Syracuse.com - Ironman officials offer "deal" for those competitors who did not finish Sunday due to storm

[HuntingNY-News]

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Race officials, fearful of a severe thunder storm that had moved through the area Sunday afternoon, pulled the plug on the race while there were still competitors out on the final, running leg of the event.

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<p><br />Ironman officials announced a special deal Thursday for those competitors who were not allowed to continue during Sunday's Ironman 70.3 Syracuse competition at Jamesville Beach Park because of the arrival of a fast-moving thunderstorm through the area.</p>

<p>The offer includes a discount on one of several upcoming races. There's one hitch, though. The offer is only good until July 5.</p>

<p>Race officials pulled the plug on the race at 2:20 p.m. Sunday at a time when there were still "less than 100" competitors out on the final, running leg of the event. The competition, which featured a 1.2- mile swim, a 56- mile bike ride and a 13.1- mile run, began at 7 a.m.</p>

<p>David Eichorn, staff meteorologist for Syracuse.com/The Post-Standard, said "shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday a nearly stationary line of thunderstorms developed from near Utica, (moving) westward through Onondaga County to the Finger lakes.</p>

<p>"For a while, the line itself didn't move while individual thunderstorms traveled eastward along it. This resulted in localized flooding as individual storms kept forming and moving along the same line. In meteorology, this is called "training" cells.</p>

<p>"Flood advisories were issued that afternoon by the National Weather Service," he said.<br />At the time, those athletes who were still out on the Ironman 70.3 Syracuse running course where told to immediately stop.</p>

<div id="asset-13007073" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/13007073-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="2013-06-23-kr-Ironman6.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="caption"> A competitor warms up for the start of the Ironman 70.3 Syracuse -- the swim.</span><span class="byline">Kevin Rivoli l [email protected]</span></span></span> </div>

<p>One reader, "Multi34," who emailed me Tuesday, wrote: "We read your article and were sadly disappointed in your conclusion. Nowhere do you state the fact that severe thunderstorms forced staff to corral competitors on the running course to the finish while receiving a DNF as a result. Our future son-in-law had the final six miles of his half marathon to complete and was unable to complete his first IRONMAN 70.3. We wish you had mentioned that, as we were one of 100's of wet spectators awaiting our friends and family members."</p>

<p>Race officials said the race featured 2,200 entrants. To participate, the competitors had paid $250 for early registration and $275 for late registration.</p>

<p>Officials at World Triathlon Association headquarters in Tampa, Fla., which runs the Ironman 70.3 competitions, on Thursday released the following statement, which it said was sent to those who didn't finish:</p>

<p>"We share in your disappointment that you did not have the opportunity to finish the run course at the 2013 IRONMAN® 70.3® Syracuse due to the severe weather conditions on race day. Athlete safety is always our number one concern and we made the decision to close the run course in order to keep everyone safe. We understand that due to the safety concerns, many athletes could not fulfill their goal of completing the entire IRONMAN 70.3 distance, so we would like to provide you with another opportunity to do so. <br /> <br />"We are excited to offer you a choice of a $100 entry into one of the following 2013 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Races: IRONMAN 70.3 Muncie, Ind. (July 13), IRONMAN 70.3 Racine, Wisc. (July 21), IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Stevens, Wash. (July 21), IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead, Mich.(Aug. 4), IRONMAN 70.3 Timberman, N.H. (Aug. 18), IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka, Ontario (Sep. or IRONMAN 70.3 Austin, Texas(Oct. 27). <br /> <br />"To take advantage of this exclusive offer, please email [email protected] no later than Friday, July 5th to confirm that you would like to take advantage of the $100 entry offer and please specify in your email which race you want entry into. Please note that this is an exclusive, one-time, offer with a deadline of July 5 at midnight EST."</p>

<p>WTA spokesman, Jeff Edwards, who is vice president of operations for North America, said that this isn't the first time an Ironman competition has been halted because of potentially dangerous weather. He said races have been stopped in recent years in New Hampshire and in Georgia.</p>

<p>Edwards said race and local law enforcement/public safety officials Sunday were closely following the storm via Doppler radar. "We monitored things like ground strikes of lightening, which provided fairly convincing evidence that it was the appropriate decision."</p>

<p>Edwards noted the races for which the special WTA's offer covers gives competitors a wide choice, geographically, to pick from. Asked why the offer didn't extend to next year's Syracuse 70.3 race, he responded:</p>

<p>"One of the main reasons (for the offer) was that these folks have trained to come to this point in June. They should be prepared and fit to go for another race, to take advantage of their fitness level relatively soon," he said.</p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog