Oh where to begin with the disaster that turned out to be the Hartford Marathon Foundation Women’s Triathlon race in Farmington last weekend? It actually started out great for me but ended in disappointment for so many and confusion and uncertainly for everyone. I guess the best place to start is the beginning since, things did not come undone until the very end.
Before the confusion set in, I was celebrating a great race!
I should also remind everyone that I raced this event last year and vowed to never return. But, since I’m now a full blown triathlon addict, I decided to go back and try to qualify for the USAT national competition in 2017, you know, just to get that out of the way.
To qualify for nationals you need to finish in the top 10 percent or be the top finisher (whichever is greater) of your age group. This is no easy task which is why so many women chose this particular race to qualify. The Women’s Triathlon is known for and marketed as a race for beginners, of which there are many. However, there is also a small group of hard core triathlete women looking to qualify for nationals. I was one of them.
THE SWIM | 1/2 Mile
The water temperature, at 74 degrees was perfect. It was still wetsuit legal but not freezing cold or sweltering hot. The air temperature was about 70 degrees with overcast skies. It was perfection. I promised myself to swim hard, be bold and fight for position in the water though out the half-mile swim. Mission accomplished!
Although I was kicked, elbowed, jostled and swam over, I gave as much as I got and was fourth or fifth out of the water in a group of 51 women ages 40-49. This was my best and fastest swim to date!
I also passed two women while running the long path to transition. This is a race people, move it!
Swim time 2016: 16:40
Swim time 2015: 19:18
Difference: 3 minutes 22 seconds
Transition 1: 58 seconds
Game face! Triathlon hair, don’t care.
THE BIKE | 12 Miles
I was downright giddy to get on my bike after the swim. I was so happy with my swim time and knew I was going to crush the bike with my new Cervelo P2! The route is pretty flat with only one or two smallish hills. Plus, this year I was in wave 1 which meant I wasn’t constantly passing other women on the bike. I did get passed twice (once by the 26 year old who ended up winning) and another by a friend of mine who is 49 and amazing!…so I didn’t mind.
Ok, fine, I did mind but I knew I was pushing as hard as I could and that’s all I can ever ask of myself. I was also feeling great and having fun out there. I’m so glad I enjoyed it while it lasted.
Bike time 2016: 35:54 | 20.3 mph average
Bike time 2015: 36:29 (I have 11.5 miles for the bike last year instead of 12 so…?)
Difference: 25 seconds
Transition 2: 43 seconds
I need a Betty Designs kit to match my helmet and shoes!
THE RUN | 3.1 Miles
This is where it gets ugly. I absolutely hate the run in this race and it was one of the major reasons I didn’t want to do it again. It’s on a trail. The trail is pockmarked, has gravel, deep sand, roots, rocks, wood chips and it’s pretty technical. There are steep uphills and scary downhills with jagged rocks and sliding sand underfoot. I hate it. It also starts uphill.
I was fourth coming out of transition and passed two women within the first mile, putting me in second. A little less than a quarter mile ahead of me was the first place woman and she was being escorted by a biker on a neon green bike. The color of the bike is important, as you shall see.
The trail had a lot of other trails shooting off of it. For the most part, it was clearly marked and I know full well that the athletes are responsible for knowing the course (I just wrote about it for Women’s Running!) but there were many places where the path of the race was confusing. If not for the neon green bike, I may have made the mistake that many other competitors made that day.
Very near the end of the run the trail split. There was no marking by HMF and I literally stopped and yelled “shit!” then, suddenly, I glimpsed the green bike ahead and knew which way to go. If it had not been for the neon green bike, I would have been at a loss and may have chosen right instead of left, which cut the course by about a quarter mile.
Run time 2016: 21:53 | 7:21 pace
Run time 2015: 22:16
Difference: 23 seconds
BIG smile knowing I’m in second place…for now.
THE MESS
Unfortunately I was not alone in being confused at the trail split and, it was extremely unfortunate that many women chose to run the wrong way and inadvertently cut the course, disqualifying them from the event.
