would guess that 80% of my mental energy during race week was spent dealing with Wilma. For most of the governmental types we were dealing with the easiest solution was to cancel. The trouble was the weather forecasts did not justify a complete cancelation of the race and that is where the battle began. I felt like I was crawling up sugarloaf on my hands and knees, all by myself. I'm still not sure if I ever made it to the top.
As a result of Wilma, participants had to make some tough decisions themselves. I knew from past experience that this would be a no win situation for us. Some athletes would not be happy regardless what decision we made.
To make matters worse, several volunteer groups used Wilma as an excuse not to show up. We also had a couple of week links in our event team chain.
Dealing with any single issue would have been challenging enough, but put them all together and the stage was set for a not so fun weekend for us.
Lots more to follow....
Posted by Fred at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | More in: Great Floridian
