WAYNE'S WORDS
September 6, 2004
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Topic: LSL Triathlon

Arguably the most long-standing and traditional triathlon in the area is the Lake St. Louis Triathlon. Around for 22 years, the race is older than a lot of the racers. I've been doing this race for 18 years.
Now before I get started, you can't be critical of any race unless you've been a race director (RD) or you've been a volunteer this year at a triathlon. Since I've done both, here goes.
Two days ago, I asked myself why I was putting myself in harms way while almost getting run over by a long course biker at the short course turn around. I heard him screaming, heard his tires lock up, smelled his tires burning and heard him go down into the ditch right behind me. I didn't see who he was, but later found out that he was OK.
I don't think I've ever felt as "uncomfortable" on a bike tri course as I did at LSL this year.
SBRSTL said it best. It's a matter of trust.
I didn't trust the guys who set up the bike course. Since when do you have bikers crossing over one another or heading towards one another at 30 mph. in a single lane during a race? Or a bike turn around with no one there? I didn't trust the people on the course. There seemed to be random waving of the famous "noodles". You didn't know if they were cheering you on or telling you to turn.
Like the "Puma", Bernd Faust, said (in his thick German accent), " you didn't know vhere to turn, all the noodles vaving".
There was no one at the short course turn around to check numbers. I want to think the guy who took 1st in my age group might have cut the run course.
What was the deal with the pseudo-Hell's Angels out on the bike course? They were noisy, smelly and too far ahead of the first biker to show him the course or to clear the way.
I just don't get it!
But, the BIG question on every bodies mind, where does all that money go?
From what I understand, almost everything was donated, that's how you get your name on the back on the shirt.
This was a LSL Rec. Dept. event, so I'm assuming the RD didn't have to give LSL any $ for the use of the lake or the parking lot.
Let's see, $75 X 800 people= $60,000.
In my goody bag was a great race t-shirt and a nice water bottle, but $60,000!
Where did all this $ go, I wonder????
All right, all right I'll quit bitchin'.
It was a nice day, I finished the race, I saw a lot of friends, I got lots of great comments on "Wayne's Words, yea!! people do actually read this!! Those breakfast things from Chevy's were good, there was plenty of Gatorade, all my friends walked away with hardware, and the massage was wonderful.
To answer my question at the beginning, why did I do this race this year, as well as the other 18 or so times?
Through the good times and the bad, it's tradition.
So as bad or as expensive as the race will be next year, I'll be signed up by April.

Train smart, live right.
Until next week,
Wayne

whuckshold@yahoo.com