Really...the last wave

About 2 ½ weeks till the big day.

Just found out my bib number last night and I am number 1577 and starting in wave 17 "LAST WAVE!" That is where this blog entry begins.

WHY at the half ironman “world championship” would you put all of the young, fast men in the LAST WAVE!?! I understand that at smaller races you would put the women who are, no offense, slower in the earlier wave to allow the race to wrap up a little quicker and give them a better race experience. But why at one of the main races of the year would you still put them in front of the faster people?

The first issue is it is a safety risk. You wouldn’t put the slow Model T in front of the Ford Mustang on the highway with little room to go around, we know how that would end. Or put the row boat in front of the big bass boat, same outcome.

The second issue is that no one can put forth his or her best effort. The slow people are getting trampled in the swim and bike, while the faster people have to slow down so they don’t trample over the slower people. It just does not make sense to me at all.

That is the way racing goes I guess. You play the cards you are dealt. I have been dealt a hand and I am going to play it to the best of my ability. Everyone else in my age group has to deal with the same thing so I won’t be the only one.

I think I may try to make the race into a little game, how many people or waves I can catch by the time I am done with the 70.3 mile race? As well as how many people I can motivate by smiling at them and saying, “Good job!” or, “Keep it up!” as I pass.

Thanks for reading and hope no one takes offence to my remarks, PJE