This would happen many times over as the confusion grew at the finish line.
I’m sure you can already guess the debacle that ensued. First of all, unless you were wearing a GPS watch, you wouldn’t know if you cut the course or not. Second, HMF was not posting anything but overall times so, if you had no watch, you had no idea what your run time was and whether it was a time you know you’re not capable of.
The awards were supposed to have been announced by 9:30 and, at 10:30 we were still waiting.
Waiting with my friend who is also an Ironman!…and a doctor! I mean, really? Just stop being so amazing.
THE WORST PART I
There was so much confusion and uncertainty. No announcements were made so athletes were just talking amongst themselves. The USAT official on hand was being inundated with questions and, as time went on, frustration mounted.
The course was most certainly better marked last year and, at the point of confusion on the course it was just so obvious there should have been a sign or a volunteer or both.
According to the result sheet that was posted, I came in fourth overall and first in my age group. This was a definite nationals qualification and, although I hate fourth place, I was very happy with my overall performance. I had placed eighth overall last year and had PR’ed the course by three minutes this year. For the moment, I was still happy.
Until the awards were announced…
Celebrating a nationals qualification with a friend…before it got worse.
THE WORST PART II
The race director finally addressed the crowd and explained that a lot of athletes had cut the course. She asked that if anyone who raced knows they had a run time they were not capable of, to please come forward.
Then, this bomb was dropped – – HMF decided to give out the awards based on the swim and bike times only since those were the only results they knew were accurate. Wait, what? Seriously?
Just to drive home the ridiculousness of this I can tell you that my friend who initially placed 12th overall was suddenly awarded 3rd when the run was excluded. I was given 2nd in my age group and I haven’t a clue where that put me overall.
Worst of all, USATriathlon may not even recognize this as a sanctioned event with accurate finishing times and, therefore, nationals qualifications for the athletes who placed.
OVERALL
At the time of my writing this I still do not know if the results will be upheld by USATriathlon. The only thing I really cared about, one of the only reasons for even racing this event, was to qualify for nationals and now that may be taken away though no fault of my own.
I can only hope that lessons were learned and that mistakes won’t be repeated. I feel terribly for my fellow athletes who were handed a DQ when they had no intention of cheating.
Again, I know it’s the athlete’s responsibility to know the course but, it’s the race directors responsibility to clearly mark it.
Only time will tell what happens with my results. For now, I’m going to chose to be happy with the race I finished and, if I need to re-qualify for nationals in the spring, that is exactly what I will do!
So proud of this race!
[Tweet “Just another reason to know your #race course! A cautionary tale. #womenstriathlon”]
Have you ever been confused on a race course? What happened?
What do you think will happen with the results? What is the fair thing to do?
UGH.
Id be so flipping frustrated and yet, as always, your attitude is the better one to have.
You rise above where so many of us with sink our own damn selves with our whining.
<3
Trust me, I have only come to this after a few days. Standing around the finish line was infuriating!!! But – UPDATE – the results will stand and I have qualified!!!!
Are you frickin’ kidding me?!?!!? That is so NOT right! I think they should count the results as is instead of only counting the swim and bike. What a joke. I’d be royally pissed. And I’m guessing that this race won’t be happening next year? I’ve only had one race course that was questionable on the route. I was all alone on a side street where it split. My options were to go straight or turn left. There were no cones and no one visible in front or behind me. And no volunteers directing. Thankfully I chose the right direction (left) but I heard from others, they did not. Racers need to know the course and it should be marked accordingly!
Why does this happen so often??? Don’t they have someone run the actual course to see where they need signs and volunteers? It’s infuriating!!!
I did finally hear this morning that the results will stand WITH the run and I have qualified for nationals :-))))
I’m sorry for all that you are going through with this. Honestly, I don’t know even know what the right answer is. Not give out awards? It’s such a tough situation for everyone involved. I hope they at least uphold your time.
