Free Spirits meta-nonathlon

[Caratacus]

I highly doubt anyone is going to sandbag an entire season just for this!


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[sander]

Just to let you know I will start doing nonathlon distances, even though I still show zero effort a few months into the season. The reason is too busy with OTW racing. From November to April, I will do all nonathlon distances and try to improve on last year's scores.

Regarding the sandbagging issue, I cannot imagine how any competitive person could do that. I always try to improve on my PB or at least row a nice Season's Best. The nice thing about the meta nonathlon is that you are competing against your younger self but you get a slight bonus for being a year older.

Again, I cannot imagine doing a year of deliberate slow efforts just to get a better score the year after. It would be pathetic in my mind. Having a 2 year plan to score high in a virtual competition that only a handful of people in the world know about. How would you do that? By trying not to row any full out efforts on the ranking distances? By recording weaker efforts than your Season's Best? But then you would have to refrain from posting in the SB or PB threat. Again, I cannot imagine anyone doing that. Or perhaps I misunderstand "sandbagging".

[Rodger]

I don't think sandbagging is much of an issue either. I was responding to a question on how to deal with unnatural low scores in one season that lead to very high scores the next year. I am an analytical type of person (if you hadn't noticed ), so I outlined the two theoretical backgrounds for these type of scores as I see them: as a result of real circumstances or as a result of some deliberate manipulation. And argued that capping the scores at a maximum is not fair in the former and not necessary in the latter type of cases.

One thing I like to add though, as a different perspective that tends to get out of sight of dedicated rowers who do this for years now, is that not everyone is focused on rowing at the top of their abilities all year round. Others are perhaps not trying to set PB's or SB's on all distances every year or planning their rowing year in advance. Some may have just discovered rowing or the team or the different challenges at the end part of the season. Heck, when most people start they don't even know that a season runs form May 1 to April 30 (which, by the way, for people who have never rowed on water and don't intend to, is a nonsensical notion anyway) - I know I didn't. There are all kinds of other circumstances that can lead to having outlying scores in the nonathlon (and as a result, the meta-nonathlon).

Now if people could stop talking about how small and unimportant the meta-nonathlon is, that would be bliss.

[JonT]

The meta-nonathlon works amazingly well. The old adage applies: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Rodger]

[Rodger]

I sense more action in the nonathlon. So here's another update.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

Free Spirits who were in the 2016 meta-nonathlon but not (yet) in the 2017 list are:
Lordofgreasby, K-Cat, danfennell, gregsmith01748, Phil Lamb, Phil Nolan, badocter, den-J, GillianB, RogerB, redshell, Shang-Chi and lfairbairn.

New names this season so far are: DavidWray, jhaveman,shaveman, Jon Esau, Kirstin Esau, e-Clair and MacFan.

[Tako]

New names this season so far are: DavidWray, jhaveman,shaveman, Jon Esau, Kirstin Esau, e-Clair and MacFan.

Please add me as well.


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[Rodger]

Tako, the meta-nonathlon works as a comparison between this season's and last season's nonathlon scores. I can't add you if this your first season.

[Tako]

Sorry my mistake, just thought that newcomers would be green all over.


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[Rodger]

I understand the confusion. I probably should have started a new meta-nonathlon thread at the start of each season with a quick outline of the competition and the rules in the first post instead of just keep adding to this one. Something for me to do next season then.

[Lordofgreasby]

Hi, please can I be added to the meta-nonathlon for this season? I took part last year.

[Rodger]

Hi, please can I be added to the meta-nonathlon for this season? I took part last year.

You're not in Stan's nonathlon Free Spirits filter list yet, that's why your name (or number) doesn't show up in the meta-nonathlon either.

[Rodger]

[Rodger]

Looking at the meta-nonathlon standings, you have to admire the guys that are close to 100 points for every distance/piece. And who do that year after year. That's an indication these rowers are consistently pushing their rowing to their max. The ranking however doesn't really acknowledge this consistency, because of the nature of the scoring where a lousy previous season results in a very high score the season after.

That's why I thought a running total could be a good addition. This table below shows the sum of points in the meta-nonathlon over the 2015-2017 seasons. There's 49 Free Spirits in total that have participated in at least one of the last three seasons, this table lists the members who have accumulated over 1000 points.




If you think there is some merit in this, I will post an updated table of the running totals once in a while. The table can also be viewed as a google document here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1407692985

Edit: I'm experimenting with alternative scoring and, for this purpose, I have (temporarily?) added two columns to the sheet. In this alternative score column the 2015 scores are halved and the 2017 scores are multiplied by 1.5. This results in a somewhat altered list where recent seasons are more important than the older ones. This way it's doesn't take newer participants as long to climb the ranking.

[DavidWray]

Great idea Roger!

[Rob C]

Oh Noes, another reason why I should get back on the erg and not lose my C2 mojo just to stay ahead in this latest ranking idea

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[BigWaveDave]

Good idea Rodger, for me looking at last year just shows what a poorer year it was for me compared to this year and therefore the apparent improvement, whereas in reality I am just treading water as to 2 years ago

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400

[JonT]

I really need to pull my finger out and do a HM!

[Rodger]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1463067400