New to the whole thing: Seattle Danskin

[Running Mommy]

Pool noodles? You have GOT to be kidding? Ok, now I'm all for supporting those that are just getting into the sport, but POOL NOODLES? OY VEY!
That reminds me of the Canadian marathon training group that took their slower runners on a short cut at one of the east coast marys last year- just so they could"make the cut off"... Yeah, they made the cut off, but they didn't run the 26.2 miles. An they sure as heck didn't deserve the finishers medal.
Like I said, I'm all for helping out a newbie and offering support. But if you can't do a half mile swim without a pool noodle, well sorry, but you need to spend more time training until you CAN. No one says you HAVE to do the race that year, put it off a year and spend some time at the Y getting some instructions. That's what I did.
call me an elitist snob, but OY!!!! That is over the line!!
My cousin side stroked through a swim once and that was fine, whatever stroke get's you through the swim is FINE. But you shouldn't need "outside assistance" from a pool noodle. Actually if I was the RD I wouldn't want people who were that weak in the water to be racing. Seems like a liablilty issue to me...
WOW!
Ok, after my rant I'm thinking that maybe that was an exageration... I sure hope so! Or maybe they had a disability?? I guess that would be a valid reason... hmmm...

[Lise]

I'm with RM. Pool noodles? What's next? Jet packs for the run? Heeeeyyyy...now there's a thought!

[Brina]

I think the pool noodles were in the survivor group. Or one of my friends using hyperbole to make a point. Not 100% sure which.

[Lise]

Either is a fiiiiiine explanation! L.

(I still like the idea of jet packs...)