Well, 1998 is all over except the shouting, as they say. There were not many duathlons in Florida this season; at least two good series of races were not held. It was a great loss to those of us who really enjoy the run-bike-run format. 1999, it seems, will start without the "20 Miles Through DeLeon" duathlon that John Boyle has presented for a long time. (Why not got to his new web site and complain!?) The next paragraph was written about the Dannon Series for 1998 and is probably a good indication of 1999's places and dates. Regardless of my serious complaint about the awards (or lack of), the Dannon series is some great races with really big entry lists. If you can afford them, they are great events to race in.
Dannon's 1998 duathlon series visits some new sites, expands to five races, and leaves Florida. The races will be good, the competition tough, and the awards in age groups still are only to the first two finishers (see tirade below). You've really got to work to bring home hardware!
Visit Dannon's site for details and entry forms.
May 17 Arlington, TX. 5K R, 30K B, 5K R.
Jun 28 Atlanta (Alpharetta), GA. 5K R, 30K B, 5K R.
Jul 19 New Orleans, LA. 5K R, 30K B, 5K R. This will be Tri-Fed's 1998 National Duathlon Championships.
Aug 30 Charlotte, NC, 5K R, 30K B, 5K R.
Sep 20 Chicago (Napierville), IL. 5K R, 30K B, 5K R.
(Beginning the tirade)
After 1996's race at Fort Walton Beach, FL, I complained to Tri-Fed about the lack of police protection for racers when we rode through Destin in the middle of the bike leg. In 1997 we had very good police protection all the way. I have no idea how they can get permission to hold up traffic on such a busy tourist road as US98 but that is their problem. (Of course, this is part of the reason that Dannon is not returning to the Florida city in 1998.)
Last year I had no expectation but for a good time at a new place. In 1997 I was in contention for awards. I don't remember noticing that they would give awards to only the first two finishers in each age group. I couldn't believe it!
Dannon is paying a lot of money ($4500) at each race to elite racers, those touring pros and locals who declare themselves in contention. They have attracted a field of several hundred racers. The great majority of the racers are the age-groupers, the people who support the sport and who pay the bills for the races.
Age-groupers race for fun and trophies. Some are partly sponsored, usually by local businesses or clubs who want to see awards, not hear stories.
With top class competition lots of very good performances went unrewarded at the Dannon.
At a personal level, I'm pretty ticked off. I race in one of the largest entry groups and it makes no sense to race for only two trophies. Little races around here award three per class and most bigger races award through fifth place. [By the way, I was third in an age group of over twenty five entries. The men age 35 to 39 had over forty entries and two trophies. Bad deal.]
Yes, I am going to complain to the organizers and write to Tri-Fed's magazine about this. Pros and Elites don't help keep the sport growing. The organizers have to keep the age-groupers happy. They are the ones that pay the bills.
Check out the official Dannon Duathlon Series web site.
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c 1999 tristar1@mindspring.com
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