It’s happened. After 7 years of triathlon, 20 years of endurance racing, and nearly 100 races, it finally happened. Like the antagonist Raskolnikov of Dostoevsky’s epic novel, from which this blog is entitled, I’m suffering the psychological and social consequences from violating the law. And as you’ll soon discover, I literally broke the law. Not only USAT Competitive Rule 5.4, but Utah Code Title 41, Chapter 6a, Section 708.
First of all, I did it. Guilty. Red handed. Culpable. I explicitly waive my Miranda rights. This blog isn’t about making excuses. I’ve talked my way out of speeding tickets, moving violations, and dirty dishes when I felt that an injustice was about to been done. In this case, as soon as the head referee told me the violation, I said to myself, “Oh yea, I remember that. I did do that.”
Let’s get something straight. It wasn’t for drafting. If you assumed my penalty was drafting, I’m insulted for 2 reasons: First, I’m so fast on the bike I can’t possibly take more than 5 seconds to pass someone, let alone 15 seconds. Second, people who draft are wicked, and I’m not wicked. There is an extra level in the Underworld for people who draft (see the Apocrypha, Book of David, Chapter 1 verse 1).
It went down like this: Already devastated from a disappointing 3rd place finish at the Cache Valley Triathlon, I was sulking and packing up when I saw the TriUtah race director, Chris Bowerbank. Apologizing that I had to leave early to start a 2 hour drive back home, and that I would not be at the awards ceremony, Chris looked sadly at me and said as gently as he could, “David, I’m sorry, you didn’t come in 3rd.” My first reaction was “Sweet! The first two got a penalty! Lousy cheaters.” Chris continued, “You got nailed with a penalty.”
Me? Ambassador to triathlon with a following of dozens? Former Vice-chair of the USAT Regional Council? Winner of the 12-participant 2010 Buffalo Duathlon? Winners of my caliber don’t break the rules. I marched over to the head referee, ready to file a protest that I did NOT draft (Excuse me, have you seen my bike splits buddy? I need to draft like Governor Arnold needs more muscles).
Verifying that my race number was correct, he confidently turned to me, and without reservation said, “Crossed a solid yellow line.”
Oh. Yeeeesssss. You mean THAT violation.
It all came back to me. Late in the bike ride, approaching a tight left turn, there were two cyclists just ahead of me. It was a clear situation where a bottleneck was going to occur, and slow me down. The turn had clear vision, and there were no cars approaching from the other direction. I deemed it “safe” to make a pass. I could have either a) held back outside the drafting zone and waited until all 3 of us had made the turn and then make the pass or b) accelerated and catch them before or at the turn. Choosing the later, we reached the turn about the same time. Letting out an authoritative “On your left!” (and I mean REALLY on the left) I took the left turn like a Cat 1 rider, cutting so far on the inside of the road I could have picked the dandelions that decorated the adjacent field. I wasn’t only riding on the left side of the road, I was riding on the inside of the shoulder of the left side of the road.
I even remember the referee riding up next to me right after that and lingering longer than I ever remember before. I thought he was just admiring my pass…
Snapping back to the present, and somewhat stunned that I really had done the violation, a few excuses for the head ref came to mind. Such as:
“Apologies, my good chap, I’m from across the pond and that’s where we ride in jolly old England.”
“You think that was dangerous? But I drive my car the same way.”
“I had to swerve to avoid a Democrat.” (an endangered species in Cache County)
But no, my shame overcame me, and all I could muster was, “You’re right. Thanks for keeping us safe.” I shook his hand, and walked to my car.
I said this blog would not be about excuses, but in my defense, it never even occurred to me at the time. I took that left turn the same way I took the multiple right turns: on the inside. But, just think if every hotdog in a triathlon did this? Inevitably, a head-on collision. Not only risking future events for everyone else, but injury and even death. That rule is a critical one. It’s not about a competitive advantage, it’s about keeping us safe.
Part of the irony is that in the TWO (yes two) pre-race meetings that took place, the outstanding official Carolyn Doll (a former USAT Board member who served with me) had gone over the rules. In both meetings she specifically covered riding on the right side of the road. I had sufficient warning.
Like Raskolnikov, I find myself isolated from the rest of the world after the crime has come to light. I haven’t spoken to another triathlete since the incident. I feel like I owe 4th place an apology, robbing him of the rare opportunity of crossing the finish line knowing he had a podium spot, with the cheer of the crowd and the smiles from his family. I feel tainted and dirty. Raskolnikov went to a Siberian prison. I went to Chevron and ate an entire box of Hostess raspberry-filled donuts (1,500 calories and one million grams of fat per box). I’m not sure who ended up suffering more, me or Raskolnikov.
