Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hosed

in a nutshell: with a pr of 3:06, she didn't bother to register as an elite... i imagine they would have laughed at her. then she ran 2:55, while the lazy-ass elites ran 3:06 and over. guess who got the win?


11 comments:

Ben said...

This is ridiculous - race directors seem to be experimenting with weird starting strategies. Last weekend in Detroit they had an issue with construction on the Ambassador bridge - and they had only 10 minute window for everybody to cross the bridge. So, for whatever reason, they decided that it would make things "less congested" if they had the half marathon start 5 minutes after the marathon. So, they thought it was a good idea to have sub six miler half guys running through a pack of 10+ milers in the marathon. Luckily the starter realized what was going to happen and asked all the marathoners to stay to the left, so half-marathoners could pass. It worked out ok - but, it seems that all these wave starts just end up causing more problems than they solve.

The same thing happened in chicago - there was a guy who would have been in the money - but he wasn't an "elite".

a said...

That's just a huge load of bullshit.

It totally goes against the egalitarian nature of the sport.I have always maintained that one of the coolest part of running - especially at big road races - is that you can toe up with best in the world. Sure you'll never beat them but I still think it's sweet that you're running the same race.

Anyone in the NBA could stuff me but we're never going to shoot around. But if I pick the right marathon I can run against Geb, Hall, you name it.

But apparently not.

What's the point of the separate start? Are they protecting the elites from the wimpy American runners? Please - ask any American that's raced track in Europe. When you get in the pack with top level African runners they will spike, slap, hit and punch you out of their space.

Give everyone seeded bibs and then let them fight it out.

While I'm bitching I'm just going to throw out that USATF is a pretty useless organization that does a horrible job of promoting and advancing the sport.

RM said...

Yeah, F USATF. I want to decrease the number of people at these races and become super elitist. Down with Team in Training!!

gladfelter said...

A story like that makes me want to punch something. That's just shitty. I feel super bad for that runner.

Jake Marren said...

Also, F the USATF Olympic Trials.

THE KRIS said...

this is the kind of anger i like to see! angry mob, anyone?

Ben said...

aarrrgghhh!!!

Rebs said...

This is not a valid argument at all. You can run as many heats or waves of athletes as you want in a particular event but the fastest time is what wins- ALWAYS! In track you could have a million heats but no final, and guess what? The fastest time wins! So who cares if you weren't in the fast heat, you still kicked butt and therefore deserve your proper placement! I am so thoroughly disgusted. This makes Nike and the way they run events look retarded.

a said...

Yeah and not retarded the way Ryan uses the word.

RM said...

How do I use the word? As in "let's get retarded"? As if retarded is a good thing? Which it is?

a said...

When you use it as a good thing.