Sinusitis FAQ

Vineman Losers

Question:

Like you, I’m bagging Vineman, too.  I paid my $75 for the 1/2IM some months back, but have finally gotten to the bottom of my recurring cold & flu symptoms:  Chronic Sinusitis.   The only surgery date available (I’ve tried the less invasive procedures/treatments) is July 25, two days before Vineman.  Rather than call the RD and whine (let’s face it, my surgery is voluntary) about a refund, I’ll chalk up the $75 to a lesson learned. Like TriDork, I’ll wait and pay late, even if the premium is a few bucks. BTW, I did 1/2 Vineman last year, and it’s no small time affair.  There were over 600 entrants last year in a safe, well managed race.  To be sure, the full IM distance was pretty sparsely attended, but there’s no sense slamming an entire race just because they wouldn’t refund your cash after you changed your mind.

Response:

Sometimes if you ask really nicely, the RD will be willing to apply all or a portion of your race fee towards the next year’s race.  Butter him/her up first before you ask "That’s a fantastic race that you put on… very well-organized and lots of great volunteers.  It’s a pity I won’t be able to do the race.  Say, any chance that this year’s fee might be applied to next year’s race?" Also, volunteer to help out if you can’t race. Rob

Response:

Instead of asking for a refund, have you considered asking for a deferal towards next year’s race?  I think that shows goodwill from both sides – - yours and the RD’s.  Just explain your circumstances. If the RD agrees, hang onto the reply until next year.  He/she will have enough administrative hassles without having to recall personal arrangements a year from now.

Response:

I had heard nothing but good things about the vineman races over the years, so when a training partner suggested that we make the trip for the full vineman in July I thought this would be a great idea.  It would give me another chance to qualify for Hawaii and be a fun ironman if I did not.  Well my recent experience has changed my mind. I entered the full vineman in early May and sent my $180 in.  Training was going great and all was good.  By early June I began to have some nagging leg injuries which cut down on my running significantly, I still hoped all would be well by vineman.  I raced at Buffalo Springs and worked through the pain enough to qualify for Hawaii, but after the race my leg was severly hurting.  I decided to completely stop running until my leg was feeling better.  I figured that as much as a month off would still give me plenty of time to get ready for Hawaii. Even if my leg was feeling better I did not want to risk reinjuring myself by racing at vineman unprepared, so I called the vineman office the first week in July to ask about a refund.  I was told that there were no refunds. Needless to say this pissed me off and I tried to get him to explain why this is the policy and he just said that it clearly stated on the entry form and that all other races operate the same way.  Well I could have missed it, I accept that, but my experience with asking for a refund from a race has only been positive.  Up until a certian time they have always given me a refund minus some processing fee.  I certianly would expect that calling a month ahead of the race would be sufficient time. Anyway, he said that all he could do was roll my entry over to next year. Though still upset, I said that he should do that for me.  Then he says that he will send me the form to roll the entry over.  I could not understand why he could not just do in over the phone, he said that they needed the paper work. Very irritated with the whole conversation I just said ok and hung up. So I got the roll over form in the mail several days later.  Looking down thru the form I saw that you must include a $20 processing fee with the form.  Now I understand why he would not do it over the phone. I was wildly excited to see this. Now it is $200 for a race that I cannot do this year and have no desire to do next year. This experience leads me to be very sceptical of any small time Ironman race. They obviously can’t get enough people to come do there race so they screw the people that pay.  I don’t think I will ever enter one again. Todd — Todd Gerlach ISSC Austin AIX Support Team                   __o       o    

Response:

For just the reason you mention, I never send my entry in until just before the late fee comes into play. For races with quotas or limits, I MIGHT send it in earlier but not likely. I usually get the current listings before I send my cheque. In several cases, where I’m planning a small race after an Ironman or 1/2 ironman, say 1 or 2 weeks later, I’ll just accept having to pay the late fee rather than risk losing a bunch of money, or worse, racing when I’m too tired, just because I’ve paid, and risking injury. I know hindsight is 20-20 but that’s all I can suggest for the future. after of course you’ve hassled the race director and spammed the race etc. some refund is reasonable. I understand they have commitments etc and races are expensive to put on etc but lets be realistic, you got ripped off, and it’s unlikley you’ll enjoy the race next year or give them any good PR in the future. They lost more than you did. TriDork

Response:

IMHO,  I agree with the RD on this one.   I’ve always seen on every entry form for triathlons and running races that entry fees are non-refundable.  The fact that they would roll your entry fee to next year, even for $20, is a credit to them.   On a big race like that with a substantial entry fee, I always  wait until closer to race time to enter, even if that means paying a higher fee – kind of like paying insurance that I won’t get hurt. Just my $.02 worth. Just George

Response:

Filed under: Chronic sinusitis

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