Next Year (your opinion/ideas please)

[romanmica]

I know it may seem early to start thinking about next year, but the sponsors will soon be making their 2009 sponsorship decision.

Recently, Mandy suggest this new formula for the B-Fit Challenge for next year as lot of folks are put off by the length of the swim:

"Hey, What if for next year...the B-Day challenge is any combination of mileage from swimming, cycling, and running as the total age for people who are in an older age group if they deem the challenge too difficult. The only catch is that you have to include all three sports. For example... a 50 year old might swim 1.5 miles, bike 43.5 miles, and run 5 miles. Just a thought though!"

What do you think?

Do you like the idea or do you prefer the current Challenge formula?

You opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[TriBoomer]

I wouldn't change a thing for the Gold Standard.

Maybe I'm biased because I was one of the first to complete the Gold challenge but, be that as it is, I believe the formula, as it is now, is the formula to follow.

Stay tuned...

[Craig Weaver]

That would be my preference as well. 4 miles sucked this year but hey, I felt great having accomplished it.

[Mike]

Have to agree as well! It's a challenge and as such should be difficult to undertake. While I think it would be good to have an alternate program for people who may struggle with aspects of it, if we ratchett it down to make it easier for everyone, it loses some of it's value - My challenge was tough this year as well, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

[romanmica]

Another possible formula that would accomplish the same thing but keep the simplicity of the Challenge would be to switch it all to metric.

In other words a 45-year-old would

a) swim 4K
b) run 5K
c) bike 45K

on the milestones they would run 10K

Just thinking out loud.

[michele ashton]

Hey Mandy

I think you may have a good point. I will be turning 45 in December and must admit that 4 miles of swimming is a bit much........and 5 miles of running not that much.......
Dont get me wrong I do think I can do the gold challenge but I think that it might be more fun for people aver 40 to choose their own combination. Also for those who are training for a specific event close to their b'day it will help them keeping the balance between the 3 sports and not have to devote tons of time to swimming.....

Good thinking....

[Mandy King]

I think the metric idea is a good possibility ... it reminds me of when I look at a race profile.. i.e. 1.5k swim 40k bike and 10k for an olympic.
Maybe whenever we get to the voting we can have a few options to choose from and hey next year if you want to swim 3, 4, 5 miles then definately go for it...we live in America so do whatever your heart wishes! :-) That might be good especially if you are training for a 70.3 or Ironman, but the metric is good for olympic and a little above or below.

[Craig Weaver]

I say leave the gold and ratchet down the silver and bronze. We have 24 hours for the gold, split up the swim if you have to.

[Richard Snyder]

I'd like to see the formula change a bit for next year. 3 miles is a big distance to bite off.

[Sue]

My preference is to leave it as it is. Yeah, the swim gets longer as you get older, but it's also easiest on the body so probably more feasible for older athletes.

[ramster]

Mandy is wise beyond her years. Yes, please, I am goign to be 51 and i am not sure how much longer i will be able to do this. 50 was very hard and i dont know how i could ever swim 6 miles. 5 miles swim should be used at gitmo in lieu of waterboarding. please and thank you.

tom

[Charlie]

I like the switch to metric. I think the bronze, if not all, medal could be changed to kilometers, still allowing for the week. As someone else pointed out:

1) the gold should represent something above and beyond the avg. (Compete vs. complete)
2) You get 24 hours, so nobody says you need to hit 3,4,5 or 6 miles at one go.

The two camps seem to be breaking down along the lines of

A) "any change makes things too easy"
B) "please, I'm not sure I can swim that far, change it"

[romanmica]

You have spoken and by an huge landslide you wanted the B-Fit B-Day Challenge formula modified.

Your wish is my command so as of this instant the new formula is:

1) Swim the number of yards in the first number(# multiplied by 1000 yards),
2) Run the number of miles in the second number,
3) Bike the number of miles in the combined number.

So a 45-year-old athlete would:

1) Swim 4000 yards
2) Run 5 miles
3) Bike 45 miles

But don't fret. A lot of you liked the old formula, and a lot of you went for Gold in the swim in miles and not yards.

I could not let that accomplishment go unheralded so as of today if you did the Gold Challenge in 24 hours in Miles this year you are now a Platinum Finisher.

That's right, I've added a Platinum category for all of you super achievers who want to really test yourselves the old way.

Platinum is now the old Gold and Gold, Silver and Bronze are now in calculated in yards on the swim.

That means that the Gold, Silver and Bronze B-Fit Challenge is now much...at least when it comes to swimming.

Platinum is now very very hard!

Thanks to everyone who voted and good luck to all going for Gold, Silver, Bronze or perhaps Platinum.