Am I a Cheater???

I got this comment I'm going to list below today. It was from one of the people that follow and enjoys my blog. I normally don’t post comments in my blog, but I’ve done it a few times before.

The only time I do it is when I think it is worthy enough to be remembered. I do this blog to create my year-end book and I want to remember this comment and read it for years to come.

I did reply to this comment directly and what you are to read here is my "revised reply". It is a little different than the comment I left in haste. I went for a run, which gave me more time to think about the comment and this is my revised addition, with better grammar. So here it is:

I have enjoyed reading your blog. But this past weekend you crossed the line. You and your son cheated. I find it hard to believe that of your 115 followers that I am the first to call you on this. If you had taken the time to check out the rules for Kids of Steel you would have seen that your pedals were wrong and there is to be no outside assistance. Instead you blame the officials and the volunteers, The man who said the water was deep, instead of being better prepared and going for a lake swim before hand, Reid should have changed the flat. When you are DQ'd there is no sneaking back in. You make a point of saying that a girl DNF'd, if you check you will see that young lady has completed several Tri's and I would bet within the rules. Instead of praising Reid you should tell him he was ill prepared and will have to train harder next time. So that I don't get the anonymous tirade, My name is Keith Byrne

My Response:

Keith, normally I wait to reply all at once to the posts, but yours deserves special attention. First off I want to say I "greatly respect" you for putting your full name as part of your comment. It takes a man to do that!

Secondly, I want to give you a brief part of my background so you understand that I'm not a non-contributing triathlete to the community.

I used to be President of Triathlon Manitoba and Vice President of Triathlon Canada in the late 80's, before triathlon was even a recognized sport by the Federal and Provincial governments. If you talk to Barrie Sheply, he'll confirm that, he wasn't even the head Canadian coach at that time, he was vying for it.

I was also the person who presented and sold triathlon to the Manitoba sports federation. No other province had up to that point been accepted and it was the spark that helped others like Ontario make their case to get public funding.

I was also an early founder of "Kids of Steel" in Manitoba, the "Officials program" and "Directed" a couple of races in the early day. In Manitoba I co-founded the "Free Spirit Triathlon" which still goes on in Manitoba to this day, 20 years later.

I'm not a lightweight complainer. I've put in my dues and the sport of triathlon is better for it. I just want you to understand my background and understand I'm not selfish or "disregard the rules and care less about others in the sport of triathlon".

Now, with respect to the race, yes, your right, I didn't read the rules on the pedals and the official was understanding enough to made a call and let it pass.

The guys making sure the helmets fit, did a good job, safety "IS" of utmost importance.

The swim, I've been involved in many “Kids of Steel “ triathlons and didn't anticipate that deep of water. Yes, I should have taken Reid and better prepared him. I didn't think the swim would be a problem because of his swam with a swim club for 3 months.

The DNF, I get the rules, I understand THE RULES. But this is NOT a high level competition. Perhaps, since I was involved as one of "the founding fathers" of triathlon the attitude has changed, but when we started it, it was to allow kids to participate and have fun.

I remember, many a kid in the past that struggled on the swim and couldn't make it. We gave him a pass and supported them and told them "that's okay, you're doing well, get on your bike" and if their bike broke, "we gave them someone else's bike". The spirit was to encourage and support.

The young lady who said Reid was DNF'd, as far as I'm concerned, was a committed and generous volunteer of her time. Knowing and personally experiencing the selfless nature of volunteers I would never take any personal attack on any of them, even if they were wrong.

I could tell she cared and I respect that a lot. For a girl of her age to volunteer and take on such large responsibility, I say "thank you, you care and are giving back". That's to be "applauded".

BUT, since you want to openly discuss the race, perhaps I can assist you with some constructive criticism from years of experience regarding "Kids of Steel" events and race organization.

1. When the kids register and pay in advance, you should have enough shirts for them and not run out. Having and proudly wearing a shirt is more important to them than any adult.

