Penalized for running barefoot on the beach!

Barefoot TJ

Administrator
Staff member
Mar 5, 2010
21,467
7,013
113
Penalized for running barefoot on the beach, at the ocean, in a race called the Sandman?!

Okay, this troubles me on several levels. Discussion, please:

Soquel’s Jake Gibbs won the Sandman Triathlon on Sunday in Aptos. He clocked in at 1:19:39, but, along with other three top finishers, was penalized for running barefoot, giving him an official time of 1:21:39. Gibbs also won last year. (Lucjan Szewczyk -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

GibbsPenalized.jpg
Local Roundup: Soquel's Gibbs repeats as Sandman Sprint Tri champ
Santa Cruz Sentinel
He clocked in at 1:19:39, but, along with other three top finishers, was penalized for running barefoot, giving him an official time of 1:21:39. Gibbs also ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tyler J L
Penalized for running barefoot on the beach, at the ocean, in a race called the Sandman?!

Okay, this troubles me on several levels. Discussion, please:
During the transition from bike to run you save time by not changing into your running shoes, that is assuming you have special bike shoes which most triathletes do. All you need to do is ditch your biking shoes, bike and helmet and your off.

Seeing the three top winners go barefoot is great.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barefoot TJ
The organisers clearly believe that not having to stop for a moment to put shoes on before running gives the barefooters an unfair advantage over everyone else...
Daft? -yes!
But rules are rules are rules are rules........yawn...:yawn:

Impressive that he won even with the penalty though!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barefoot TJ
  • Like
Reactions: Tedlet
You would have to know the specific rules for that triathlon. It's possible that it was spelled out, in which case, the penalty is justified. If not though, then, perhaps an official over-stepped their authority.

The event website claims it is a USAT sanctioned event. The rules posted at the USAT website do not address footwear for the running portion of the race. There are rules regarding paratriathletes and youth, but, not for all other participants.

A time penalty for a non specified violation sounds to me like an official was making up a rule on the spot.
 
Regardless of the rules, I think it's ironic: don't run barefoot on a beach. But then perhaps it's ironic to run in shoes period.