So much for THAT race!

So, I have been doing 5K runs, etc, on my overnights.

This was just something to make my overnights more interesting. It started when I had a 'Lost Weekend' in Huntsville, and I found a race that benefits the Wounder Warrior Project/Foundation. That is actually the previous post, now that I think of it.

I was looking for races that I could do on Running in the USA. I found this 'great' series in Texas, one that had everything from a 5K run to a 1.5K swim with a 10K run. Excellent, basically the bookends of an Oly Triathlon! (just no bike... sweet!)

So I registered for the race. Sounded simple enough, the water in Lake Grapevine would be (relatively) warm, I could schlep my wetsuit down for the swim if I needed it, and as a bonus, I was scheduled for training the 2 days before the race, so I would simply stay in Dallas an extra night, and then fly home after the race. Excellent.

I knew something was wrong when I did not get a single email about race packet pickup, etc, as we were leading up to the race. If you have never done any 'event' before, then you need a little explanation.

Normally, at least a week before any event (from running a 5K all the way up to doing a long distance triathlon,) you get an email or two... or 3... or, in the event of an Ironman Series or something major like the Chicago Triathlon, a couple dozen emails continuously with information. Where to park. The racecourse layout. Schedule of events. Packet Pickup (checking credentials, etc.. etc...)

I had received nothing at all 24 hours before we were supposed to enter the water.

I called the contact number, and a young woman answered. I told her that I had not had a single email about the event since registering, and she forwarded me on to someone I believe is the race director.

I spoke with him, and he said obviously there was some oversight on their part, and the packet pickup would just be down lakeside before the race.

Ok, I understand, things happen. Somehow I dropped outside the system and did not receive anything... in addition, there were no race layout plans on the website, parking information, etc.

But, sally forward!!

I rented a car after my training event ($14.99/day!) and figured I could go jump in the lake and see how the event would be set up. This is a great idea for those of you who have never done an event like this. Get down, check out the layout of things, it takes quite a while to set up an event, so the day before there will always be start areas, finish, buoys bobbing in the water, etc.. etc...

I got down to Lake Grapevine, and the Park Service people said that had not seen anyone, but had heard there would be a race. More warning signs. They told me that the running events, etc, were usually right down by this one parking lot, and if there was swimming, it would probably be from this beach, etc.. etc.. I was welcome to check out the park area without paying, because I would be there the next day, if I were only planning on spending an hour or so. Nice people.

Lake Grapevine is about 10' (yes, feet!) off of the normal water level. Everything is out of place. They have had to extend docks, etc, as the lake effectively 'pulls away' from the land. They need rain in a big way.

So I parked, and wandered around looking for signs of life. There were people barbequeing, families playing, but nothing like a race area even starting to be set up.

I circled the area on foot, and then went down to the most logical place for a race to start/stop if it is in the water, a broad expanse of beach... or, 'beach,' on the north side of the park. Long flat entry, shallow out to at least 50' from shore, that kind of thing. Going to be a kind of hairy run to get to the water, because the shoreline was a good 100' out further than it would normally be. That is ok, I can live with that. The picture right is from right above where the current shore is. This would normally be under water from here.

I changed into my shorts, grabbed my goggles, and swam in the 62F or so water out to the buoys, which are maybe 120 yards out. I swam around to the next buoy, and then came back in. Just a quick 300 or so yards of swimming, to see what I could see. The water was fairly murky, and the water temp was not horrible, once I had acclimated. It would certainly be very pleasant with my wetsuit on.

I was really unsure how they were going to set up an entire race area from the time I left (about 4pm,) before the race started in the morning, but hopefully, they knew what they were doing. They did not have to set up a bike transition area, so that would make things a little simpler, but they had to mark out multiple distance race courses, both water and land. Start lines, finish lines, safety areas, water tables; so many things to set up in a single evening!

I spent the rest of Friday visiting friends in the Dallas area, which was great. Nearly all of our training is done in Forth Worth, but we are always in and out, never get time to see people we are not in class with.

I was just wrapping up visiting with a friend who has left Eagle (now Envoy Air, which is a whole 'nother blog post) and is in training for AA as a flight attendant, and I got an email from the race director (This is 9 hours before race starting time.)

A truly apologize for having to cancel tomorrow’s kick off event of the FIVE55 Series Dallas.  Unexpected circumstances have a risen that were totally out of my control.  To make up for this inconvenience you can either transfer your registration towards a future event or get your money back.  Whichever you choose you will also receive a coupon code for 50% OFF to any of our future races in 2014.

Unexpected circumstances? Really? You had nothing set up 18 hours prior to the race. The lake level has been low for months.

This was sent out 9 hours before race time. How many racers are already asleep and will not be checking their email? how many volunteers were sleeping, thinking they had to get up at 4am in order to be able to help get the course ready?

I was really looking forward to this race, and while it was nice getting to see some friends that I would otherwise not get to see, I will not get the rental car $ back, or the hotel $ back, or anything else except my race fee (according to that email... it was not credited as of this writing. And if I were this race director, I would make sure that happens ASAP.)

In my reply to his email, I wrote that I am "...eagerly awaiting my refund as promised for the race entry fee, and I anticipated that it would be highly unlikely that I registered for any event run by his organization again."

Sometimes we race, and sometimes we don't.

Oh, well, at least I got to see some friends. :)

Cheers!

Scott