2. Also, every kid should have had a water bottle gift and you should not have run out.

3. I found the "Spirit" of attitude towards the kids very "Stern", too "stern". If they want "stern" they could go to summer school. There was not a lot of laughing or encouragement that I normally see in virtually all adult races. (Check the video again, I'm not making this up and others recognized it in their comments).

4. There was no one at the turnaround to tell my son to turn, adult races have that.

5. And probably most important, "If a kid doesn't follow the rules, then yes, DNF him or remove his place or time from the results, or don't give him a medal, BUT WHY NOT LET HIM FINISH???"

My days of volunteering in the Triathlon community are OVER, I pulled my weight on building this sport. But as a "grand daddy" of this sport I think you have it wrong. I think my readers have it right.

I also want to add, I don’t have 115 followers. Those are just the ones that put me as their favorites. In addition to those, I have 200 plus on RSS feeds. In total, I have over 1,000 unique visitors per month and over 5000 hits a month and growing at 17%. Ballpark.

When you say you can’t believe 115 people didn’t say anything, that wasn’t accurate. What you should have said is over 1000 people didn't said anything.

I'm open to argument against what I said, I'm NOT closed minded and if I'm off base, I'm prepared to eat my words. I’ve done it before, just ask John Barclay when I said “I need new, younger, friends”.

With that said, I hope you can do the same. All I know, is that if I didn't do what I did, my son would be depressed right now and not think highly of triathlons or have built the confidence of knowing that in the face of adversity, he overcame and succeeded. He also learnt, sometimes rules are meant to be broken. To me I'd rather "ask for forgiveness, than beg for permission".

When we started "the Kids of Steel Program" it was all about having fun and finishing. Too bad it's drifted, and hopefully my comments help you guys get it back on track.

I also don't blame the officials or the volunteers, just like I wouldn't blame the front line employees of a poorly run company. It all comes down to leadership and when someone is teaching the volunteers to "be strict and MAKE THOSE KIDS LIVE AND DIE BY THOSE RULES", that is WRONG!!! And the leadership needs to take a leadership course and refocus their message.

One last comment, the official that allowed us to ride with those pedals made the right decision. Perhaps because he was older and wiser he used his discretion and personal judgement based on the situation. The young lady, I completely understand. She was doing what she was told by the letter of the law. Had it been a 30 year old mother, she would have acted differently.

Keith, I just re-read your comment, and missed this one "Reid should have fixed the flat". That one you are wrong, dead wrong and out of you’re mind. I couldn't’ imagine a 6 year old having to fix a tire. I didn’t see it in the rules, that it's okay for a 6 year old not to fix a flat tire, but a 13 year old should.

I'm not sure if you've participated in any Ironman or Half Ironman events, but they have support crews on the road to assist. I've had them fix my broken chain in Clearwater and in China when I flatted twice, they took over.

Heck, they ride with spare tires. If that's a rule in the "Kids of Steel", that they can't have help to fix a tire, then I personally will buy mirrors for all the "Kids of Steel" executive to look into, and smack any parent in the head that even thinks that’s inappropriate.

When Chrissie Wellington won Hawaii one year, it was because another athlete stopped and gave her a C02 cartridge. No DNF. That's the "spirit" of triathlon.



Keith, if you think I'm angry and at you or your comment, I'm not. As a matter of fact, I can tell you’re the type of guy I could have a beer with. I like your "moxey", it's not easy leaving a disagreeing comment on Training Payne's blog.

I think everything happens for a reason and maybe it will help change the "Spirit of the rules" for the future. I must say, as an Adult triathlete seeing a "Kids of Steel" in action it was enlightening. I'm sure if most active triathletes saw it, they would be a little surprised at the spirit and tone as it was. It wasn’t how I experience triathlon or believe it to be. Although, I must say, the announcer was absolutely "Fabulous" and very "encouraging".

After reading your post, I re-read the rules. I remember it saying the swim was in 3-6 feet of water and I was right. This is what it said 



"KOS swim is in 3-6 feet of water — Lifeguards on both side.

