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jsinclair
Age: 43
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 9
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jsinclair
Age: 43
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 9
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Go to Duathlon.com and inquire and reply.
Ideas and concerns get tossed around every day on that site without the USAT "big brother" oversight. |
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Herr Direktor
Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 12
Location: Texas
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jsinclair wrote: Go to Duathlon.com and inquire and reply.
Ideas and concerns get tossed around every day on that site without the USAT "big brother" oversight.
You can go to duathlon.com and stay there. I respect constructive criticism, but don't appreciate yours. There are a bunch of people out there who can only do/like two sports. DU3 gives them all the options. I don't see how that is dumb. Maybe after this first year I might have to adjust the distances, but other than that I think it is providing an outlet for people who before, felt left out. |
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_________________
The race is not always to the swift but to those who keep running.
www.seidelproductions.com |
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XIBALBA
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 3
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Herr Direktor wrote: jsinclair wrote: Go to Duathlon.com and inquire and reply.
Ideas and concerns get tossed around every day on that site without the USAT "big brother" oversight.
You can go to duathlon.com and stay there. I respect constructive criticism, but don't appreciate yours. There are a bunch of people out there who can only do/like two sports. DU3 gives them all the options. I don't see how that is dumb. Maybe after this first year I might have to adjust the distances, but other than that I think it is providing an outlet for people who before, felt left out.
That's it, tell him off (nicely). I have never understood the need for some to be so... negative. |
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_________________
"IF YOU AIN'T BLEEDIN, YOU AIN'T TRYIN!"
www.strollerfit.com |
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Herr Direktor
Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 12
Location: Texas
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jsinclair wrote: without the USAT "big brother" oversight.
I believe this site is great for everyone to talk and listen about multi-sport. I think USAT knows growth needs to take place and this is a tool to facilitate that. |
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_________________
The race is not always to the swift but to those who keep running.
www.seidelproductions.com |
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jsinclair
Age: 43
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 9
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Folks,
The question was posed on how to Grow Duathlon?
A swim/duathlon is a boutique race that will appeal to very, very few athletes.
Brainstorming and presenting viable ideas is what needs to take place.
I previously presented:
A triathlete vs duathlete match race.
A ranking that required athletes to perform 3 tri's and 2 du's
I now submit:
A Triathlete Super Ranking that requires the athlete to perform 3 Tri's and 3 Du's.
The marketing and promoting of the National Championship Races is poor at best.
Mason was a step in the right direction for Short Course Duathlon Nationals.
The Long Course Duathlon National Championship and it's complete lack of marketing and promoting was disgraceful.
Posting a headline on the USAT Homepage 48 to 72hrs before the race is not Marketing or Promoting.
I know what is coming next. These races weren't USAT races - So what!
Market and Promote the sport in the Magazines - Hello.....
The USAT must partner more effectively with the race promoters and directors of the A Level Races in order to effect greater turnout.
Greater turnout at A Level Races will help increase turnout for smaller lesser known races as well.
It's October 6th - Fall 2005 and up till now no marketing or promoting has taken place for the American Zofingnen Long Distance Duathlon to be held in Upstate New York on October 23rd, 2005.
This is and should become a premier Long Course Duathlon here in the US.
The 2005 season is done. Professional Corporations finalize their marketing strategies, programs and budgets at this time of year.
My guess is that ain't happening in Colorado Springs. This is based upon what has been done so far this year. I hope I'm wrong.
The quickest actions that can be implemented for effect for 2006 - "A Make or Break Year" for Duathlon in the US.
1. Create a Super Triathlete/Duathlete Ranking (3 Tri's & 3 Du's)
2. Include in the next Bi-Monthly Magazine (that is sent to every member) a letter or questionare "asking" why or what keeps Triathletes from participating in Duathlon races. The answers will help USAT and Race Orginizers/Directors to grow the sport.
