an accidental 70.3 ...

I'm completely and utterly kind of a type A personality.

I usually plan my race schedule a year in advance. Mostly because I like to plan accordingly, but also because I am cheap.

So, last December, in an effort to keep my OCD (and bank account) in check, I drew up a list of triathlons that I was interested in registering for. Then, I gave the list, which consisted of race names and dates, to J and I told him to pick one.

His choice: Patriots Sprint Triathlon on September 9th.

I was happy with this selection. The timing and distance was right and I figured I might be able to convince a friend or two to race with me.

As the months passed, I realized that after Ironman 70.3 Texas, I wasn't going to cut back my training significantly. I also realized that I wasn't going to be able to convince my friends to join me at Patriots. Instead, a few of them were going to race the Patriots Half on September 8th, as their 70.3 debut.

Since I was loosely following a 70.3 plan anyway, I decided to email the race director to see if it was possible to transfer my registration to the 70.3. I figured if they said yes, I would get to train and race with my friends and if they said no, then nothing would change and I would go cheer them all on.

Approximately five seconds after I sent my email, I found this on the race website:

REFUND POLICY
50% of your entry fee will be refunded until August 24, 2012 or until the event has filled. No refunds will be issued for any reason after August 24, 2012. Event entries are not transferable between persons, events or years. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made to the stated refund policy. By registering for this event you agree to these refund terms. To request a refund you must complete the refund request form using the link below BEFORE the posted refund deadline.

I took that statement and the lack of response from the race director to mean that there was NO WAY I was going to get to switch races. 

Like I said, no big deal. 

Then, yesterday, I was talking to G, who is racing the 70.3. She told me I should work on my speed and go crush the Athena division. Not sure that I had actually registered for the Athena division, I checked out the participant list on the PATRIOTS SPRINT page. 

I scrolled through the names.

And there it was ... nothing. My name was missing.

Having a minor freak out, I checked the PATRIOTS HALF page thinking maybe the link I clicked on the first time misdirected me to the wrong participant list. And then I saw it.

I was registered for the 70.3.

Apparently, the race director granted my transfer AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ME.

Had I not checked, I would have shown up for the wrong race. On the wrong day. Guess it was a good thing I never cut back my training ...