The G-Rant : Grant's Rants on Adventure Racing

Val - there are many viewpoints about the use of "performance enhacing drugs" in sports in general.  One opinion is that if it is not strictly banned, it is legal - i.e. you are stupid for not using it.  The other side of that argument is that you can be very stupid for messing with your body's normal hormone levels (i.e. steroids) - and will pay for it sooner or later.  I guess the best thing we have going for ourselves in AR is the fact that there isn't a tremendous amount of high cash prizes - so the cost of "doping" might be more that its worth - if you don't win.  

Interesting comments about caffeine and ritalin......poppyseed muffins......

I'd have to agree with Morgan. Money, power, fame,... tend to cause people to think irrationally leading to the do anything to win thoughts. One thing that seperates AR from most sports is the navigation. If you can't think and navigate then I don't care what type of EPO, HGH,... using monster you are, you will have a tuff time winning.

That said, I fully believe that some to most of the tour riders cheat in some way or another. It may not be drugs, it could be banded equipment. Even Floyd was busted before the first time trail by the UCI for using illegal arrow bars which led to the handlebar breaking a few miles in.

Outside of drug use for improved performance, I've seen or been on teams that cheat at every AR event I been a part of. Sadly people bend the rules hoping to not get caught. It's really hard to adventure race and not bend/break the rules at times. Think of paddle legs, it can be hard at times to stay within 100 feet or meters of all team members.

So what is the difference between prescribed Ritalin & a team breaking the rules to finish faster? Also, do RDs do a fair job of enforcing their own rules? What do you think Grant? It must be tough knowing that some team always push the rules yet never get busted while others may do it one time but right in front of you.

Yeah!  What ever happened to having a good time and self discovery and overcoming personal limits?

This may sound trite....but ultimately anyone who willfully cheats only hurts themselves.  Maybe not everyone has a conscience but if I won a race and broke the rules to do it, I wouldn't feel as if I had earned it.  Who cares about a medal, title, or even (gasp) cash if you just plain suck as a person?

Agreed, HRA has a different type racer for the most part. Which I actually enjoy seeing the mid-packers have more fun than the podium racers. It brings the air of fun to the race instead of the seriousness of PQ. I'm guessing someone that has raced an HRA was on something illegal at the time but who really cares! Like you said, it's their problem they have to live with.

Not sure you got the point of my "enforcing their own rules" question. Let me restate the question, do RD's actually enforce all of their rules or do they rely on self governing teams? I for one can't stand to break the rules even it is just 100 meters more than the 100 meter limit. Or reading about an off-limit trail/route on one CP then the next CP using it because the instructions don't specifically state the same trail/route is off limits. Like I said in my previous post, I've been on teams that have cheated in some form or another so I can see the grey of this one.

I've only raced with three RDs and all three handled the rules in a similar way, self governance. I guess the day that someone doesn't like the self governance policy is the day they move over to tri's and other forms of high governance racing.

One more thing. At times I feel that ASR cheats by thinking outside of the box. Grant let "the cat out of the hat" on our STORM 05 plotting method. That was a real unfair advantage for our team compared to unsupported teams. Was it breaking the rules, nope. Was it a level playing field? I guess.

Eric - HRA is like most AR organizations in the fact that we'd actually need to "catch" someone cheating in order to penalize them.  Those usually take the form of accusations from another team.  Those are often touchy sitations because some of that out-of-the-box thinking is totally legal, but seems like cheating to some racers.  Just as our justice system is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, ARs opreate on the same principle.  See Team Lightspeed.
   Because you guys thought up a good way to utilize your support team does not count as cheating - it basically using a "tool".  Its just like say, bringing a 'cross bike on the same race - it is an off road bike and allowed by the rules  - if its more aero or whatever doesn't mean its unfair- you just thought of it and obtained one.  People can switch to slicks or just plain do whatever.  Sometimes those decisions give you an advantage, and sometimes they just hold you back.  I took two HID lights on my first 24 hour AR and really I just hauled around an extra 3-4 pounds of the contraption - you only need one HID - and often with AR you aren't riding severe singletrack and a really good light isn't even necesary.  I had a certain advantage - but it also cost me in terms of weight.
   If you do something knowing that it is breaking the rules (i.e. using restricted pavement, running across a prohibited aqueduct, using restricted technology like a GPS) than you are cheating.  
   On another note - sometimes when you shave that line of the rules you will venture into "grey" territory - that is a chance you take that just like equipment can often cost you - sometimes "legal" and sometimes not.  

This brings up another question:  If you were to witness another team blatantly cheating, say for instance a higher profile team using an illegal route, what would be the expected course of action?

On one hand, you can "turn them in" and risk looking like an ass because farther back in the pack it doesn't really matter.  Maybe the offence doesn't actually affect your standing in the race (due to bonuses or whatever) but affects teams farther back in the pack.  After, say, a 24 hour event, seeing this kind of thing is pretty aggravating and demotivating.

I am trying to keep this hypothetical..

The point is, what does a Race Director expect from teams as far as helping to enforce race rules?  Would they want to know about these things, or would it be better to just "leave well enough alone" if it doesn't affect the podium standings?

Kenin - good question.  I guess an RD relies on the integrity of a team to do the right thing, and would appreciate other teams helping to enforce rules.  I don't think racers are expected to "enforce" rules, but to report infractions would be good.  Who cares if you finish 50th out of 50 as long as you actually did it?  I guess everyone races for different reasons, but if you aren't in it somehow for the experience and the challenge then ultimately I have nothing but pity for those teams and individuals who compete in that fashion.  I understand racing to win......but to sacrifice your integrity to do it..........
I guess I would wonder what the rest of their life was like if they were willing to trade their integrity for something relatively unimportant.

Kevin - good question.  I guess an RD relies on the integrity of a team to do the right thing, and would appreciate other teams helping to enforce rules.  I don't think racers are expected to "enforce" rules, but to report infractions would be good.  Who cares if you finish 50th out of 50 as long as you actually did it?  I guess everyone races for different reasons, but if you aren't in it somehow for the experience and the challenge then ultimately I have nothing but pity for those teams and individuals who compete in that fashion.  I understand racing to win......but to sacrifice your integrity to do it..........
I guess I would wonder what the rest of their life was like if they were willing to trade their integrity for something relatively unimportant.

Good question Kevin. I was thinking the same thing but good find the words. Agree Morgan, if I reported infractions everytime I saw a team without the required gear or taking off-limit routes you guys would really hate me, not that you don't already. ;-) I race with as much integrity as possible and sometimes we hit the "grey" areas.

It is sure fun using "tools" that help us and sucks when we use a tool that works against us. 3-4 lbs for an HID, sorry dude but you need the cone hook-up. My custom HIDs come in at 1lb per light.

It was a guestimate on the batteries - let me get out my scale....no wait that would just be weird..........

Well you can't control people.  We are a race organization, not your parents.  If racers want to break the rules then they can probably find a way.  For instance, its not like we're checking in people's bags for GPS units.  So sad though......so sad........

Even more sad to do it for a race org that is made up of volunteers who just try to put on races for the benfit of others.  You think we don't have better things to do than spend days at a time on course looking for spots to put little flags?