There is some good that will come out of this. I hope this blog will educate others about this lesser-known rule, maybe even prevent an accident? Additionally, it has re-committed me to keeping the rules.
So here’s to the next 20 years of endurance racing. Penalty free.
David. That was awesome. You’re not fired. We’ll keep you
I’ve never been so ashamed of my business partner. A double yellow!! How could you??
David, David, David!!!!! Oh how I had so much respect for you, UNTIL you became a CHEATER!!!! you are to funny, I know how that yellow line becomes like its only two inches from the right side of the road. Nice work and nice help and educating everyone on this looked over penalty.
The best part of this article is that David really is being tortured by his conscience right now. Don’t worry David it only stays on your record for a couple seasons.
David,
maybe the greatest written blog entry in the history of ever! You just moved from 3rd to 1st in my blog following book!!!
Wonderfully entertaining as always. And this time, an added bonus – a timely reminder about riding safely. Sorry you got dinged, but glad for the spotlight on riding tactics that might lead to any number of terrible outcomes. Keep your chin up (except when swimming!)
David,
Thanks for a good laugh! It made my day!!!
Maybe you can go to tribike school and get it expunged from your record.
Hilarious! I say write a book about it called “Positively Right” and wait a couple years before accusing everyone around you of cheating as well
David, I’m not sure what’s worse, crossing a double yellow or eating a whole box of raspberry filled donuts (ugh – I have a stomach ache just reading that). Wasn’t a Jack in the Box nearby?
Well lets just hope that just as Raskolnikov killed Alyona Ivanovna in the hopes (justification) of making society better lets hope that your blatant (although justified) breaking of the yellow line rule will help the rest of us kill the desire to ever break that same law. Loved your blog, thanks man.
I had the same situation last fall, and it hurt because I came in first in my age group. I started in the 6th and last wave, and being a strong cyclist, and ended up working my way up through most of the preceeding waves on the bike. I have absolutely no idea where I crossed the center line, it may have been inside the park where there wasn’t a line painted on the road. And like you I am very conscious of the safety impact of centerline violations. So i felt mortally wounded in my last race of the season.
This year I’m starting with the Elite Age Groupers in the first wave, so I have to deal with less traffic on the bike split. So far a 1st and 2nd, and I get to keep my awards.
Please cancel my gift cards and please remove me from all list you have. The is a shameful, shameful thing to you, your friends and your customers. Please cancel all my RSVPS to any Powertri events, and I’d like to return everything I have ever purchased from Powertri. The last thing I can afford is to even be remotely associated with CHEATERS…May you be a BOP’er for the eternities to come for the obvious guiltless and shameful act you have committed. This is the actual sin next to murder, and denial of certain members of Deity. Have you considered what others now think of you? Or the harm done to children? How could there possibly be restitution for this? You can’t give this back. It’s something that can not be undone. you are left to preach to your last day against cheating. Then there may be a glimmer of hope.
There is no shame and perhaps some reconciliation in moving to Kazakhstan. Then the healing process may begin for you and the rest of us. May you come to know the gravity of your offense to the community, your family and friends and customers is my prayer, in the name of….. Wait a minute,,,,,,I hear some thunder.
Sean
If it makes you feel better, our ENTIRE ward crosses a double yellow to access our chapel. ILLEGAL. Even the cop in our ward breaks the law on this one. Now consider the ramification of this matter on Sunday morning! (The only way I know is because I do traffic engineering for my day job).
Ha ha ha … And all this time I thought you were perfect!
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it.
Dave,
Your graciousness in the acceptance of the penalty says as much about how I would hope other athletes would accept them as it does about the penalty itself and the safety of the athletes. Having had to endure rantings and ravings, frustrations, athletes calling me a liar, etc, having a participant simply say “yes, I did it, thanks for calling it” made my day. I don’t want to say it makes our jobs as officials “easier”, but it does let us know that what we do is appreciated on all levels.
By luck of timing you were nabbed and I wasn’t. Although no podium spot hung in the balance for me.
You passed me in T1 while I was standing there trying to pull arm warmers over wet arms (only to give up when I realized I was actually sweating already). By the time I hit the road you were rounding the first corner (a legal right hander that time). I spent the next 30 minutes staring up the road expecting to see you or Mamales appear at any moment–apparently I’d have to have been going faster than you to make that happen.
When I rounded that open corner, plucking the still waving dandilion from the left side, I did ponder for a moment whether that was a violation. But, I figured the road is so worn there that you can’t see the line–that means it doesn’t count right?! I’ll know better next time!
Thanks for taking one for the team (and blogging about it!)
(and thanks for keeping my goal of one day beating you alive. Thanks sooo sooo much…)
I’ll right away clutch your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me understand in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks. Godfrey posted an update http://www.hb2012.com/bbs/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=110433