How the Multisport Rankings Were Compiled for Duathletes, Triathletes

From Ben Hawn

(Editor's Note: The note below was supposed to have been in the printed edition of the Louisiana Multisport Report. I'm praying Ben Hawn helps for the 2006 edition; he was an awesome addition to the effort of publication. Sorry the article was ommitted.) 

I think it was back at the Indian Creek Triathlon in June that Kenny first approached me about “helping” him with the 2004 Louisiana Multisport Rankings.  His “assistant” from previous years was unavailable for some reason.  Hmmmm, had Chuck Owen wised up?  I seem to recall Kenny made some kind of appeal to my vanity -- “...you’re such a great computer guy”, something like that.  I saw right through that transparent attempt to manipulate me, so I told Kenny I’d get back to him later.  A month or so down the road, in an uncharacteristic fit of unselfishness, I e-mailed him that yes, I’d be happy to assist in the effort.  I had major misgivings about signing on: like the rest of us, my schedule feels overly full most of the time, as I juggle relationships, workouts, sleep, and oh yeah … work.  Training for IronMan Florida in early November would mean even less free time than usual.  Anyway, I committed to this project, albeit with major reservations.

This is the point in the story where one might expect me to say how very rewarding it all was, and how glad I am that I took on the task.  And yes, I could say that, but it would be a lie.  It was a pain in the ass, and more time consuming than I would have cared for.  And worse than all that is the large degree of subjectivity that goes into the rankings.  As an engineer, I enjoy solving problems, but the issue of how often an athlete raced weighed against his level of performance remains a frustrating grey area for both Kenny and myself.  To cite just one specific case, Brett Reagan was without question the fastest sprint triathlete in the state in 2004.  Enters and wins three big in-state races: CajunMan (400+ athletes), River Cities (close to 1,000), and Caney (regional championship).   But others in his age group accumulated more points on the 5-4-3-2-1 system that Kenny has used over the years, and that was the foundation for what I did this year.  What to do?  Well, you can beat this one to death any number of ways, but to say that Brett Regan was only fourth best in his AG didn’t seem right to me, so I used my limitless powers of discretion and put him where he belongs – at the top.

The 5-4-3-2-1 system of awarding points does tend in some cases to reward quantity disproportionately over quality.  Not to the point where placing high in an AG becomes strictly a good attendance award, though.  Solutions to this dilemma?  Start your own Louisiana athlete ranking system.  Train harder, or smarter, or both. Attend more races.  Lie about your age.  Realize that this just a vehicle for a somewhat subjective ranking system, which partially augments the sporting life we all enjoy so much.  Nothing to get all excited about.  And if the system encourages people to attend more races so that they can accumulate more points, then that is a benefit to us all.  Triathlon continues to grow at a respectable pace across the country and here in Louisiana.

When Kenny asked me to help with the rankings, he never mentioned that he would pay me.  I put a value of about $200 an hour on my personal time, so I knew he couldn’t afford to pay the “going rate”.  Note, I can’t often get $200 an hour for my time, but it’s worth that much to me.  So I assumed that this was all to be a charitable donation, again, an uncharacteristic action for selfish prick like myself.  Toward the end of the process, I think I mentioned sending him a bill, in jest.  It was then that he informed me that I would be paid for my efforts.  It’s a pretty generous stipend that he offers, though it works out to something like $2.666666 per hour, or thereabouts.

So look over the rankings, and if you’re fast enough or lucky enough to find your name, rejoice in your good fortune.  I must admit it was a thrill for me when I first saw mine.  If you think you should be on the list and you aren’t, or if you think you should be ranked higher, don’t bother taking it up with Kenny to me.  There is no appeal system.  David Stern couldn’t make that policy stick, but we can.  Complain if you must, but be forewarned, he who makes the most negative noise about the 2004 rankings will be expected to compile the 2005 rankings, so he can show us how to do it right!

Train smart, and have fun!

Printed Louisiana Multisport Reports Now Available

(There are some locations in the Greater New Orleans area, but I don't have all those sites listed yet.)
Capitol Cyclery Locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles
Bicycle Shop in Baton Rouge
Bike Zone, Covington
Cajun Fitness, Rayne
Foxy's Health Club in Baton Rouge
Franco's
GiGi's Health Clubs in Jennings, Lake Charles
Johnson's Bicycles in Lafayette
Pedal Play Bike Shop in Baton Rouge
Pelican Health Club, Slidell
Precision Bikes in Lafayette
Red's Health Club in Lafayette
Spectrum Fitness Clubs in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Port Allen
The Spokesman, Mandeville
Tri-Specialties in Lake Charles
Tuffy's Bike Shop in Baton Rouge
Varsity Sports in Baton Rouge