This year marks the fourth time I have run this race. Usually, no matter how difficult a race has been, I always have a feeling of exhilaration at the end. Not this time! This year, this "fun" race was nothing but frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I came in third in my age group out of 44 women, which is an accomplishment for me. I am a "late in life" runner and am happy to be able to run at all.
You proudly stated that this race started a few years ago with only a few hundred people and, today, it had over 2000 runners. Great for the sport. Great for the race director's pocket book. For some of us, who want to always do our best, it has become more frustrating that it's worth.
Every year, at every race, I hear the announcer ask people who are not five or six minute runners to MOVE BACK!! He explains it is for safety as well as courtesy. NOBODY LISTENS!! I am not very fast and I know where I belong in the race corral. This morning, two women, standing next to me, had this conversation. "What's our goal today?" "Well, I think we can do it in an hour and thirty minutes, don't you??" Let me state it again ~ they were standing NEXT to me!!! I later looked at the clock, at home, and realized I had run the race, got some water, walked to my car, drove through Starbucks and got a coffee and was home reading the paper and they were still running!!!! While I applaud anybody who gets out there and attempts to run/walk a race, this is ridiculous! Yes, run, but stay towards the back. It is chipped timed. That means, as they explain every time, you time is your time based upon when you start and when you finish. You are not penalized for being at the back of the pack.
There was a little kid next to me on a scooter today!! This is not only annoying, but it is dangerous!! Why would a responsible parent allow them to ride a scooter in a running race?
Now, strollers...there are many very fast runners who push a stroller. They often beat me, but there are also very casual runners who push strollers and start way up front. Many other runners end up dodging these huge strollers and it becomes a safety issue. It costs you time to get around them. That actually matters to some of us. Strollers, no matter what or who, belong in the back with a taped off area that only allows them to be there for the start. If people cannot police themselves, which obviously they can't, then the race director needs to do it.
Perhaps these thoughts will cause a backlash from people who think every race is for everybody. I, too, think races can be for everyone, but, in an age when common courtesy and common sense are in short supply, race directors and promoters must do a better job of making them a fun experience for the runner interested in bettering performance and their time, not just the casual runner who pays the fee.
The one good thing that came out of todays race is that I have decided, after 28 5Ks, to never run a 5K again. I will stick to 10Ks and half marathons. At my age and speed, I will never end up in the top of my age group, but, perhaps I will not feel the frustration I felt this morning.
Congrats to all the "runners" this morning. You were all lapping the people still sitting on their sofa eating a jelly donut!
No comments:
Post a Comment