Adult swim is 100m from shore, across and back"



It DID NOT say that the 14-15 years olds were going to be 100 meters out and following most of the adult course. 
The map may have shown it, but I’ve looked at that map, it’s easier to find the Titanic on that map, than it is to understand the swim course. The instructions were controversial at best.

I also decided to check the rules on the bike. It turns out on the Barrie Triathlon website it did not talk specifically about the pedals, only the helmet and said for complete rules go to the OAT website.

It took a while but I found the "Top Ten Triathlon Rules" and here is what it said about what types of pedals are allowed – "some types of clipless pedals are not permitted. Baskets are not allowed in kids races!" My son did not have clipless pedals and did not have "baskets" or "rat traps" as they are often refered to.

After I read that, I realized the official did me no favors. What you don’t hear on the video is my argument about the pedals. I told the official, he has no straps in the pedals. His feet are free. He is in no danger. The offical said I should remove some screws on the flexible plastic. I showed him that that would be dangerous. He knew he was dealing with a “professional” and in the end said "it's obvious you feel comfortable with your son's safety".

Even according to the rules, it said “some types of pedals". The pedals were descretionalry in nature. I told him Reid knows these pedals, there is no danger and he will be fine. I would NEVER put my son in harms way intentionally.

It also says NOTHING that the someone cannot help "change a kids tire" on the course. In fact, it then refered me to the ITU official rules, which are for competiton and I read the entire bike section and could NOT find that rule that says they can't get help (if you can find it, let me know, it's not in the biking section). 



Frankly, other than having him continue on after the swim, which they had misleading information about on the website. I don’t accept the title of "cheater", we followed the rules. 

I originally accepted your comments as legitimate, now I see YOU were misguided. 



For future, if your going to acusse me about not preparing my son for a swim that they said would be 3-6 feet deep and ended up being 24 feet deep, or pedals (which turns out were regulation) or help on the bike (which I couldn't find a thing on the site nor on the ITU rules), you should have YOUR FACTS right.

Just a tip, when you don't have your facts right, it becomes more an an emotional arguement than a legitimate agruement.

 It could have been argued that I shouldn’t have snuck him in, and I don’t believe that was wrong.

I could say I did it because the "race website mislead me" on the depth of the swim, but I didn't. Truth is, I did it because "I knew it was the right thing to do".

When the site says the water is 3-6 feet and it turns out to be 24 feet, they misrepresented the facts. I told Reid all week long not to worry about it, it was only going to be a max of 6 feet. When I saw it was deeper I “tortured” him about it out of gest. I didn't realize that it was going to "spook him" or I wouldn't have teased him.

If I was wrong on anything, it was that I didn’t anticipate his fear. When he told me “Dad, I saw the bottom and then it just dropped off, I got scared!!!” My heart bleed. Had I known, I would have told him to swim to the first buoy and then back to the shore and follow the 6 foot bottom along the buoy line all the way to the finish.

If they wanted to DNF him for not finishing the swim, I'd love it. It just adds another wonderful experience that Reid will be taking about when he has kids. It also shows that in the “eye of the storm” Dad is the man, he’ll do what’s right.

I dont' mind being "tagged" and I can take "a puck to the head", but I’ve never been called a “cheater”. That’s a BOLD word. I’m lot of things. I’m an asshole, a prick and a“dink”, by definition maybe even an alcoholic, but I don't feel I'm a cheater.

I’ve always prided myself as “never being a cheater”. As much as I’ve wanted too during a tough race, I’ve never cut a corner or drafted intentionally to get a better time. I could have easily even signed Reid up as a 13 year old and made his race easier, but didn't. I followed the rules and because his birthday is before December, I placed him into the 14-15 year old catagory.

I pride myself on my integrity. I may be somewhat dishonest, 2 out of 10 times I won’t tell a cahier if she’s wrong to give me more money back that I deserve. But it’s based on the store service and her demeanor. It’s and on the fly decision.

