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?
Me too! I really like that swim. The water was crystal clear, calm, and pleasantly cool. After the swim I felt like I was in Florida on the beach! Fun! :agree:
lefty, I think this is interesting info but not conclusive. This person saw someone turn at the wrong buoy, but we really can't know for sure who that someone was. For all we know the person who turned at the wrong buoy realized their mistake, turned around and completed the course legally.
Does it matter what I believe? :)
Really I'm trying to look at this from the meet director's point of view. Would you disqualify a swimmer because someone claims to have seen someone turn at the wrong buoy?
Next year the people running this should take a better approach to dispel confusion.
Indeed, while the organizers of big shoulders have consistently done an outstanding job organizing this race the confusion surrounding this years race should be a sign that some race day policies should be reconsidered. I don't personally know Andy nor do I intend on bashing the guy but regardless of whether he had the "race of his life" in his blue seventy suit I along with many others doubt that he swam the entire distance of the course (again, he beat a handful of current NCAA top qualifiers, a fmr 5k open water world champ and dropped nearly 13 minutes off his best ever 5k)... after reading the posts above this seems to be the only plausible explanation for his "unbelievable" time. Amongst hundreds of swimmers far from lead pack he very well could have either knowingly of unknowingly veered off course; offering an advantage. Even one of his friends acknowledged that he had trouble navigating at this years 10k nationals. Anyway, I suppose what actually happened will remain a mystery. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we might avoid similar problems in the future? As suggested earlier, it might be best to group the fastest swimmers in the first wave...
Again kirk, you are ignoring the "I led from the start," comment.
I did because I agree with E=H2O, this is just too difficult to know for sure. It's hard enough to see all your competitors in a pool. In an OW race with probably 100 people in your wave I don't know how you can be sure you're leading. Even if this person knew they were leading at the start it would be pretty easy for someone to sneak by especially once they started passing swimmers from the preceding wave.
I along with many others doubt that he swam the entire distance of the course (again, he beat a handful of current NCAA top qualifiers, a fmr 5k open water world champ and dropped nearly 13 minutes off his best ever 5k)... after reading the posts above this seems to be the only plausible explanation for his "unbelievable" time. Amongst hundreds of swimmers far from lead pack he very well could have either knowingly of unknowingly veered off course; offering an advantage.
Nothing of note was written here!
Because I felt so strongly about this, I contacted one of the lead swimmers from the 3rd wave via facebook. This is the response that I received. The individual has asked NOT to be identified (though it is someone obvious who it is. Still keep that to yourself). But do not accuse them of hiding in anonymity: They informed Chris (as you can see below) of this directly.
I told Chris (race director) that someone turned after the first buoy. The first orange one before the triangle buoy. I know because he turned into me (I was the extreme left in our wave) I was ahead and saw him turn into my feet and I thought "Where is that knucklehead going?" I really don't think he knew he was cutting the course, but when I finished I went over to check if someone was way out of line; but I did not want to be a tattle tale but I could tell by his time and what I saw he cut it. He was a strong swimmer but (56) is downright funny.
2nd email:
You can post it. I would prefer if you don't use my name. I told the race director about it because he needs to clean it up. I did think about going after the guy but he was a little behind me and I thought he would look up and realize the error of his ways but in his mind I think he thought he was turning after the buoy.( he was only it was the first buoy and not the second. There were two on the first leg out right ?I do wonder if he did the same thing on the second lap. I really thought he would have figured it out. I led the 3rd wave from the start. What did he think ?
It is patently absurd to continue this charade. Do you see the part about "I led thd the 3rd wave from the start." IT does not get any more clear than this. Chris you are perpetrating a farce by not correcting these results.
lefty, I think this is interesting info but not conclusive. This person saw someone turn at the wrong buoy, but we really can't know for sure who that someone was. For all we know the person who turned at the wrong buoy realized their mistake, turned around and completed the course legally.
Well fine KNelson, is that what YOU believe?
Besides, KNelson, that doesn't address the statement "I led the 3rd wave from the start,"
Does it matter what I believe? :)
Really I'm trying to look at this from the meet director's point of view. Would you disqualify a swimmer because someone claims to have seen someone turn at the wrong buoy?
Again kirk, you are ignoring the "I led from the start," comment.
Don't worry, though, I am talking with another person who has said the same thing. So we will have cooberating evidence so that you can feel comfortable about saying he should be DQ'd.
