Important Lesson Learned

congrats on finishing a hard race in brutal conditions.

My friend did it, and I have no idea how she managed to deal with the absolute chilly conditions.

Bummer about the DNF but hey, YOU know you finished!  And in some brutal sounding conditions nonetheless.  Crossing with the hubby hand in hand sounds wonderful....maybe better than a podium.

Same thing happened to me last year only my chip was lost to the lake.  I always safety pin now.  Good advice!

I did the half as well (first time at that distance).  I thought I had lost my chip about a third of the way into the swim.  I guess my foot/ankle was just numb and I couldn't feel it at the time.

Right before the swim start, I did see a couple athletes safety pinning their chip strap.  I wish I had thought of that too.

That was a tough race but certainly one I will always remember.

Thanks for the tip.

Just to make this clear:

You caught up to your husband?

lol, as bad as my race was his was worse!  This became apparent when I saw him laying on the ground shoeless halfway through the run.

Sounds more like a Saturday night. 

Look at the big picture...

You DID finish, and in style.  Didn't have to pay for a lost chip and got the medal...  The ONLY thing that happened is no official time.  Big deal.  I NEVER go back to look at my times other than to put it in my logs.  If they didn't have it?  I would use the times on my watch.

Who cares what some website posted.  You know you did it, and with your husband, and have the medal and all the other stuff.

As for the safety pin idea.  I heard that, but I also heard that some volunteers don't like it taped or pinned.  I just make sure I have it on after the wetsuit removal, which is the most likely spot to lose it.  Maybe check it in T2 as well while changing shoes.

erinrockrun---congratulations on your finish. Sounds like the hubby was glad to see you also. I still do not understand how you guys an gals do a tri in those terrible conditions.

I know people who have lost their chip during the swim and still got credit for an official time.  It was a local race, no prize money or KQ/VQ spots at stake, so they simply trusted the guy when he said he lost his chip and gave him a finishing time.  I think they rounded up a bit because they gave hime 1:54:00 (750m swim/40k/10k).  It was good enough for 4th place OA and 4th Elite.  Nobody protested. 

You can see the actual results here.  Given that this is a local race, and all of the top guys know each other...nobody had a problem with it because nobody would have the balls to cheat at a race like this and risk their reputation.

http://www.timelinehawaii.com/Results/TINMAN%20OVERALL%20INDIV%2011.HTM

Yeah, I would contact REV3 and see if they can help out.

Did they serve beer at the run, this would explain his condition...

As bad as my husband's race was I would say this guy, Captain America (in photo 13), probably had an even worse day.

http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/05/photos/photos-2013-rev3-knoxville_75363

(DK3R9319-631x421.jpg)

That is actually one of our members. Had an unfixable mechanical a few miles into the ride, don't know specifics of it.

I would too.

He even got a shout out from Rinny on Twitter about this photo, kinda cool.

I did talk to the guys at the timing tent as well as send a couple emails but never had any success.  Maybe I will still hear back.

Pretty cool that Capt America is a BT member.  Epic photo.  Tough racing luck; that's a shame.

Give them a few days post-race to get back on their feet.  I've had really good success with them assisting on a couple of occasions (unrelated to your problem).  If you don't hear back, shoot me a PM.  I think I still have some people's direct emails.

Most races have someone manually recording bib numbers at the finish as a backup to the electronic timing system.  In some races I've done people who lost chips were given a time, but were excluded from any awards.  I'd give the RD a few days for the dust to settle, then make a polite inquiry. 

Mark

OUCH.  You, my dear, get the hardcore card for the day!

I assume there is probably a finishing photo for you that might show time time you crossed?  I bet you could send that to Rev3 and they would give you an official time.

This is how you should do it. At least that is the way I did it.

Last time I emailed them (after the sprint at Cedar Point was cancelled) it took about a week to hear a response, I emailed them the other day about the awards and haven't heard anything yet. (Web site says 4th / 5th receives prizes from sponsors but people in truck behind the stage told me the awards only went to 3rd place so I didn't hang around)