Is this normal?

[indygirl99]

I am still very new to running and races. I started June 24th last year and until this weekend only ran in one sport races. ie running.

This weekend I participated in a duathalon. I am really wondering if this was a bad event for my first time or should I change my thinking.

To me it was a very disorganized race. NONE of the volunteers knew where the duathalon participant were supposed to go to start. All the volunteers were telling everyone to start at the water edge, including the duathaletes. Of course this was not the case only the triatheletes started at the water.

They advertised a Charity wave with the participants getting to start 10 min early but forgot to say that was not available to the duathelete, even though they took our money for a charity wave.

The race was supposed to start at 9 am but the duatheletes did not get the start bell until 9:18. The volunteer at the start line was just a kid and was not getting clear directions for when to start. Even he was frustrated.

When we exited the bike area we were sent the wrong way for the 5K run and then yelled at that we should "follow directions" Umm we did and they sent us your way. The timing mats were already pulled up by the time we finished our 5K run and when we asked how to get our time we were told "there are no times. You still get your medal".

Then we found out that the race director participated in the race themselves.

As I said I am still new to this but in the last year I have run 3 half marathons, 3 10K's an 8K and about 5 5K's and never encountered this much confusion. I have also volunteered at 3 half marathons and a couple 5K-10K runs and was given a very concrete rundown of my job and where people were to start and the number for the race director if there were problems during the race that they needed to address. I have never participated in a run where the race director also ran until this weekend.

Is this normal or should I stay away from races with this particular race director?

Even my husband who LOVES to ride has said he will not do another duathalon he will just volunteer at the races I run. Which I hate because he is so supportive of me and I would like to be supportive of him and watch him do some bike rides.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wouldn't want to participate in anything done by this group! (what race was it?)

 

[FireDancer]

No, that isn't normal. It sounds like it was either a bad race director or a new one that needs to work out the kinks. I was just at a tri/dual event this weekend that was run by one of the smaller local organizers and nothing like you mentioned happened.

Don't let it discourage you, if you ask anyone who has done races for a few years they'll almost all tell you that they ran a dud or two.

 

[indygirl99]

Okay I did talk to someone who was a "sponsor" of the race this weekend and they were pretty surprised at what we encountered. This race director has done many races before and some have been "great" and others have been a "bomb" according to this person. They did tell me that they would talk to the director about our concerns and how that reflects on them as a "sponsor".

I am already signed up for a half marathon in October that this same race director is running so I guess I am committed to giving them another chance.

Now to find a DIFFERENT duathalon to put on the calendar for next spring/summer. My husband said he would try another as long as this person was in no way involved.

Bumbershoot it was the Girlfriend and Dudes Tri in Washington.

 

[cewait]

A combo du and tri are difficult to put on well. Saying that, this is not normal and I would expect that you will see a marked improvement in the Half. I am a firm believer in all races and race directors can have a bad day. If it happens a second time (or the event is so poorly organized that safety is an issue) then I avoid the RD.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bumbershoot it was the Girlfriend and Dudes Tri in Washington.

Thanks for telling me.

I'm glad you were able to talk about your concerns to someone who has a stake in it! That's always good.

 

[zeltoo]

No. This is far from normal. I will also agree combined du/tri events are hard on both competitors and race directors. Everyone I've seen has at least some confusion. Certainly not to the level you expressed. We have two du only events in my area that I know of (I'm sure there are more). These events are wonderful and always well run.

 

[indygirl99]

Thanks everyone.

I will give this race director another chance as I am already signed up for a half in October and don't want to lose my entry fee. As I talk to others about having completed the event I am hearing a lot of mixed reviews of the RD. I plan on going into the October event with a positive attitude that it will be a great event.

I am also getting suggestions from people who didn't know I was interested in this type of event so I am hopeful that I will be able to find a duathalon next year that will leave both my husband and I with a positive experience.

 

[goofeygirl]

Any race I was in always sent a followup email that asked for your opinions on the race...if not for your race, I would find an email address and voice your experience.
I assume this was the first of that kind of race and they were totally totally green...so they clearly will need feedback and everything they did wrong.


I was in a race in February that is normally organized but the person leading the race for the half led us in the wrong direction...then they were lost...then they went back to find out where we were supposed to go...then someone else came back and told us we were going in the wrong direction and to cut through some streets to make up for time...which we did...and it all worked out in the end.

 

[BlazerFan]

Thanks everyone.

I will give this race director another chance as I am already signed up for a half in October and don't want to lose my entry fee. As I talk to others about having completed the event I am hearing a lot of mixed reviews of the RD. I plan on going into the October event with a positive attitude that it will be a great event.

I am also getting suggestions from people who didn't know I was interested in this type of event so I am hopeful that I will be able to find a duathalon next year that will leave both my husband and I with a positive experience.

IndyGirl,

I've participated in the October 1/2 you mention almost every year except the first. It is a really fun, well run event and one of my favorites (that isn't a Disney race!!) each year. It may be they just didn't get enough qualified volunteers. October should be a much better experience for you. And congratulations on the event, I didn't know it was something you were interested in. Hope to see you soon.

 

[indygirl99]

IndyGirl,

I've participated in the October 1/2 you mention almost every year except the first. It is a really fun, well run event and one of my favorites (that isn't a Disney race!!) each year. It may be they just didn't get enough qualified volunteers. October should be a much better experience for you. And congratulations on the event, I didn't know it was something you were interested in. Hope to see you soon.

DH loves to ride the bike and since he has been so supportive of me and my run craziness we tried the duathalon for him. We will do another one next year just to prove that it is not a bad thing to try.

We saw you at Fit Right on Monday but when I turned around to say Hi you were gone.

 

[BlazerFan]

DH loves to ride the bike and since he has been so supportive of me and my run craziness we tried the duathalon for him. We will do another one next year just to prove that it is not a bad thing to try.

We saw you at Fit Right on Monday but when I turned around to say Hi you were gone.

Sorry I missed you. I didn't see you at all. I was picking up a new pair of shoes to start breaking them in so I will have 2 good pair for the DDD weekend.