WTC and my thoughts

There has been so much talk on the new WTC rules for Professionals that I feel obligated to voice my opinion.

Before I start, for anyone who has managed to avoid hearing about this, all the new rules can be found here on the Ironman USA website.

I think there are pros and cons of the new rules. I think change needed to happen. But I think there are many holes in the new rules. I’m not anti-change. But I think change needs to have a goal, and proper communication of that goal.

I honestly have quite negative feelings towards WTC. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I don’t feel respectfully treated by them because they don’t communicate with us properly. Why can’t they email all Professional athletes directly and inform us of the new rules? Why do I hear it first on twitter?  Why can they not tell us what they are trying to achieve by changing the rules? They have made significant changes, that I expect aren’t the final changes, that have a huge impact on some athletes career decisions. Surely we deserve to hear where the future is heading for us.

Why are WTC claiming the $750 is for cracking down on drug-taking when clearly the biggest problem in our sport is drafting? What are the details of their enhanced anti-doping program? It was business as usual at Ironman Malaysia- no testing whatsoever. With no publication of what their drug-testing plan actually is- they make athletes reluctant to part with $750USD. And then we are charged another, not sure what it is this year, $650USD to compete at the World Championships. Tell us where the money is going, and give us the chance to support it.

The rules have totally different impacts depending on where you are in your triathlon career- someone starting out, at their peak or at the end…For me I’ve looked at it from where I stand and tried to understand the impact for others by looking back at my career. From just my viewpoint, the rules are ok for me as the athlete I am now. In all my MDot races last year I would have been paid and qualified for Kona. I’ve been a Professional for nearly 5 years, and if after 5 years if I wasn’t able to reach those percentages then I’m really not making it.

When I started as a Professional it was because in my last AG race I finished under 10 hours in 9th and would have been paid as a Pro. I saw 10 hours as the invisible standard needed to race Professionally back then. I didn’t ever think I would make money in Ironman racing, I was just following my heart. I hated my job at the time and Ironman was something I loved and was a way out. I’m not sure whether if these rules were in place back then that my decision would have been different? I think I might have waited longer before taking the leap, but i think I would have still done it. I wasn’t leaving a highly paid job and I was much less sensible about money than I am now!

In my first years as a Professional I was losing money. My credit card took a hammering. When the results did start to come in- the money I earned only paid for my debt. I’m sure I’d be financially better off in the short term working in the local supermarket as a check-out chick! But… money isn’t everything… Some might say that I was of no value and wasn’t “earning” the money. I admit I had no idea about marketing myself, and was painfully shy and lacking confidence in that respect.

But those middle years, when I showed potential, but wasn’t quite there, I made some errors… to be not paid anything would have been harsh. I was finishing in 5th, 6th and 7th place. The prize money was going towards some of my expenses. I was learning, but in Ironman you don’t always just keep improving- it sometimes is one step forward and two back! Perhaps I would have given it all up? I like to think I was pretty determined and fired up by all my frustrations to continue, but who knows?

For newcomers I’m not sure how they will feel. Perhaps prospective professionals will just stay working and racing age group for longer until they think they can earn $? Maybe we will have fewer athletes testing the waters as a Pro. Or they will just avoid MDot races? Or avoid MDot races where fast girls are racing? We will see what happens this year. But I do think we need more women, not less.

I’ve heard people comment that Chrissie Wellington will be laughing all the way to the bank. Will she really? I don’t think it’ll be much fun for her if no-one turns up to race against her because they might not get paid or get the Kona spot that they may want. From what I know about Chrissie she’s an advocate for women in sport, and wouldn’t be so heartless to be thinking of only herself.

I know and fully understand that WTC are a business and they need to make money, but they can do that whilst supporting the sport at the same time. I don’t think they are acting wisely when races like AbuDhabi, Rev3 and the Challenge Series are doing all the right things to attract Professionals. Historically Challenge Roth attracts the biggest pro field outside of Kona. The prize money is excellent, we’re treated well and it’s a “feel good” experience- we want to support a race that supports us! The Challenge CEO and race director Felix Walchshofer truly values us.

I honestly could go on and on- there are so many tangents to this whole discussion. I’m going to leave it there. I just want to be communicated with in a timely manner- before it appears on social media. I want to “want” to race MDot races and not feel like they are treating us with so little care, and trying to get rid of us. I honestly don’t know what the answers are to all the current problems in the Pro field, but I want to feel part of the solution.

Thanks

Charlotte