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How mandatory is the Mandatory Athlete Meeting

kcb203kcb203
in General Training Discussions

I looked at the 2009 Athlete Guide for IMLP and see that there's a mandatory meeting at the Horse Show Grounds at 7:30 pm on Friday.  I was hoping to get away with my wife for a combined anniversary (July 19) and birthday (July 27) dinner that night instead.  Is this something I must attend, or is it just a good idea?  I don't want to do it Saturday night, obviously.  Maybe Sunday at 9 pm--it will give me the motivation to finish on time . . .

The EN team dinner is Thursday, correct?  What other group events do we have that weekend?

Comments

  • manconamancona
    I haven't done LP, but i know at Wisconsin the mandatory meeting is not mandatory in anyway and then have no way to know if you are there or not.

    If you have done IMLP before I would say enjoy dinner with your wife. If you have never done it before it would be good to go listen in and get dinner before or after instead.

  • Dominic MalleoDominic Malleo

    Keith - it's always good to know the course and the rules.  But the meeting isn't mandatory at LP either.

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    I've always thought about this, but never in time to make it happen: would be supagroovy if a techsavvy member where to attend the athlete's meeting and record/film it for everyone, then share the podcast/vid with the team.

    Just sayin'....

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    At my first, IMFL 2008, I passed on the dinner but showed up for the "mandatory meeting". It was pretty much a waste of time if you know the rules, and there was no way they knew who was there and who wasn't. And upon seeing everyone eating the bland pasta on styrofoam, I was really happy I had skipped the overpriced meal.
  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Keith,

    You should be fine not attending the meeting. It's usually last minute changes to the course or other rules changes that are caught at this meeting. 

    I know Chris mentioned that the out and back protion has road work that they are hope to be completed.  You would hope that they have details like that out before this meeting but you never know.  As as EN athlete I'd just plan to hook up with a few from our group race morning and you should be fine.

    Gordon

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    There's a full 36 hours from meeting to race start, you'll find out what you need to know before then. No joke over 30% of the meeting stuff is a video of folks being silly about draft zones, etc. Better you ask the folks here for advice, input, etc.
  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    The dinner / athlete meeting can be fun, entertaining and motivating for a new IM person. I've been to a couple, and that's enough.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    I found the mandatory meeting useful at IMWI last year because I was a total NOOB and I didn't quite understand where/when all the bags were supposed to go, but other than that it was pretty much a standard rule review and pep rally. If you know the admin stuff, it's not a big deal.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    If it is your first IM, it's worth going to for the experience: the vibe, the presentations, yes, the stupid videos, etc. Good or bad, it's all part of your first IM.

    As for learning stuff, the admin stuff, that's what the race guide is for. Same with the drafting rules, etc. Course changes? Anything funky? You got's 36hrs to find out about them.

    That said, I'd like to attend the IMCDA pre-race dinner on Friday. Would be fun to gather up those EN peeps who are going to the dinner and sit together at a table. But I could give everyone a rules brief at the team dinner, in the parking lot, wherever, to save those who don't want to from sitting through 45' of the admin and funny video stuff.

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