PSA to race directors - mark your courses!

PSA to runners. Know the course.

Pssst wrote:

PSA to runners. Know the course.

Not always possible.

Pssst wrote:

PSA to runners. Know the course.

Yeah, because putting up a sign or a volunteer at turns is so hard.

Agree - mark the course, or dont put on/call it a race.

I'm retired from running and racing but still have dreams about being up front and getting lost, then trying to find my way back on course.

As for "know the course" ... ugh, that would require that someone actually make a map and stuff!

How about you learn the freaking course dumba$s loser. You should never really on volunteers who can be wrong (they are volunteers have you ever volunteered) or markers that locals can change etc.

Either do your homework or stay the f home.

Longtime RD wrote:

How about you learn the freaking course dumba$s loser. You should never really on volunteers who can be wrong (they are volunteers have you ever volunteered) or markers that locals can change etc.

Either do your homework or stay the f home.

Sure, that would be nice. even if you warmed up on the course, it's tough to have to think about where to turn when you are going all out.

i'm an RD and if the RD knows the course, he/she knows where arrows and volunteers need to be.

Study course map

Drive course.

Run course as warmup.

Race course.

Run course as cooldown.

I was leading a race following the lead vehicle (police cruiser) when they took a wrong turn. Knowing the course, I went the right way.

Running a trail race. Volunteers sent the first 5 runners the wrong way. I had headphones on so when they were yelling at me, I thought they were just cheering and waved at them as I went the correct way.

Running in 2nd place, first place guy turns two blocks early. Yelled at him and he gets back right beside me. Takes off and beats me by 20 seconds over last half mile.

Running 10k. Plan to take off after turn around 4 miles. Competitor a few seconds ahead wasn't sure which way to turn. I blew by, hammered the downhill beat him soundly.

Running trail race. Spectator parks in front of sign at crucial intersection. Go wrong way. Realize mistake 4 miles later. Sh1t happens!!

^ This ^

OP go cry in your pampers

Years back in a 15km a few Kenyans showed up. They were so far gone by the mile mark. At about the 7 mile mark, having been in the second pack the entire race, I put in a surge and I dropped the 4 guys I had been running with the entire race.

I turned the corner as the volunteer indicated. In front of me to escort me to the finish was the motorcycle cop.

I ‘won’ the 15km in a world record 39:48.

The course was incorrectly marked, the cops took the Kenyans off course (they all dropped out), a cop (or the same one) was sent back to guide us.

So many people were yelling at the RD and volunteers. I did not. In my youth I would have, but instead I just explained to him what had happened. I cooled down a few miles and got out of dodge.

A few weeks later an award showed up in the mail for first place. It went right into the trash.

Sand Dunes wrote:

Pssst wrote:

PSA to runners. Know the course.

Yeah, because putting up a sign or a volunteer at turns is so hard.

Knowing the course is something I can control. Signage and volunteer placement is not something I can control. Seems like a no brainer to do the thing that I’m in control of instead of hoping that something I’m not in control of happens.

Longtime RD wrote:

How about you learn the freaking course dumba$s loser. You should never really on volunteers who can be wrong (they are volunteers have you ever volunteered) or markers that locals can change etc.

Either do your homework or stay the f home.

you sir, are a turd.

Where did the course map appear, Moses’s tablets?

proactive wrote:

Knowing the course is something I can control. Signage and volunteer placement is not something I can control. Seems like a no brainer to do the thing that I’m in control of instead of hoping that something I’m not in control of happens.

I’ve seen many local races where there is no course map or the course map is inaccurate and/or changes on race day. I’ve run a race with no course map where the RD said, “every turn will be a right turn” and there were at least 2 left turns. It’s not hard to put a cone or a chalk line or anything that says “turn here” so why wouldn’t you do it if you’re taking people’s money?

I’ll add this to the PSA-how about send your volunteers out before you start the race? I’ve been in lead packs a couple times that hit the first fork with no markings and the volunteer shows up after everybody slows down and looks around for guidance.

These things aren’t usually bad in big races because the RD has actually done the job, but local 5k/10ks can be horrible - especially if 5k/10k courses overlap.

Yes to all of the above.

Race directors: Mark your courses! Publish an accurate course map online!

Runners: Know the course!

I've been in races where the course was changed the morning of the race. Knowing the course isn't that useful if that happens. I've also been in races where the RD ran out of volunteers to man every turn, and I got to the turn the RD was manning before he did. Knowing the course sure was useful when that happened.

I ran a race recently where the volunteers were pointing runners the wrong way, and some of the runners knew it. The course had been the same for several years, and the course map was on line. Some runners were actually arguing with the volunteers that they were directing people the wrong way, but to no avail. A few runners ignored the volunteers and ran what they knew to be the right course.

Those who went the wrong way eventually turned around and rejoined the correct course.

The results were obviously compromised, but what could they do? They gave awards based on the order of finish, even though everyone ran different distances. It was chaos.

You expect us to take advice from someone who wears headphones in a race?

I ran a 5k couple years ago that was a out and back. I was in the front and ran right past the turn around that in years prior had been marked with cones. This year was a tiny sign in some high grass of to the side. Once i realized my mistake it was about a 1/4 mile past the turn around. On my way back there was a person directing runners at turn around. It was a small race and i managed to pass a ton of people to finish 2nd.

The Little Rock Marathon “re-routed” the course a few years ago, eliminating 10 miles during a thunderstorm. The police, who get paid cash overtime in advance, just didn’t feel like standing in the rain.

Star wrote:

[quote]Preparation doesn't always come with an H wrote:

You expect us to take advice from someone who wears headphones in a race?

Don't forget jorts and a winnie the pooh head!!!!!!