COVID-19'S IMPACT ON TRIATHLON EVENT PLANNING
USA TRIATHLON
USA Triathlon-certified race director Eva Solomon of Epic Races in Michigan was looking forward to a great 2020 in early March. Registrations were well ahead for her first three events scheduled for mid-month.
But while everything was a go on March 11, all three of those events were canceled 48 hours later. COVID-19 had stepped off the airplane in the USA, and states clamped down on sporting events overnight.
Not weeks. Not days. COVID-19 took just hours to shut down triathlon nationwide.
“It totally came on like fire,” said Solomon, whose daughter had a friend among the first 100 to die of the virus in New York City. “I knew there would be challenges in this career of mine, but I never thought this would be it."
Race directors like Solomon had no time at all to come up with a way to deal with thousands of disappointed triathletes while ensuring their companies’ survival.
Registration refunds meant ruin for most companies. Cash on hand was already spent. Finisher medals for the year arrived from China on the day race director Ryan Coelho began canceling events. His company, USA Productions in California, had paid out about $70,000 in insurance, swim caps and awards by then. Host cities were willing to defer — not refund — costly permit fees he’d written checks for upfront. Salaries and office rent had to be paid.
“People don’t realize I have expenses whether I have 20 races or no races,” said Mark Walter of Sun Multisport Events located in the Boston area.
The alternative was to defer entry fees through 2021 or 2022. But that means there’ll be fewer dollars to cover expenses down the road, and that means some companies may take at least two years or more to dig out of the hole. The reality is some won’t be able to dig fast enough.
And races will not be the only victims. Think gear makers, retailers, caterers, vendors, tent and timing companies and even porta-potty rentals.
Walter terms the network of partners “the triathlon ecosystem.” Who knows how many of them will still be standing when triathlons fully restart?
Whenever that great day may arrive, races will certainly take on a different look. The trademark hugs will be gone, or at least discouraged, as triathletes are encouraged to practice social distancing. Masks will be required when not racing. Fewer bikes will be on each rack. Spectators may be discouraged from attending. Pre-race meetings and award ceremonies may be held on Zoom and other internet video conferencing platforms. Additional health officials may be required on site, another expense for race directors.
Some race directors wonder if they want to host events under those conditions.
“We don’t have events to have people come out and run 20 feet apart. That’s not how it works,” Coelho said. “I’m all about community. If my athletes and family aren’t able to come out and participate together, then I’m not doing what I really love. Even next year, I’ll have to rethink it.”
Worried about virus exposure, normally reliable volunteers are less likely to help at events. Eric Opdyke, race director at Virginia-based REV3 Triathlon, said a recent spot survey of past volunteers showed just one in five willing to return soon.
Expect new hygiene requirements, including self-serve body marking, self-serve food stops and self-serve medals at the finish line. The goal is to prevent triathlons from becoming what Walter termed “super-spreader events.” No one wants to be responsible for contaminating a host community or sending the virus home with the athletes.
Race directors may be forced to raise registration fees in the future due to this year’s deferred entries and the chance fewer athletes will sign up because of the adverse financial impact caused by the pandemic. There will also be added costs from the new sanitation procedures and the possible need to provide additional services out-of-pocket. Because cities were forced to furlough first responders after losing sales taxes revenue during the shutdown, Coelho has been warned he may have to supply his own traffic control at select venues.
“All these things are weighing in on what I am planning to do and the risk I am willing to take,” said Gabriela Gallegos of Race El Paso in Texas and a member of the USA Triathlon Board of Directors. “Everybody is thinking about those things and how we can do it better. I don’t know what timeline to expect, but I do know there will be a new normal.”
Still, there may be pleasant surprises. Pent-up adrenaline may cause an upsurge in registrations when races finally open. Walter noted bike sales are at record highs, and some of those new cyclists may try triathlon.
In addition, virtual racing is providing a much-needed injection of cash, keeping experienced triathletes engaged and attracting new athletes. Opdyke said half of his virtual triathletes are newcomers who enjoy the new low-stress formats.
At REV3, that may include archery, paddling kayaks or bouncing on pogo sticks to make up for the lack of swimming options. Winners aren’t the fastest, but instead the most creative as determined by the number of “likes” given to their race videos posted on the company’s Facebook page. One woman won after playing with rubber duckies in a wetsuit and goggles in her bathtub. In addition to more traditional races, Solomon uses Zoom for a virtual tri-event that includes group yoga, a run outside, and group meditation.
“One positive was the quick pressure to be creative, having to think outside the box and find out what we can do,” she said. “We pivot.”
As for when on-site racing will return in full (some states have started allowing events with strict safety measures in place), the only thing certain is uncertainty. Some are hoping to restart this year. Walter pointed out still others are concerned about causing a public relations fiasco if they bring races back too soon and give even the appearance the event could become a virus hotspot.
By far, the fact that tens of thousands of people daily are being infected and many are still dying is of greatest concern. Race directors are protective of their athletes, and the triathlon community is not immune.
“A vaccine will be a true changing point,” said Gallegos. “The logistics can be done. But when can we go back to a community event without everybody feeling on guard?”
Solomon also hopes a vaccine comes soon. No one wants to get back to racing more than the race directors themselves.
“We love putting on races. It is just so hard not to be doing what we love to do,” she said.
Walter said the sport will likely be better when it restarts. As Boston Marathon race director and USA Triathlon Hall-of-Famer Dave McGillivray said, “The comeback will be bigger than the setback.”
“It always is,” Walter said. “We’ll return to racing and it will be really special. That’s the part that keeps me excited and motivated to get there.”