Ok, so the more they email me, the more I get nervous about the water temp. Last year it was 69 which stung to get in, but it made for a nice swimming temp. By the end, though, my fingers and toes felt a little numb, but that could have been tired (??).
But this year, it could be up to 10 degrees colder?! What to do when the coolest water I can find here in Cincinnati is 80?
If anything, this controversy proves that there are substantial flaws in the way some in not many open water races are organized and officiated.
...the greater question is what can be done to mitigate the chances that we'll be having similar discussions in years to come? In other words, something has to be done to ensure that swimmers are following the rules set forth (i.e. staying on course and rounding ALL of the marks).
In addition to pkerch's suggestions, any race consisting of more than one lap, should have a means for verifying that all laps have been completed, even if this requires a brief exit from the water to pass over a timing mat.
As the current controversy proves, if you can't verify the course was completed, including wave, laps and boundaries, the timing data will be inconclusive.
If anything, this controversy proves that there are substantial flaws in the way some in not many open water races are organized and officiated.
...the greater question is what can be done to mitigate the chances that we'll be having similar discussions in years to come? In other words, something has to be done to ensure that swimmers are following the rules set forth (i.e. staying on course and rounding ALL of the marks).
In addition to pkerch's suggestions, any race consisting of more than one lap, should have a means for verifying that all laps have been completed, even if this requires a brief exit from the water to pass over a timing mat.
As the current controversy proves, if you can't verify the course was completed, including wave, laps and boundaries, the timing data will be inconclusive.