It was SO hard and I think especially for the women who unintentionally cut the course and had to take a DQ.
I did finally hear this morning and I have officially qualified for nationals 🙂 whew!!
Thanks Hollie!
WHAT A FREAKING CLUSTER F***.
I don’t know how I would feel right now if I were you. To be so excited, and then feel so dropped. Like the marathoners from the VIA marathon with the whole train situation.
UGH. I am so sorry. I don’t know what else to say!
OMG that train thing was insane!!!!
Thank you and I’m so freakin’ happy to report that I have qualified!!! woot woot!!!
Ugh. My heart just dropped into my stomach when I read this. I was still thinking you qualified, based on your IG post on Sunday. This is such a shame, and falling on the tail end of the story of the BQ hopefuls who were stopped by a train, it just seems unfair.
I really believe that if you, as a race director, are holding an event that is advertised as a “qualifer” for anything, then you better damn well be sure that all the details are taken care of. There had to be a lot of disappointed racers there. I wonder if anyone who cut the course short “stepped forward”. Would you, if it would cost you a qualification and/or and AG placement? Food for thought for a blog post…
On the other hand, you look amazing! So strong and fit! No matter what the outcome, you know in your heart how you did. Great job, my friend. And I love your attitude!
You bring up SO many good points!!! I have to say that five women came forward but I honestly think there were more who just didn’t realize it until they got home?? I don’t know – whatever. The results will stand and I DO have a nationals qualification but you’re so right that if it’s a “qualifier” for anything you best have your shit together!!!
Thanks so much Wendy and that is a great blog post topic…
WOWZERS!!! that is so effed up! i think it’s nuts that the HMF put it out on the athletes to come forward, i mean they should have seriously taken some responsibility. it’s a two way deal – they mark a clear freakin course, the athletes PAY and race it. athletes train hard and also pay for these things with the understanding that the race course will be clearly marked. i mean common freakin sense people. really!!!!! how ridiculously lame. i’d be peeved. just a little. LOL.
your ironman doctor friend IS amazing!!! i know a woman like her, too. she was my orthopedic surgeon, and friend, and is also a badass Ironman athlete. multiple times over, she is just flipping amazing. she has teenage boys and one of her boys went to school with my baby brother. her boys are incredible athletes as well, and she just has this super human athlete family. they blow my mind and inspire me. when i was IM training she actually said i inspired her because i was hitting the pool at 3:30AM in the mornings to get my swims and runs in before work. i couldn’t have been more flattered, i mean me??? i’m like a snail compared to her but so what? i will take it! yes, i will gladly get my butt up early if that’s all it takes to inspire a freaking mega super hero 😀 yes, i get up early. you conquer the world and save lives and stuff. yeahhhhhhhhh.
anyhow, you freaking rock Ali. you’re one of them. you’re a super human chick!!! whatever you set your mind to, you achieve, and it really rocks. congrats on your race and not being an A-hole athlete!
To your entire first paragraph – YES!!!!!
And really also the second 🙂 but THANKS!!!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What? How is that possible? How was it not more clearly marked if this is not the first year they’ve done this race? Oh wow.
You ran such an amazing race- beating last year’s time in every sport? That’s incredible!! I really hope you get to “count” this race and your amazing effort!
Exactly!!! It was beyond frustrating – as you can imagine!!!
But yes, I finally heard that the results will stand and I have an official qualification! whew!!!
Thanks so much Laura.
WHAT????? This is ridiculous!!!! I hope you still get your nationals qualification!! The picture of you coming out of the water with that determination on your face is the absolute best!!!
I GOT IT! Thank you so much and that picture is my favorite because I think my year long effort to swim faster and stronger is reflected in my face 🙂
Thanks Paria!
Uhhhhhmmmmm……….
Okay so, I didn’t actually think that the story was going to get THAT bad, and yet… it did. That is bad. REALLY BAD. Holy. I’d be in a rage haze. So, on a lighter side, I think you’re amazing. You’re my hero. I love the pics of you, and they’re seriously just so inspiring to me. Such a strong woman with a positive, happy vibe. I adore you.
I was in a total rage haze (which is the perfect way to explain it) and now I’m in a happiness coma because the results WILL stand! I did it!!
Thanks so much Suzy! The fact that I inspire you is off the charts!!
Oh my god that’s awful! I can’t imagine how frustrated you and everyone else are right now. I really hope that they find a way to prove that you qualified, especially given the fact that you hated the run course and only used this race to qualify. I guess it’s safe to say you won’t be doing this race again in the future? It sounds like such a hot mess and I hope they make some changes to the course!
Yes, that is safe to say for sure and YES, I finally heard that I did qualify!!! Thank you 🙂
The only race debacle I have been a part of was my half-marathon this past May. A lead runner turned the wrong way (at the beginning) and everyone followed (not sure why there were not signs directing or someone from the race). This added about 1/2 mile to our run. My frustration was this ended up being a great race for me! I still PR’d the course by about 2 minutes….and per my Garmin PR’d 13.1 (also by about 2 minutes). It would have been nice to have my official time as the PR on 13.1. To resolve the matter, the race organizers adjusted the distance within the results (Chronotrack, or something like that). Our official finish times did not change but our pace, etc was corrected.
In your situation….shoot, I am not sure what the organization should do. Especially since your event is a USAT sanctioned event, I do not think it is fair to use times based only on swim & bike (above race I mentioned also has a marathon, even is USATF sanctioned and marathon is a BQer, but I believe everything was fine with the marathon distance). A disaster such as your’s could result in the event losing it’s ability to act as a qualifier (I would think).
It will be interesting to see what happens.
That is awful and so strange about your race but at least they attempted to do the right thing in the results.
You are absolutely right about the event losing it’s sanction which is why I think they did whatever they needed to, to make the results stick. I just heard that I DID qualify and the results will stand (with the run)! So glad the whole thing is over.
Thanks Aimee.
Oh my god! No way! That sounds like a terrible mess! Reading about their fuck ups made me really angry, and I didn’t even do the race myself! I cannot even begin to imagine what this must have felt like for you! Will you have to do another Tri to qualify? That is insane!!
Well, if anybody can go out there and kick this much butt, it’s you! I know this was a terrible situation, but I believe that you still did amazing! great improvement over last year! just amazing!
The only time that I remember there being confusion was a local small 5K. It wasn’t clearly marked, and there was an extra .10 loop that some people missed. I am still convinced that this made somebody else win on my age group…. but whatever.
That is so frustrating about your 5k and I think it happens all.the.time so WTH???
I would have had to race another triathlon (next spring!) to qualify but I did finally hear that the results will stick (with the run) and I have officially qualified!!! Just such a mess!
Ummm WTF?!?! Seriously? There’s so much that they messed up on – from not marking the courses to messing up the awards based on just swim and bike! I would be upset if the time didn’t count for a qualifying race. You worked so hard and gave your best! I agree that runners should know the course, but trail races are trickier because there aren’t signs like on a street and the maps can leave off smaller off-shoot trails.
That all said – you ran an amazing race! I love your positive attitude about this also! You shaved so much off of your swim time – congrats!
I haven’t run a race with any confusion, but once I lost my sh&t when on a volunteer committee in college and people said that we could just measure “about 3 miles” for a 5K race on campus. Few things are more outraging to a bunch of runners than a mismeasured course.
Totally agree with your opening comments and that trials are so tricky! The weirdest part is that there was no problem last year so what the heck happened??? Anyway, I did finally hear and the results will be upheld (with the run) so I have officially qualified.
And I’ve been a part of a few 5ks that were mis-measured and it’s ridiculous!! And, how come they are never short??? LOL!!
This is totally insane! I understand races have their issues and course markings can be one of them, but it’s really crazy given the demographic this race caters to. They’re supposed to be catering to new triathletes and people are getting lost on the course?! Plus, they know people are there trying to qualify for nationals and the race is thus super important. You have a really good attitude about all of this, but I wouldn’t blame you for being even more upset. I hope that you end up qualifying for Nationals – you earned it! I’m so sorry this happened.
