Are ALL Changes For the Better?
Controversy is a part of everyday life. Sometimes it leads to great conversations and new thinking. Sometimes it leads to resentment and frustration. The rule changes recently announced by BattleFrog Series (BF) concerning their BFX race seems to fall into the latter. It appears to have been a completely unnecessary change and may be yet another attempt at putting nails in it's own coffin at a time when people were just climbing back on board. There are a number of issues with the changes, both business related and philosophical. So let's start with the easy one….the effect on business, meaning racer participation.
Know Your Market
Are all your waves at every race full? Are you turning people away from events now? Are you able to charge full price for every racer? If not, why in the name of Odin would you want to do something that would even have the possibility of reducing attendance…or did this not occur to anyone. The feedback from the average racer, looking to move up a notch in challenge has been overwhelmingly bad! And remember, people “vote with their feet!”. For every comment, there are dozens who feel the same and just won't be considering your race.
Another consideration, BF offers only one race distance, the 8k. For anyone wanting to go up to a tougher challenge you have Elite and BFX. I don't think anyone wants the novice racers to start running Elite waves…but now with the rule changes many of these races will have no where to go. Well, nowhere to go apparently in BF now. I mean, tossing people from a race! That may actually be the worst idea I've ever heard from any race promoter in Obstacle Course Racing (OCR). But you know, those are business decisions….so let's move on to the other issues.
“Bands-Over-Burpees!”
This was the battle cry a few years back and I still believe that is the only way to handle the competitive (meaning $$$$$ races). It's called Obstacle racing…you have to complete the obstacle. Period! If you can't do that, you can't win. The Obstacle Course Racing World Championship (OCRWC) and BF where both early supporters of this concept. So what happened? A penalty, however difficult, is not completing an obstacle!!! And what about the obstacles that don't have penalties because now BF will subjectively decide which obstacles are tough enough that people may not be able to do them. And how will THAT be fair?…seeing that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
Ohhh, they say, but now you're allowed to get help. Well, how nice. So now, since I generally run alone, I can either find someone to follow me around on the course and have nothing to do but help me through the obstacles I can't handle. Or wait out there for someone to pass by that's willing to help (and able to hoist a 225lb undersized silver-back gorilla up or over something??!!)
New BF Rig design – Note: This is NOT our author. Photo: BattleFrog Series
The real obscenity though in all these solutions offered to help keep me from being rudely escorted off the course, is that it isn't even necessary. The Elite and BFX races already had it's built in answer. We don't need a BFX Elite and Open, or any other Mr Wizard magic, because we already have it!!! It's called losing your band! Police the obstacles better and you reduce the possibility of cheating. And remember, the vast, vast majority of racers are out their to have fun! Paying to enjoy the course…and skip obstacles altogether if that's what they choose…it's their dime. No one asked you to like that…and I'm fairly certain they don't really care what you or anyone else thinks. Except for that little part about tossing them off the course…I think they do care about that part.
Know Your Market – No, Really.
BattleFrog is still one of my favorite races! I'm hoping these changes will be rethought and we can all go back to training and running and pushing ourselves just a bit further. And the OCR brain-trusts, across the board, need to get out of that insular core of OCR elite-only thinking and realize that it's the weekend warriors that support all these events and you better not lose them!! Everyone knows it takes years to build rapport and trust and minutes to crush it.
If you missed the announcement read about the full new rule change, here. Also read another reaction to the rule change from contributor, Peter Dobos, here.
What do you think…
Share your opinion in our comments section…
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and official policies of Mud Run Guide LLC, or their staff. The comments posted on this Website are solely the opinions of the posters.
While there are plenty of explanations of this rule change out there, this article seems more like a facebook post than an article. It’s just complaining instead of referencing facts. And no where does it mention the penalty loops. Did the editor check this article before allowing it to be posted?
This article was not intended as an explanation Jason….that would be for BattleFrog. This is most definitely a criticism of these changes, which I suppose could be mistaken for complaining. The idea of a penalty was certainly mentioned, although the specific loop penalty was not because it is irrelevant. A penalty is not completing an obstacle and BattleFrog was the first race promoter to adhere to that concept. Not only that, but arbitrarily deciding which obstacles would have a penalty and which would not (thereby triggering ejection from the race for non-completion) would certainly favor some racers over others. Lastly, I don’t think ejecting racers is a good business decision…not even if you are turning them away because the races are sold out.
