Triathlon incidents may be wake-up call

There is so much good about participating in local road races, bike rides and triathlons. For one, it gives people goals to improve their personal physical fitness. Then there are the social and community-building aspects of these events.

As with everything, however, there's a downside, the underbelly. I've witnessed some participants take the races too seriously, obsessing about finish times, age group awards or something that went wrong. Some of us can get petty, be bad sports and downright egotistical. Ask any race director.

The ugliness can get worse. Some people cheat — yes, cheat at little local races, with little at stake.

One instance that stands out in my mind took place at the Folly Beach Half Marathon several years ago. Days after the event, race organizers examined race photographs and other race results and validated claims by two competitors that the woman cut a few miles off the course and took the first-place award, which did not include any cash prize.

What was the point? Do some people get an ego boost from winning even if they cheat? I guess so.

That said, cheating and other examples of bad behavior tend to be few and far between. The good still overshadows bad and that may be why the bad tends to stand out when it happens.

In the past eight years, I've really enjoyed participating in the Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series. It has a homey quality to it, forces me to cross-train in the pool and on the bike, and has given me fodder for some inspirational stories (at least I hope so).

I bypassed the first of four triathlons held this summer, but I still wanted to give the June 15 tri a little ink in the P&C and see who was out in round 1. I'll admit, though, that I left feeling a bit down about the scene.

First, one of the competitors accused three or four others of cheating by drafting on the bike. That's illegal in triathlon, except in some international competitions. I wasn't there to see it, Race Director Paul King heard no corroboration of the charges and those accused denied it. No one was disqualified or penalized.

Regardless, you better believe King has responded. At this Sunday's triathlon, marshals with years of expertise in cycling will be posted on the back of two or three Goldwing motorcycles patrolling the bike course.

"I just can't let the integrity of the race be compromised," says King. "If people are allowed to cheat, the race has lost its integrity."

What's drafting exactly? According to King, drafting occurs when a trailing cyclist remains within an imaginary rectangular box that extends 3 feet on either side of a leading cyclist's front wheel and at least two bike lengths behind the leading cyclist for 15 seconds or longer.

That's one big box, but King also notes that the "technicality is superceded by the spirit of the intent ... (Is) the trailing cyclist getting an unfair advantage?' " Ultimately, the judgment will be left to the judges — the way it should be — not to competitors who can sling accusations for any number of reasons.

Besides the drafting incident, another one was even worse.

As I was talking to a friend about his race, he told me about one competitor he caught up to during the run. The competitor then stepped it up and began running closely behind my friend. Several times, the guy kicked my friend's feet. Then, as the two sprinted to the finish line, the guy reached his arm across my friend's chest and pushed himself ahead to win at the line.

Again, what's it worth?

Any worth comes in the form of a reminder to us all. In both sports and life, don't cheat, be good sports and keep it real.

Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postandcourier.com.