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USAT’s new “Age Up” Policy - WTF? February 3, 2006

Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Blacksburg VA , trackback

USAT’s new “Age
Up” Policy:

In 2006, USAT has adopted a
new policy governing a participant’s age at
USAT races. An athlete's age for any USAT
sanctioned race will be his/her age as of
Dec. 31, 2006
. The age he/she is on 12/31 will determine
his/her racing age group. If an athlete is due
to "age-up" into the next group, it
will happen at the beginning of the year, not
after the athlete's birthday. This action aligns
regular

U.S.

age group racing with the method used by USA
Triathlon for its National Rankings Program and
its new Grand Prix Series.

Example: John Smith is 39 and will turn 40 on
November 20, 2006
.
John will be considered 40 for all 2006 races
– and will race in the 40-44 age group at all
2006 races.

Sally Jones is 29 and will
turn 30 on
July 3, 2006
.
Sally will be considered 30 for all 2006 races
– and will race in the 30-34 age group at all
2006 races.

Oooooooo. This sucks. It's as if I was never 29 years-old! Thieves …

I'm going to be a big 29-year-old baby about this for a few paragraphs.

See, I just turned 29, back at the end of December. I was really looking forward to competing (not just showing up and participating) this year as a 29 year-old in the last of my age group (which typically isn't too competitive for the likes of me). I'm not saying that 25-29 year-olds aren't fast, but there isn't a lot of them racing. The number of participants really picks up after 30 years of age, though.

I have now been robbed of my 29th year (as have many others of you, I'm sure). To follow the USAT rules, I get to compete with the 30-34 crowd this year because I'm going to turn 30 years-old on December 20th. That doesn't seem fair. The season is typically over by October., November at the latest. This sucks. I was looking forward to becoming 30, but in due time. Call me crazy, but I did want to enjoy my last 20-ish year. Sucky-suck-suck.

Okay, pouting is over. Guess it's time to get on with it and train with that much more dedication. I want to go kick something; I'll have to settle for some 30-34 year-old butt, I guess. Doh!

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