These rule changes worked for the BFX24. No one got ejected from the 24hr event. Therefore it is highly unlikely for it to happen during the easier events. The obstacles aren’t arbitrarily chosen. It is fairly clear which ones people are most likely to fail or lose a band.
Jeff, these rules were not in affect at the BFX24 in Miami. They were first used this past weekend in DC. If they have no intention of throwing racers out, why have the rule? It will only keep average people from signing up to a race that they might not get their monies worth out of. But that’s BattleFrog’s concern….or should be anyway.
Actually, John, they were in fact in place at BFX24. There were obstacles which required solo mandatory completion (i.e. Jerry Can Carry), obstacles which we were allowed assistance from other racers on (i.e. 8’/Ramp Walls), and obstacles which had a penalty if we were unable to complete it solo (i.e. Platinum Rigs, Tip of the Spear, Monkey Bars, etc.)
The rule is to make it more objective when an obstacle is failed, and to even out the penalty (i.e. there is nothing about 10 8-Counts that taxes your grip, and they can be completed arguably faster than a Rig or Tip of the Spear, for example.) These rules worked beautifully at BFX24, and eliminated the possibility of cheating on 8-Counts.
Thanks for the clarification Stephanie. While I applaud the new varying difficulty lanes, I’m still a believer in obstacle completion to win any OCR race. The easier lanes do make that more of a possibility now. However, penalty loops must be manned too if the stated purpose of this change is to eliminate cheating. And with volunteers harder and harder to come by for a full race day, how can they realistically expect to man obstacles AND loops? Even at the BFX24, when I did the course Sat morning, some penalty loops were not manned…so it was still on the honor system.
Oh, believe me, I am all for obstacle completion – It’s the reason I no longer run Spartan Races unless there’s no other option that weekend. But, for BFX, in order to not alienate the masses (and save further complication of an Elite vs.Open BFX), the varying lanes and penalties (penalties, which, are arguably obstacles within themselves) offer objectivity and better fairness to all competitors. Now, I would guess with relative confidence that athletes truly chasing the Trident will be at or near 100% completion under the new rules (rather than the “Touch and Go + 8Counts” as in previous BFX events.)
The volunteer conundrum is a whole other issue, which if you really care to get into, we can, but I’d rather stay on the main topic (I’ll leave it at a serious lack of pre-event marketing and ground presence). Yes, there was a significant honor system at BFX24, but often a single volunteer was able to police both the obstacle and the penalty (i.e. the crawls for Tip of the Spear and the Wedge Wall). The only penalty I saw anyone cheat was the wreck bag carry for missing the Monkey Bars (which they manned more consistently as the night wore on.)
Thanks again for the comments Stephanie! It’s interesting that you mention an Open BFX. I am not an elite athlete by any stretch. But I enjoy the longer distances and greater challenge they pose. Since BF only offers the 8k open (they used to have a 16k open), I only have two choices…Elite or BFX. Obviously I won’t do Elite. So if I want to do BF…which I do…I can only do BFX. But I know, despite easier lanes and penalty loops, there may be obstacles I just can’t do. And I do not want to pulled off on a medical. I’m out there to have fun and push myself as far and as hard as I can. So let’s see what develops and I hope that somehow there comes a solution that lets me do that. By the way, to get back ‘off topic’, if you haven’t heard, they are bringing in someone with tremendous OCR experience to address the marketing situation and may be able to help with that ground presence too. They even have some new regional people on board…one of which I ran into unexpectedly at an event in Miami (Homestead to be precise). Thanks again and signing off as a wanna-B-FX’er 😉
I agree that no racer should be pulled from the race. Period. They have chosen to pay the higher price for the BFX and want to challenge themselves further. Shouldn’t this be enough? You don’t get into the BFX anyway because you are an elite, it’s simply because you made a choice and paid the money. Are we going to make the BFX for elites only now and not for anyone else who wants to take up the challenge?
As for the penalty loop, like the writer said, this is still not obstacle completion. Something else is merely being substituted for the 10-8 counts. What’s the real difference anyway? Leave it like it was. I don’t really get this concept of penalties anyway when people have already paid their money to accept the challenge. Speaking of penalties where the Spartan race is concerned, the threat of doing 30 burpees every time you fail weighs heavy on a lot of people. You know you really shouldn’t have to spend months training to get in shape just to do the penalty burpees! We want to have fun and enjoy it and will keep coming back again and again as long as we are still enjoying it. The elites do not keep these races going. All the ordinary people do because there are many more of us than the elites.
