Thoughts on WTC's Decision to Shorten the Muncie Half Ironman Triathlon

It seems like the triathlon world has been going through a period of pretty intense and frequent controversy over the past few weeks.  First, after the tragic death of an athlete at Ironman Coeur D'alene, a very heated debate followed surrounding the safety of mass swim starts.  Then, increasingly [bad] news continued to come out around the Lance Armstrong situation.  And, if those two things weren't enough to shake the triathlon community, last weekend, WTC shortened the Muncie 70.3 race (Half Ironman distance), basically cutting it in half, due to extreme temperatures in the area. I have followed this last event quite closely, and would like to offer a few thoughts on the situation.

First, for a bit more context: the race at Muncie was changed from a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run to a 1 mile swim, 30 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run.  Reports state that water temperature was well above 80 degrees, and ambient temperatures were expected to rise north of 105 degrees. Needless to say, the heat was absolutely extreme. Against that backdrop, a day before the race, the race director and WTC announced that the race would be shortened as a matter of safety.  This upset many athletes for [as far as I can tell] two predominant reasons:

1) Those that were well-prepared and had training plans set up to peak around this race and particular distance lost the opportunity to do so
2) Many thought it was ridicules that they paid such a high fee for what turned out to be a much shorter distance race than they thought they were entering

Although point #1 could not be remedied, while I am not sure of the exact details, I do know that WTC attempted to remunerate athletes by offering discounted entry into future races.  So, painted with a broad and brief brush, hopefully the above gives you at least the general flavor of the circumstances.   

Next, I want to share a response published on Xtri and then offer my reaction to it:

The softening of our sport continues. When I first got into endurance sports, I often worried whether or not I would finish, but I never worried about the cancellation or shortening of an event due to heat. Until now. I got into this lifestyle because it was a challenge, because it took effort, because it was HARD. I wanted to see if I had what it took to get into real shape, toe the line, suffer, and finish something that few people could.

Now marathons are being cancelled because it's too hot. Triathlons are being shortened due to the heat. Swims are being stopped because the water's too cold or there's too much wind. WTF?! Nut up, people. If you want easy, shuffle your way through a county fair fun run. If you want to be a marathoner, a triathlete, an Ironman, then do the work. Yeah, it hurts. It's supposed to. It's not for everyone. It wasn't meant to be. You want perfect weather? Bowling is great, I hear. And you can do it all year long, indoors where you'll be safe and pain-free. Hell yeah, I'm pissed. I don't train hard to show up on race day and find out the race was cancelled or shortened because the RD was worried about some pansy throwing down a lawsuit that blames the universe for his/her own laziness.

Years ago I did a tri where the weather was so hot, the road tar stuck to my racing flats. My head felt like it was going to explode on the run. I toughed it out and finished… everyone did. It was hot, REALLY hot. So what?! The whole idea is to conquer your demons and prove that you are tough; tough enough and in shape enough to kick the race's butt AT YOUR OWN RISK. That race, once an Ironman qualifier, was cancelled years later due to some lawsuit-happy jerks.

Have some pride, people. Bust your tail and get into shape. Deal with whatever Mother Nature throws at you. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HARD. If you're only in it for the finisher's shirt and bag of swag, buy a T off eBay and brag to someone who cares. The rest of us will earn it…in any conditions. I've run in -30 degrees and 100+. One was cold, the other was hot. Nothing more, nothing less.

Hot, cold, rain, drought… it's weather. Deal with it. Read the waiver, sign it, shut your yap and compete. 

The author's tone and the fact that he directed his apparent anger at participants for "not hardening up" is misguided.  The "you" in the article ought to be directed at WTC and the race director. Participants had nothing to do with the shortening of this event, so 1) don't blame them and 2) if you are going to offer your opinion in a public forum, there are certainly more constructive ways to do so without speaking down to other individuals.

All of that said, I really could not agree more with the overall theme of this article, assuming that the "overall theme" is that the event should not have been shortened, nor should future events in similar conditions. I am afraid that the sport is catering to the lowest common denominator at these races, but at the expense (figuratively and literally) of the opposite end of the field. I would much rather see WTC offer folks that do not feel prepared for the event a refund, versus shortening the course for everyone. 

To say that this event is dangerous because of the heat is kind of funny, since swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56, and running 13.1 miles is quite dangerous regardless of temperatures for someone that is unprepared; be it physically, or for what often turns out to be even more of a risk, in terms of bike handling skills. It is absurd to penalize those that are well prepared to protect the bottom half of the field. There must be some personal responsibility on the part of the participant, WTC can't simply protect everyone; it is up to an adult (entrants must be over 18 or have guardian sign off to participate) to make a desicion about their capabilities, and suffer the consequences of that desicion.  

Local gyms don't ban treadmills, yet it is pretty easy for anyone to hop on a treadmill and seriously injure themselves if they are unprepared for the speed and incline they set the machine to. They simply sign a waiver that explains the risks using exercise equipment, much like the WTC requires before all of the its triathlons.