The ball is in the USAT's court. The USAT is either part of the Duathlon Growth Solution or it's part of the problem.
James Sinclair
Duathlete and Triathlete |
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Red
Age: 39
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 28
Location: Texas
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Running is hard and not fun in race conditions. Duathlon is hard. And the thought of winning can be dashed 1 minute into the race. If the lead group runs away from you, your shot at winning is pretty much over. If they beat you the first run, they will most likely beat you the second run. I tend to think that an extremely short second run would make people happy. If the first run is 5k, make the second run 1 mile. If the first run is 10k, make the second one 2 miles. This is just an example, but try something. I'm tired of RD's and who ever else saying that Duathlon is dead without trying to figure out why it is dying.
Honestly, a 5k/30k/5k does not appeal to me. I will not do that distance unless it is a regional championship race. A 10k/anything/10k does not appeal to me. The whole time I'm on the bike, all I can think about is I have to do another long run. If I suffered the first run, I will suffer more the second one. |
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USAT SMW Treasurer & Communications |
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sdmike
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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1) Duathlons should be cheaper (more flexible on location/no lifegards etc). So Race Directors should leverage this as Tri's are now way to expensive (may be justified, but expensive none the less).
2) Stress Duathlons in great locations where there is no water (or competion from tris). Hilly locals. Military bases. Universties.
3) Break the mold on formats. What about 1mile/xmile/5K. Just enough to break up the pack a little. What about time trial type starts (competitor every 5 seconds). Why not have men/women go head to head in each age group by giving the women x min:secs head start. Same for old vs young. Have a first to finish prize based on this.
4) Build in some sort of bonus time based on second run.
5) Quit scheduling them along side tris to try and get a little extra cash. Schedule them stand alone.
6) Similar to above. TT start. Bike/Run only, no first run.
In general move away from Duathlon = Triathlon minus the swim.
Other misc. ideas.
Family orientated - relay where spouse can push jogger in second run. |
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Tbone66
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 1
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Duathlon suffers due to a couple of factors - poor planning, perception, and lack of excitement. Here are a couple of ideas that I believe would be helpful to its growth and may even cross-over into triathlon.
Planning - USAT sets its national championship dates based on the World Championship calender. Instead of being reactive to the World's dates, USAT should establish a set weekend that nationals will be held - probably late summer/early fall. The USAT Nats would then be for membership in the following year's championship. For example, those athletes earning a spot at the 2006 National Championships for TEAM USA would participate in the 2007 World Championships (and not the 2006).
The negative to this is that there is a longer time period between competing in Nats and the next year's WC. USAT can develop a subsitute team from "runner-ups" in each AG that would have the opportunity to take a slot if a qualifying athlete was unable to compete.
Excitement - Over the past several years, a number of series have arisen (Ultramax, Best in U.S, and other grand prix series). This is an indication of athlete's desire to take part in layered series that result in a bigger championship event. These series have grown because the USAT regional races have very little tie-in to the championship races. I would suggest that the regional championship races be the ONLY qualifers for athletes in that region to participate in Nationals. Athletes from that region would earn the right to participate in the National CHmapionship through placement/finish at the regional races. Right now, especially in duathlon, the regional championship races have relatively little, if no drawing power for athletes.
Perception - USAT should focus some if it development budget on duathlon. I see alot of young athletes coming from high school swim programs becasue their coaches encourage them to get in the sport. I don't see the same push from track coaches. |
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Guy
Age: 36
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 2
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Hello all,
I am a duathlete from the Chicago area, and have been spending the better part of the last year and a half traveling all over to do races. I agree with what has been suggested already, and want to add that duathlon, from a race director's stand point, is easier to put together, b/c you are not scrambling for places to swim. In turn, USAT needs to do a better job at promoting the sport, like utilizing sites like duathlon.com, and the like.
