times change wrote:
Star wrote:
One of the worst posts in Letsrun history.
what is the benefit of having actual tape there? does it make the victory more dramatic? or the win more important?
Why isn't there finishing tape at the olympics? why doesn't every race have finishing tape?
In the video you can tell kejelcha slowed the tiniest bit at the finish. He was trying to break a world record and he knew it was really close, he wouldn't consciously slow down. It was clearly subconscious because there was a massive thing of tape right at the finish and he wasn't expecting that.
I’m not sure if tape is the reason for a slow down. If you observe races without a tape, many slow down (without intending to) before the finish. Sometimes it’s just the visual you have as you approach the true finish. Poles, flags, judges, FAT equipment, tables, tape or no tape, etc might all have an affect on ones perceived finish line. Racers have even slowed down right before the finish line at the Olympic trails finals.
Seeing this in races, It scared me. I tried to make sure I ran 2 steps beyond what I thought was the finish line. I did this at a race a particular where I was later able to watch video. I was certain I was running through and past the finish. When I saw the video, I actually took the foot off the gas at or a even a foot before the finish .