Grand Haven Festival of Races Triathlon

[limewave]

I got DQ'd before it started

I arrived at the transition area an hour and a half before my race started (just a few minutes past 7 AM) and was told that the Transition Area was closed and I was not allowed in. Mind you, none of the races started until 8 AM, so we were in no danger of being in anyone's way. My bike was in the transition area, I just needed to drop my helmet and shoes. But no, the race volunteer refused to let me in. Okay, fine, I'll toss my helmet over the fence towards my bike. Absolutely not, she said. At this point, there is a crowd gathering of other athletes that need to get into the transition area.

She insists that the website, information email, and packet handouts mentioned that the Transition area would be closed and that we hadn't read the instructions. She said she didn't have time to deal with "you people" and that we should email her after the race. At this point, she took our race chips and numbers and told us we were not allowed to race. Now, we could finally go into the transition area to retrieve our bikes.

I was fuming. My husband and I paid more that $130 to do this event, not to mention gas money, babysitter money, and the time involved!!! Anyways, we got home and I checked all the information--website, email, handouts in our packets--none of it mentions that the transition area would be closed!!!! I wasn't the idiot she claimed me to be, neither were the other 30 or so athletes that were also DQ'd.

This was going to be my first ever multi-sport race. I had been training for it for 3 months AND it's part of a race series that I'm doing.

Needless to say, I will be writing many letters and contacting the race director and other important people on the board. I am mad, mad, mad.

[TrekJeni]

That really sucks. Hope you get somewhere with your complaint. I would be incredibly pissed too.

I did a ride last summer where we paid the $8 extra to have a nice breakfast after the ride. By the time we got back to the finish, there was only a few STALE bagels and warm apple juice left. Nothing else was there and we weren't the last ones in by a long shot. I wrote a letter and got, "sorry but we're all a bunch of volunteers with regular jobs" crap and sorry about your luck.

Heck! Aren't most of us volunteers for some organization or another? I'm involved with animal rescue and the Treasurer and Webmaster of a dog club here in Cincinnati. I would never treat my volunteer work with such disregard! I'm still mad. Grrr.

Jeni

[Eden]

That's a real shame - I hope you at least get your money back, but that doesn't even come close to compensating you for all of the other hassles. Sounds like the volunteer was feeling ovewhelmed and lashed out.

[DirtDiva]

How frustrating and disappointing and annoying. I hope everyone who got screwed over makes a complaint and you all see some results from it.

[limewave]

I finally got a response from the race directors.

They said, and I quote:
"You should have READ, RE-READ, LISTENED to the instructions and ARRIVED ON TIME." Then the referred me to the section on their website that supposedly said that the transition area would be closing. So, I pulled out my printout of their website I had made before the race (because I did actually READ and RE-READ their instructions) . . . and guess, what, the information wasn't there. SO, I checked out their website, and now, mysteriously, the information has appeared. They actually went back and changed their website after the fact! And then had the gall to refer me back to it now. I can't believe it. That is so unprofessional and dishonest.

I'm no sure how to proceed now. Our pastor has been talking about how we are supposed to "feed and water our enemies donkey"--Not sure how this applies to this situation. What to do?!? Should I just drop it???????

[Diggles]

This is just me...but I most certainly would NOT drop it. They've been dishonest with you & taken your money & time...not to mention all the training & other issues you mentioned.

What a load of crap. I would make copies of that printout & fax it to them about 100 times demanding, at a very minimum, my money be returned.

I'm sorry for your troubles. Don't feed their donkey...be a pain in their a**, it'll make you feel better.

[salsabike]

I totally agree with Diggles. Luckily you have a printout of the same webpage that DIDN'T have the info on it. I'd send a copy of each to them. And frankly, I would also contact the local bike clubs and the newspapers, too. It's NOT okay for them to do that kind of thing and not be answerable for it. It just isn't. Part of feeding and watering your enemies' donkey is also helping them to learn to behave decently and as promised.

[Eden]

I'm no sure how to proceed now. Our pastor has been talking about how we are supposed to "feed and water our enemies donkey"--Not sure how this applies to this situation. What to do?!? Should I just drop it???????

Hmmmm how to apply that - how about contacting some of the local sponsors of the event and tell them how much you appreciate their supporting sports events, but how dissappointed you were that you were not able to participate because of the rule change that was not communicated? If you can get some of the other dissapointed parties to do the same they may put some pressure on the orgainizers to refund your money or at least perhaps think about sponsoring a different event next year?

[Bogues]

I'm sorry to hear that you were not allowed into the transition area after it closed and by no means think you should have been treated rudely;however, I would like to clarify the issue for everyone who has responded to your posting. My brother and I did the Grand Haven race and thought it was well managed. We did receive information that the transition area would be closed at 7am from at least 3 sources: the race website, the 2 emails that were sent prior to the race and the staff from whom we received our race packets the day prior to the race. I do feel that the information should have been posted more obviosly, but it was there. Trust me, if my brother and I made it on time and were aware of the 7am closing, then surely it had to be obvious to most other racers (600 or so total)! I do feel sorry for your frustration and hope it doesn't turn you off of racing.