Thame Sprint
Tue, 23/06/2009 - 8:25pm
Thame Sprint
We have arranged with the organizers of Thame sprint that should we wish, all from Oxford Tri can race together.
This seems like a fab idea as we will be all at the race at the same time and create quite a buzz.
The racing is still the same open age group race, just we all start together.
Could I have some yea's and nay's by the end of the weekend as to if you think this is a good plan
this would be good especialy if we can go in the first wave
Sounds like a nice idea to me
Sounds like fun,C.
Sounds like a nice idea (I still haven't signed up yet but will do).
Sorry to be the lone dissenting voice here but I don't want to race in an Oxtri-only wave. I entered the race to race, and compete, with everybody - that for me is the buzz. At the Dambuster tri last weekend, the RAF had a separate wave at the start. In my view the RAF were consequently never involved in the race but were set apart - particularly as they started first. Additionally, it may be the case that other competitors were hoping to race against us ( or some of us :). Finally, by setting us all apart, it may make Oxford Tri look a bit elitist - which is the opposite to what it really is.
So count me as a 'nay'
Cheers
Ian Smith
I understand Ian's point however I think it's a good Idea as at the end of the day your are only competeing against your self as you never know what the other persons splits are going to be apart from maybe the swim. I think with us all starting together it would be fun for those little individual club battles!
Bring it! ;-)
Sounds like a good idea - would be a bit of fun but my only concern is that as its a pool swim, the quicker swimmers would get held up by us slightly more lethargic competitors. I guess the mass waves are ordered by ability - the Ox Tri wave would cover a huge range of abilities ? As a slower swimmer - I am happy either way.
I think it's a great idea. Though it will spoil my favourite pastime of hunting down Serpies, it'd be fun racing among ourselves like an überBAR race. And it would mean we all finish at a similar time for any social... cough-Adam-cough.
In fact I might just make the 2000km roundtrip to race, if I can borrow a bike!
andrew has a point about the swim,, as a smaller group we may have a bigger range of swim speeds in each lane,, it will be ok if the slower swimmers are happy to let the faster guys past ,, but at least we should have the results to back up peoples swim times rather than take their word on a time they would like to do,,
so as long as I am put in a group which are slightly faster than me and dont mind me getting a tow for the swim i am up for it,,, and if we could allow drafting in the cycle I may have a ok day
thank you for the nudge Nick their is something in the pipe line so watch this space!!!!!!!
looking forward to seeing you their
I would be concerned about the ability of swimmers and would have to agree with Andrew, I would not want to hold people up (Adrian!) or get annoyed with a fellow club member because they are swimming slower than me. Surely the club championship at the end of August is for us all to race against each other and to engage in those 'little individual club battles'. If we are going to have a 'stand/tent' there with a possibility of encouraging people to join the club would we not be better placed to have people there all day and included in the standard waves - so we are seen to be an inclusive club for all abilities???
It's a no from me as well, mainly because the swim is the part I enjoy most so I'd want to be with people of a similar speed. Also, early isn't ideal as I need to drop little people off at their grandparents' on the way.
If you all decide to have an Oxford Tri wave without me, I won't be offended though!
Whilst personally I really don't mind whether or not we have a seperate wave, I have to agree with Emma that I feel it would be better publicity for the club to have members racing throughout all the waves. I do think it may make the club appear a bit elitist if we have our own wave and we are far more likely to mix & talk to other athletes (and prospective members) if we are all mixed in with them in the standard waves.
Looking forward to the race though (even though I haven't sat on the bike for about 6wks!!).
If we were to have our own wave we would have it in a handicap system like you do have in a proper race. Slower swimmers off first followed by faster swimmers Which would mean no one would be holding any one up if it is staggered correctly.
Also just to make to clear we are not having a stand to talk potential new members we are having our club banner with hopefully a few after race sport drinks and sandwiches to get us all together for a social.
Its not about being separate of elite but just for the club to be their and racing together that is what we would like and we thought having our own wave would be good for this.
After Blenheim, this is the most local tri for our club and a fertile recruitment ground for future members. Regardless of our intentions - what matters is how we are percieved by others and I still think we will look elitist and 'separate' should we all set off together instead of mixing it through the whole race. As Emma correctly points out - we have the Club Championship for our own rivalries - lets race against and engage with the full field and be seen to be the friendly, inclusive club that we are.
What would be the point of an Oxford Tri wave? This is a pool based swim with everybody starting at 1 min intervals. Racing clubmates & those club battles would only make sense if it was a mass start open water event, at Thame you will still have to calculate the staggered starts.
Either way i'm only stirring- i will be racing somewhere else that weekend ;- )
I personally think when I see a lot other clubs who have their own wave's I just think wow that looks like a great club with lots of members who are friends and like racing together not any thing about being separate of elite i'm not sure why this keeps coming up?
Ok, I feel that the spirit of the club is that we should strive be inclusive were possible, therefore if some people feel uncomfortable
with our own waves then that goes against this mantra.
Therefore we will NOT have our own wave at Thame.
It is interesting however that this is seen as being elite rather than as Adam puts " members and friends who like racing together " and putting on a show for people to see.
The great thing about the club and a member reinforced this today saying the same thing, that we have a wide spectrum of abilities and outlooks yet everyone is down to earth and friendly across this spectrum.
Its going to be fantastic to see so many club members and friends there on the day, we can have the gazzebo up if we wish to have a meeting point.
Thank you for the debate its good to see the mix of views.
Ian