Anyone experienced the AWA swim waves?

MattAaronson

Team -- I have heard reference to AWA swim waves at some 70.3 and Ironman events. I have not been at an event with this feature this year. Does anyone know how this is being implemented? Is the prevailing wisdom that it will become more widespread? Will 70.3 AWA status be recognized at Ironman events?

I'm asking because by the end of this season I will have done 3 half-irons but only 2 of them will have been WTC events. Based on last year's rankings it was impossible qualify as AWA with only 2 races even if you did really well in both. If the results are like last year I'd be a slam-dunk for 70.3 AWA gold if I did 3 races. My assessment was that the status is pretty worthless ("recognition" plus being able to jump the registration lines...the priority IM registration isn't too relevant for me). However, if the status impacts start waves that can confer a real advantage in races -- if I started an hour ahead of my AG that would potentially mean less wind on the bike and less heat on the run. For that I'd seriously consider adding another race just to get the status.

Thoughts??

Dawn Cass

Hello Matt, jumping the line, etc...no biggie, BUT starting at the start of the swim waves is huge. I did Boulder 70.3, pros went off first, then awa men, then awa women. You have all the room in the world and get out earlier in the morning. As the day went on it got windy and hotter (of course) however by the time some of this started, I was already done. The run was a two loop run and it was very quiet at the beginning.

It's a big advantage in my opinion...at least from my experience in Boulder.

Dawn

Danielle Santucci

Would there be a way of finding out if IMMT will have an AWA wave?

Brad Marcus

At IMLP, they recognized my AWA status by giving me a different color swim cap, but no separate starting time. Outside of that, I think my bib had an AWA notation on it and although they told me I'd have a separate line for registration, I did need to look for this since lines weren't an issue.

tim cronk

I have not experienced it and I hope they don't implement it at all races. I agree its an advantage , I believe to be an unfair advantage.... If I was to win a race from an AWA first wave start, and found out that 2nd/3rd places were mere seconds or even minutes behind be me but had to start in the AG wave start , it just wouldn't feel like a legit win.... Any one I beat I want to beat fair and square and vice versa for anyone who beats me... Theoretically it could happen the other way around as well (the later starters could get better weather with less wind and sun) although less likely... Having said all that I would definitely participate in that AWA wave if it was an option.

As far as AWA rankings go , its fun to see where you fit in.... Benefits I agree are pretty much useless , although I do hope to use mine for priority registration into IMAZ.

Al Truscott

Back to the underlying question Matt asked - is there any real value in a race to AWA status? I can't comment on improving one's start position in 70.3 waves, but I haven't seen it in IMs. However, one value for gold status is ability to sign up early for *some* of the (now) 38 WTC IMs. There is a list of those on their website. If you;re planning on jumping to IMs in 2016, and the race you want to do is on that list, then it might be worth it.

Another potentially useful perk is you get a number between 200 and 500 or so in the IM. Pros have 1-100, and "locals" some other VIPs get 100-200. The the numbers are assigned gold first, silver next, bronze next, then distributed by gender and age. This usually means your bike will be MUCH closer to the exit (and easier to find), and might make a small difference in how things go during transition. This year I went from being in the Uecker seats (the LAST ROW, farthest from this bike mount) to being way up front when I did IM CDA. I noticed a real difference between running with just my shoes in my hand vs pushing my bike all that way, dodging  athletes and trying to avoid others who were popping in or out of their row. Also, I sneaked into the "Pros only" toilet which were set up right at the front, avoiding maybe a ten minute wait.

To Tim's point, I didn't give it a second thought that I had a slight advantage over other competitors (not that it made any difference). I'll take every legal advantage I can. EG, I don't feel guilty (nor should Matt or Tim) that I'm on the lean side, and thus a faster runner, than many others. Same thing, IMO. I didn't pay for it, or ingest it; I earned it.

Paul Hough

Tim is right. If they let AWA folks start significantly earlier than their AG peers it isn't even the same race. I understand the AWA game and think it is fine for WTC to offer perks to get folks to do more of their races, but if you confer unfair advantages then you might as well just add perks like AWA - Gold only have to bike 100 miles, and AWA - Silver only bike 105 miles, and AWA - Bronze only bike 109 miles. And only AWA athletes get nutrition at the aid station; everyone else gets water only.

WTC took a PR beating this past week due to the immaturity of their senior staff. I hope they wise up before they make themselves look more foolish.

Al Truscott

Paul - I get your perspective, and share your concern about granting favors on race day in what should be simple a marketing gimmick to increase the "stickiness" between WTC and its customers. My point was that I'll take any advantage I can within the rules provided. It's up to WTC to keep the race fair.

I have the same feelings about the Swim Smart start … in the same AG, someone might be starting 10 minutes ahead of me, and someone else 10 minutes behind. That might affect racing strategy during the race. It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but when I passed my closest competitor @ IM CDA during the run, I didn't know that I had "actually" passed him about 1-2 miles earlier, as he started the swim about 5 minutes before me. Since we both knew we were competing for the one and only Kona slot, it might have made one or the other of us work too hard too soon, or not hard enough soon enough, had our run capabilities been closer.

MattAaronson

I have a real problem with AWA benefits creating an unfair race. At both 70.3 races I've done this year AWA folks had low out-of-sequence bib numbers and therefore preferential racking spots in transition (right by the pros). This is bullshit, honestly. Recognition via a low bib number is cool, but it is a material advantage over your AG to have a special racking spot.

Paul Hough

Matt - I can see by the bib numbers at Lake Stevens that there are something like a 100 out of sequence numbers from the AG including mine. I guess it is due to the AWA thing, but I certainly did not/do not expect that I would be racked in a different location, not that it matters because there is a non-AWA guy in my AG that is going to wax my AG field. However, there is no AWA swim wave at Lake Stevens. I'll be starting with all M50+ in the 15th wave.