Reid finished last and it didn’t hurt anyone. If he finished “second”, I’d be the first person to disqualify him, not the race director. I have integrity. If I tell you I’m going to “rob you” or “punch you in the face”, I’m going to do it. That’s a man with integrity.

If I was to do it all over again, I'd wouldn't hesitate handling it the exact same way. As a matter of fact, if I saw your kid or anyone elses that had the same thing happen to him or her and they felt “crushed” or “devasted”, I'd assist or encourage you to get them in that transition zone and onto the bike. 


I think I was a “hero”. I made a young boys day a lifelong positive memory. He may actually want to do another triathlon in the future. I doubt it, but there’s away’s hope. At minimum, he respects what triathletes go through.

Following Rules? We have enough accountants in this world (Sorry Gord and Todd). What we need is to get back to the “spirit of the law” not “the letter of the law.”

Keith, I may be off base, but respectfully, in the sport of Triathlon, “I’ve earned my title of BIG DOG”. When I was at the shoreline, I had the most muscular kid and his friends come up to me with respect and ask me about my Ironman finisher shirt and held me in awe and I gave them encouragement. This is what triathlon is all about. They want to be Ironman, and I want them to be Ironman too.

I didn’t scare them, I lovingly supported them. In fact they were so impressed they thought my son might be a force to be reconded with. Now that’s respect.

When I saw the comment from Simon supporting my reply, it was comforting. You have to understand, if Simon can “beat me into the ground on any level”, he’ll do it. It's hard for him to agree with me. I still have to overcome his “beer drinking wussy comments” from Ironman China. I'm not too worried, that will be silenced next July at IMLP.

My point is, Simon’s "a bigger dog" than me, he’s done 15 plus ironmans, is a PFG, has done the 100 mile runs plus and he disagrees with your take completely.

I love the fact that you voiced you’re opinion, I respect that. The only problem is you “picked the wrong fight with the wrong people”. If the girl who DQ’s Reid is your daughter, I completely understand and bow to you. That’s what a father is, someone who stands up for their baby bears.

Heck, even if she's not your daughter, that young lady did nothing wrong. She’s awesome on so many levels and I never want her to change.

Keith, NO HARD FEELINGS AT ALL from me. Like I said, I'd have beers with you any day. I find it refreshing to see an annoymous person have the courage to leave their first and last name and be prepared to stand up for what they believe is right.



Had you not had the courage to put your full name, I WOULD have went on my rant about "spineless" people who throw barbs and then turtle into their shells. Your post allowed me to stay on topic.

In the end, all's well that ends well, this was good debate and I'm glad you posted. I noticed you ran a 50 mile race, if that IS you. If so, wow, and congrats, very impressive mental strength.

In the end, I respectfully disagree. I don’t thing “I’m a cheater”. I’d love to hear from the 1000 plus other followers to see if they agree or disagree.

In closing, I'd like to say I'm not the perfect father, but at that moment, I knew what I did was right. I may be a partier and drink too much on occasion, but if you "willed" your kids to me, they'd have a 50% chance of turning out okay. Think about it, no baseball player has hit .500 consitently. So on that level, I'm a good bet.

Now, with that said, I have to get back to posting about my training. I did a bike and run in 40 C and loved it. It was so hot that on the run, I was walking at 155 bpm.

Also, I included a video of Reid pouring me a beer from the Kegerator tonight. This is only his second pull and I think he’s found his calling in life. I couldn't be more proud and love the gift that "God" has bestowed on him.

Bike - 2:34:08 / 79.80 / 31.1 kph / 133 avg hr

Run - 1:15:19 / 13.81 km / 5:27 kph avg/ HR off the chain.

The picture above is of myself and Dave Markham (who is now the top official of the ITU worldwide)

Dave and I cut the celebratory cake at his house when we got Triathlon Manitoba into the sports federation. The other shot is everyone that joined us that day and attended the BBQ at Dave's house. History was celebrated that day. If you notice, I haven't aged a day since then, except I no longer have the mustache.