For my part as an average racer, the idea of doing a BFX is very appealing so long as there is no possibility that I will be pulled from the race. I want to be free to try as hard as I can to complete every obstacle even using the “easier” lanes that Battlefrog has set up (which I applaud) and be able to continue as long as I am able and enjoy the day free from the fear of an arbitrary decision to pull me from the race.
I don’t care how hard people train for these things, most everyone will eventually fail at some of them due to fatigue.
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So will I continue to support the Battlefrog as far as the open waves are concerned? Absolutely but as far as doing the BFX – not so sure.
Well said David….I believe many people feel the same way, and more will once word of the ejection threat becomes wider known. The interesting thing is that the only stated reason for these changes (from the podcast) is to stop “cheating”. I have been at a number of races, including the BFX24. And I can tell you for a fact that if you don’t have the manpower to enforce the rules now, how would you possibly think for a second that you will when you’ve added a half dozen penalty loops? Thanks for your comments David!
I agree completely that pulling racers is the equivalent of blowing your own foot off with a howitzer. I hope that’s not part and parcel of the new rules. If it is, then BF need to deep-6 that ASAP.
You can get the official breakdown and explanation from the source (David Moore) at the Overcome and Run podcast (http://www.overcomeandrun.com/podcast/). From the sounds of it, the new rules will make completion easier, not harder. The reason for the rules is to get prevent racers skipping most of the obstacles as a winning race strategy.
The worst thing about this isn’t the change in rules, but rather that it wasn’t communicated clearly initially by BF.
Hey Peter. The biggest problem I do have is the ejection rule. No one should have to be worried about being thrown out of a race when they’re just trying to improve themselves and have a little fun in the process. Lose that rule and they can become another Spartan Race with burpees, body builders or penalty loops…after all, bands-over-burpees was obviously never something they really believed in anyway I guess. Oh, and the best thing I heard in the podcast….you may get tossed, but you get to keep your band….
After having listened to the Podcast with David Moore, I don’t think there is any real problem with the rule change for BFX and it actually sounds more fair. Taking into consideration the multiple lanes – beginner, intermediate and elite, taking into consideration that the penalty loops will be proportional to the obstacle itself in time and energy output and not some outrageous penalty that is 10X longer and harder than the actual obstacle (are you listening Spartan – the spear throw – 30 burpees..really?) taking into consideration that you can get help, I see no issue with the rule change. I think it will be just fine.
This was a good decision and should work well. I think they are being more than fair.
In the past David, the non-completion penalty was that you lost your band. That’s all. But having been an elite marshal at several BF races, and witnessed the 24 hours at Miami, those racers will literally bloody themselves trying to keep it. They will stay for hours at an obstacle just to keep that band. So a 60 second walk around a loop is nothing compared to what you have to overcome at the obstacle…and really just lessens the value of that band in my eyes. I’ve said, no penalty is the same as completing the obstacle. The BFX racers are special people. How can you compare what they have done and can do, to someone that completes penalties and beginner lanes with someone helping them. It’s an insult to the drive and courage of those BFX racers. The real crime though is the ejection rule. It serves no purpose other than to eliminate a fair number of people who will have no race to step up to at BF other than elite, unless they want to risk the indignity of being tossed off the course. The test will be in the number of future BF signups. Unfortunately, the people who already signed up are stuck.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. The penalty loops I ran at the 24 hour was a mind game in the game. We didn’t lose a band aside from King of the rig but the penalty loops always changed and sometimes you had to weigh keep trying or get the lap done. These are perfect as now I see more people do a BFX as after 50 miles those loops didn’t make it easier they made me have to game plan each lap. The ability to use the different lanes is new and another reason more will try for a BFX. This is the best change since BFX was started. I know for a fact the only thing that will get someone DNF is fitness not loops with wreck bags or whatever else David dreams up. Glad BattleFrog is keeping the progression. And in the first race with the new rules nobody was thrown off the course. I agree I know I have stayed longer to keep my band in elite as anyone who run elite will do BFX says it in the name and not having to do 10 rigs made me sign up for more not be scared about they may pull me.