Excellent points and I could not agree more! I had a full 24 hours to cool before writing this and, now I learned that I have in fact qualified, so all I can say is this race is officially OFF my list!!!
Thanks Danielle.
That’s just very annoying, crazy to think they decided on final placings after the cycle – that’s just ridiculous. The run can completely change the rankings and how people finally fair out at the end. You did great times though and at least can be satisfied with how you performed. Well done to you.
So true and it was apparent when people moved up huge places after taking out the run. So crazy!! But, the crazy has ended (for now) as I learned I have officially qualified!!! whew…
Thanks so much!
Whaaaaat?! I’d be o pissed if I were you. I mean, you killed it… but good lord. Had they never organized a race before?! How did they get it right in 2015 and not in 2016?
Either way, I’n SUPER jazzed for you – especially that swim time!
What on earth?! I can’t believe that happened! Shame on the race directors to be so careless with so much on the line!! I just read in your comments that you officially qualified so I am SO excited for you at nationals!! My friend Allie is a beast!!
Shame for sure and that will be the LAST time I race there!!
I’m just so relived that everything worked out 🙂 Thanks Nellie!
Oh. My. God. This is just all so messed up!!! I can’t believe the route was not clearly marked, that is just unacceptable. They have an onus to provide a professional event and they didn’t do that. I really hope you still qualify because your performance was STELLAR.
Yes they do and it was horrendous, to say the least. BUT – I DID qualify!! I found out yesterday that the results will stand and I have earned my spot at nationals 🙂 Thanks so much Carly!
Are you freaking serious?? That is so beyond ridiculous and unbelievable. I’m so sorry that you and the other athletes had to endure this – the confusion and frustration and all of it. BUT, I’m so happy to see that you did qualify for Nationals (I mean, like there was ever any doubt you would) and look at your performance this year!!! You are amazing Allie!
You are so amazing my friend!! CONGRATS on qualifying AGAIN for Nationals!!!! Yeah!!!
The race sounds like a disaster – that is insane!! I really think the RD in races should make absolutely sure that a course is well marked and accurate!!
When I ran the half marathon in Oakland last spring, the course ran SO LONG. It was really crazy – I was looking at my watch thinking – it is now 13.1 miles – where is the finish line??? And we kept going and going and freakin going. It’s so frustrating when people train hard and spend time, money and effort to travel and then RD and staff don’t do their job. Unless the race is free, do your job, people. Sheesh!!!
Anyway, I am so glad you don’t have to worry about requalifying!!! You are a rockstar!!! xo
That is SO awful about the LONG half marathon!! OMG the worst. And YES, if you’re paying for to run the race and, it’s a qualifying race for ANYTHING, there should be nothing less than perfection. #sorrynotsorry
Thanks so much Nat and I seriously cannot wait to see you next week!
That is just crazy!!! That race needs to get their act together and get the course marked better! I was so happy to read in your Friday blog post that your original result is what you finally got and that you are going to Nationals. Badass!
So ridiculous!! But yes, it all worked out.
Wow wow wow! I cannot believe the poor race direction! I’m sorry you had to deal with this but so excited for you on improved times across all three sports from last year! Such amazing growth in the swim. That is an awesome sign of your strength. You are a rock star. We can chalk this one up to worst race organization ever! 🙁
The worst ever is right!! But thank you so much. I cannot tell you how proud I am of that swim. I finally started seeing some payoff for all the hours I spend in the pool and the lake and THAT alone was worth it…but I will also take the nationals qualification 🙂
Okay, so I read your comments so I know the results stand and you qualified – yay! But how frustrating. I’ve been to a few cross country meets where the course isn’t marked well, but that’s high school sports – this is big time.
Glad it all worked out!
Big time screw up!!! It was seriously THE WORST but so glad it all worked out…
Thanks Dana!