As for the Grand PRix Series, there needs to be better spacing of the long distance events, and more publicity around them. Powerman AL is a great race, but the other Powerman races are also excellent venues, and should get the same kind of pub and attention. For hard core, or long distance triathletes, these events are excellent races to determine fitness and strength, especially early in the season. But triathletes need to be better informed of the events, so they can plug these races into thier season.
As for the short course Grand PRix races, how can a F-1 style Du be considered a short course qualifier? I like the idea of F-1 style du's, I think they can be more spectator friendly and exciting, but they should have thier own category.
Also, spreading the races out more evenly, will draw big numbers. I participated in Brandywine this past weekend, and it was some of the best competition I have seen. The short races need publicity too, b/c there are some outstanding athletes who are doing those races. Guys like Dave Walters, and Ryan Guillano, they need to be recognized. Triathletes, both amatuer and pro get a lot of attention and reconition in the sport mags, but the top level duathletes are barely ever mentioned. To get people interested, they need to be able to connect with others who are doing the same sport. They need to know and see that they will be recognized and promoted, and in turn, the sport is getting a boost.
I remember the cover of Inside Tri Magazine with a shirtless Kenny Souza running in a speedo. A lot of us laugh at that now, but athletes could identify the sport with Kenny. That needs to be brought back; an athlete or athletes that are the face of the sport, and drawing others to it.
Guy |
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msharkey
Age: 30
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 1
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Hi -
We have some very good suggestions for Troy posted here. It is an exciting time to be a duathlete. We are at the forefront of a resurgence of a great sport. I've got a couple of ideas that have worked well for other sports.
1) Get at least three "novices" involved in a duathlon. That's right, you personally pick out a race and find three buddies who have never done a du before, and talk them into it. Find a low key sprint that you've enjoyed in the past. Duathlon is a beautiful sport because anyone can do it. Think of the truly world wide sports (soccer, running, baseball, etc). What do they have in common? Limited equipment/facility needs. While it is certainly possible to sink several thousand into a race ready bike, most athletes would be just fine on a $300 steel machine. The great news is that if your three people to try duathlon, at least two of them will stick with it (how many people do you know that have ever done just ONE multisport event?). Even if they end up deciding it is not for them, that's one less person who asking "is that the sport where you cross country ski and shoot stuff?” So pick a race and have Take a buddy to Duathlon day.
2) We (USA) need to dominate the elite levels of the sport. It does not take a genius to understand the impact of Americans and an American team owning the tour for the past decade. Simply put, road biking is cool, with guys/girls who once snickered at those tight shorts and shaved legs now showing up for weekend crits or group rides (and pouring millions of dollars into the industry). There is no reason why the USA should not be burying the competition at every duathlon world cup and championship. We have an enormous reservoir of untapped talent in our NCAA track & cross country ranks that are unaware of the opportunities that duathlon can provide. A very fast world cup duathlon race will cover the first 10K at around 30 minutes. A quick look at last year qualifier lists (trackshark.com) shows 97 NCAA athletes who ran 31:00 or under for 10K. There is a huge gap many runners fall into of being fast enough to place at NCAA's but not fast enough to get a running contract after graduation. It is from these ranks that the future of our sport should come. Unlike swimming, cycling is quickly learned and with good coaching this will be an easy transition. But where will the money come from to fund this new generation of athletes? See suggestion #1. Do you think your buddy wants to get his ass handed to him next race? Probably not, and that means he is going to get the afore mentioned sweet ride, along with the coaching plan, jersey, running shoes and other items that are associated with duathlon at the competitive level.
Ok, I'm pledging to bring 3 new people to a duathlon this fall. It is a great sport that contributes to fitness and has a very low rate of injury. Troy - I challenge you and USAT to show you support by putting up a prize (USA Duathlon Polo shirt?) for the person on this forum who is able to get the most novices involved in duathlon before January. So attach your newbie group photo as evidence, and let the games begin!
Mike Sharkey
Duathlete
Riptide Multisport |
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