You may be surprised to know Jason that I agree with much (almost all) of what you’re saying. BFX’ers are some of the most impressive athletes I’ve run with personally. I’m in favor of easier lanes and penalty loops so more people can do it….but NOT in keeping your band. One of my more memorable photos from the BFX24 was David with two fistfuls of bands at Rig 2. That’s a privilege that only the true BFX finisher deserves. Otherwise that band is nothing more than another piece of race swag. It goes against everything BF stood for in race integrity. And if they really have no intention of tossing someone from the course, lose the rule! Because it’s not just a bad idea….it’s bad business. And from the reviews on DC they can’t afford many more of those. Thanks again for your comments Jason.
And you are wrong. The 24 hour had the same rules. Obstacle competition on the no help it was penalty loop time.
Well Jason it wouldn’t be the first time! The BFX24 may have had similar penalty loop rules, but did not allow you to keep your band if you couldn’t do an obstacle that didn’t offer a penalty…I have photo proof if you need it. And, as you said in the other comment, the only way to get pulled off that course was fitness. They started the ejection rule in DC…at least from the reports and from David’s pod cast.
Hey John, the only reason “elite bands” existed for the BFX24 was for the additional “Gettin’ Riggy With It Challenge” to see who could pass the most rigs and earn an additional award. Otherwise, you kept your BFX24 wristband. Two different bands, two different purposes.
Thanks David for clearing up my confusion on that issue. And it does go to show though that BFX’ers could even do the BFX24 without missing a rig…which I think most would consider the toughest obstacle. It’s only my opinion of course, but with the ‘easier’ option lanes it would be nice to see obstacle completion become mandatory to win…just like the elite…but not mandatory for those who just want to complete as much of the challenge as they are capable of.
Also, under the new rules, 46 out of 52 people completed 3+ laps, with all six participants dropping out between noon and 1PM of their own accord. There were 0 people who weren’t allowed to continue on to further laps under the new rules.
Again, I applaud the concept of the easier lanes and even the penalty loops…at least for those not competing for the award. But if there is one thing that I still don’t understand about the new rules is the ejection clause. I’m thrilled that no one was asked to leave in DC! So I would like to ask then, whether you do intend to use that rule and if not, why leave such a controversial rule out there when it’s obviously making people think twice about doing a BFX? After all, OCR at it’s heart (both philosophically AND financially) is people out to have fun…and in the process maybe, to push themselves just a bit further than they thought they ever could. Thanks for the comments David!
I’m not sure where the “ejection rule” came from as the rules state that a participant can’t continue on to a further lap. If a participant can’t complete an obstacle (on the easy lane and with help), or the associated penalty loop if available, they make continue on to finish the lap but cannot complete any further laps.
Rather than focus on the inability to continue on further, I think it’s imperative to look at the other side of the coin as well. If a participant is too weak, or tired, to be able to complete a beginner obstacle, with help, or complete the penalty loop…I think it’s safe to say it’s smart for that person to not continue on. While we want participants to push their limits, we don’t want them to go further than their health can carry them. As far as the spirit of the race goes, we don’t want BFX to be a glorified trail run either.
Again, the inability to continue a further lap is also different than the elite race in the fact that participants who can’t continue onto another lap aren’t listed as a DNF and don’t lose their time. There is no band cut. Those are the two biggest stigmas of a DNF, neither of which happen.
Thanks again David for taking time to share your thoughts on this. I’m in total agreement that races have not only the right, but the responsibility, to pull racers who are physically or mentally unable to continue safely. I’ve been giving a lot of thought about your comments (I know, it’s hard to believe….writers thinking and all). While I could give a strong argument and an actual example from my own race two weeks ago, about not being able to do a relatively easy obstacle and NOT be physically unable to continue, I realize that it’s not the BFX rules directly that are my problem.
As you might remember from the BFX24, I am anything but an elite athlete. But I like to keep pushing my limits on the OCR courses. I enjoy BF…I think they have great, challenging courses. But the 8k is not enough for me. Unfortunately, BF only offers the 8k open, so to move up its either Eilte of BFX. Safe to say, you won’t see me on the Elite course…other than doing photography. So all that’s left is BFX. But now, with that rule, there’s a very real possibility that I won’t be able to do one of those ‘easy’ obstacles for one reason or another. And with no penalty loop….my day is done. That is THE main concern of all the wanna-B-FX’ers that have commented around the social-media world on this.
None of us really want to change the BFX rules, but we would like the BFX-type challenge. Whether it’s a BFX open, bringing back the 16k or some other solution, it would be nice to have that option again at BF. Thanks again David and good luck!