nonathlon

[Bob S.]

I just checked out my suspicions and, sure enough I have a lower score now because I am listed as LWT. A full 143 points less than if I were listed as HWT. WTF??!! In the past I have always listed myself as HWT, since at least one of the events was done as a HWT and I figured that I had to stick with HWT for the season. Now I find the being listed HWT is a big advantage. Go figure. Frankly, I am baffled. Obviously, there is so little data available for the older brackets that the assignments are pretty arbitrary, but this is ridiculous. Note that for the nonathlon, I am still in the 80-89 bracket, since it is based on age as of May 1st last year.

Bob S.

[lindsayh]

Hi Bob
I posted this answer on UK thread as well. Don't think it is ridiculous but a bit weird mathematical phenomenon.

I am pretty sure that the nonathlon mathematics is based on your age (ie 89) rather than your age range (such as 80-89) and therefore changes each year.

It seems to me that the difference is likely to reflect the limited data base of 89year old lwts and hwts. The larger the "sample size" or group the harder it is to do well and the higher the best scores will be (this is also why it is relatively harder for young people to do really well in the Nonathlon)

It is likely that there would be more lwts than hwts in your age group and that especially in the longer distances the lwts are probably faster than hwts. Therefore your nonathlon numbers will be lower in the lwts because the "average" times will be proportionately better and the fastest times relatively higher.

The other effect of your amazing times will be to make it harder next year for other 89s in the Nonathlon because the spread of times/points is adjusted each year based on times the year before.

[hjs]

Its a system based on facts, I don,t see the problem, it is what it is. There are so manny flaws, this one is funny. In general being female, being older, being a lightweight helps. No strong heavyweight erger in his prime has any chance to get high points. Not that that I see a solution or that. But the law statistics makes it what it is.

[lindsayh]

Its a system based on facts, I don,t see the problem, it is what it is. There are so manny flaws, this one is funny. In general being female, being older, being a lightweight helps. No strong heavyweight erger in his prime has any chance to get high points. Not that that I see a solution or that. But the law statistics makes it what it is.

I agree Henry - it is actually a pretty neat set of numbers and the closest we have to a way of comparing a huge range of performances and the funny anomalies are part of the game really.

[gregsmith01748]

I think the main issue is that if you post as a lightweight, you are competing with your own times, since you set the bar for lightweight rowers in your category. If you post as a hwt, you avoid the best age group rower!

[Bob S.]

I agree pretty much with all the comments. Here is additional data that I find interesting:

Screen Shot 2015-02-15 at 10.46.16 AM.png (84.02 KiB) Viewed 6257 times

As you can see the big differences are in the short event scores, as Lindsayh suggested. By odd coincidence the 30' scores are identical. Above that, LWT higher by 2 points for the 10k and 10 lower for the 60'. Below that the L WT scores get progressively lower, with a whopping 59 point disadvantage at 500m.

I am not really upset about all this. Mostly puzzled. I shouldn't be that surprised actually There just isn't enough data to set up a practical system. A few seasons ago, I was keen to get up high on the over all list. But, along with giving up the FM, I am not all that concerned with my nonathlon standing any more. Maybe I'll give it another shot after May 1st and go for the new season. At that point, I will be 90 for the nonathlon, and Fat Bob will be taking over the chores for Skinny Bob. It is relaxing to forget about trying to stay lightweight as I have done for the last month. I am still close, but in my more normal 166-172# range. Even then the nonathlon scores won't mean much. The data is even more skimpy for 90+ and, in several events, the data base will have only one point (if I do get to them).

Bob S.

[Cyclingman1]

All I know is that every time totals are recalculated at the start of the year, I lose about 30 points.

[Paul Victory]

Bob, there's nothing to stop you posting scores as a heavyweight, even if you are under 75 kg/165 lbs. I think the requirement for a lightweight row is that you must have weighed in between 2 hours and 1 hour before you row. So if you don't weigh in, you can enter all your times as a heavyweight.

Paul V