Runner knew marathon leaders were running off course, doesn't stop them: "I’m not going to shout. It’s not my job.’’

In fact I can remember two races I was on either side of this.

I lost a 5k from a wrong turn no one corrected. I never expected someone to divert his own time 15+ seconds to chase me.

I left a group of overly ambitious starters on an incorrect line because I could not logistically corral them. I doubt any would have beat me, regardless.

Guys, 20-seconds is A LOT on a road. He could probably barely see them when they went off course.

UCI Boob Inspector wrote:

iamcomfused wrote:

20 seconds back is too far to yell. His comment was distasteful and makes him sound like a d-bag but there’s nothing he could have done.

He should have said, “I definitely feel bad for them. I was about 20 seconds back and there wasn’t much I could do as by the time I got to the turn they were gone.”

It's called taking quotes out of context. ........

This. Reporters get quotes wrong all the time... and they often take quotes out of context, either due to space limitations or to make the quote seem more sensational. I'd guess that this happened here.

If you read the articles, organizers said the course was well marked and there were volunteers at the turn. Those volunteers should have been yelling and waving at those runners. That's the major reason why they are there: to keep runners from going straight at the turn.

I would not yell at the lead runners. They're following the lead bike. The volunteers at the turn didn't say anything. Why would they listen to me?

Now, if I were on their shoulders and this happened, I would have said, "Wrong way" and turned. They still probably wouldn't follow me if the bike kept going straight.

20 seconds back at that pace is a considerable distance. Not sure shouting would even have been effective.

colder and wiser wrote:

At 2:15 marathon pace (5:08/mile), 20 seconds is 104.5 meters. At that distance, yelling isn't going to do any good.

I edged out a guy in a race last weekend who missed a turn 400m from the finish line. Fortunately I was pretty close to him when he missed the turn so I could yell and get him back in the race. But if he had been 100m ahead of me, he would have never heard me, and he would have added enough distance at that point that he would have finished 100m behind me.

Congrats. You did the right thing.

For those of you who think he wouldn't have been heard, you are wrong. Hasn't your coach ever yelled 200m splits to you across the track?

But I don't care if he would have been heard or not. I'm talking about what should have been done. If the quote is accurate, he knew it was a wrong turn and purposely didn't do anything about it.

The gofundme description says it was 30k in.

I remember this happening in a Chinese marathon - Shanghai or something a few years back. But it was more the lead motorcycle was going to park off to the side and the runners followed and thought they finished. Meanwhile 3rd placer made a left turn like they were supposed to and won.

From another article:

>After review, both Saolo and Kibet were rewarded with $2,000 each even with the disqualification.

https://www.kwqc.com/2021/09/29/qc-marathon-race-director-its-not-first-time-it-wont-be-last-time-marathons/

I agree that's the right decision. Ensuring people know the course unless its a ultra in the forest should be on the race director.

The 1/2 and full use the same course but they go in different directions several times. These two runners went straight at one of the points when they were supposed to have turned. It is clear to me but I wasn't the one who was exhausted when going straight following the lead vehicle with English as a 2nd language. The volunteers stand there directing people but there are people in both races headed past them. They just point and yell and expect runners to listen. If they don't understand English, they would likely go straight at many of the turns. There was a lead car and motorcycles. I heard that the car couldn't go under a low banner with the race clock but I don't know what happened to the motorcycles. I assumed one would guide 1/2 and the other would take the full. The mistake happened 1 hour prior to the finish. I would have given both guys the win and taken it out of my salary. It would have been a good news story instead of a negative national story.

Am I the only one thinking that Tyler Perry is one of the douches posting here?

rojo wrote:

I can't believe this.

Not only did the Kenyans not win. They were DQd. They were in tears afterwards as I imagine the$3500 and $2000 that went to second was money they REALLY needed.

I've purposely left names out of this as I don't want it following him forever but this really upsets me. Both modern day college administrators - with all of the conference realignments - and modern-day society has just taught young kids - take what you can, life is a money grab.

I would feel zero joy knowing that I 'beat' two guys who were clearly better than me. And I think a college coach particularly needs to realize that as he is teaching the next generation of adults.

I too have been taught the lesson that life is a money grab, but certainly not by college admission and assistant XC coaches. More so by the oil and gas industry, Wall Street, used car salesmen, the head of my company, the military industrial complex, Google, Amazon, Apple, Comcast and on and on. Not to mention NIKE. Oh, the Christian industrial complex too. And all the racist trolling left up to generate engagement on letsrun.com. Yeah, college tuition is pretty disgusting too. But this is capitalism. It kills love. It kills the desire to improve the world or be a good person, unless that somehow benefits your bottom line. It kills being human.

If you really think Jon Gault deserves a wife and family, make him a millionaire like yourself. I'm sure he won't have any problem then.

rojo wrote:

The gofundme description says it was 30k in.

They should be thanking that guy for not yelling at them ffs.

If you are someone racing for the win, it is definitely on you to know the course. This happens so often in trail races where people make wrong turns, but regardless of where the person in front of you is going, you need to pay attention to the course markings. So while it would have been nice for the winner to correct the two leaders, it is still their own fault for going off course. Gotta pay attention especially when you need the money. Dont care if they were led off course by someone. Im sure it was not marked that way.

I’m pretty sure when each runner registered they checked the individual box!!

I got off course in a half marathon once. No one said anything. It stung. I was on PR pace and had to DQ myself. Since then, I'm obsessive about memorizing courses, so much that I'll even drive the tough ones the night before and film it with a dash cam. I haven't gone off course since.

Despite that, just this weekend I was in a local 10K, so no money involved. Just after the start I was at the back of the lead pack. The cops at the first intersection sent the two leaders off course while the lead bike had stopped for some reason. Having run the course before, me and three or four others guys yelled, "Hey! Wrong turn! Course is over here!" They caught up to us and took the lead again. I finished third, behind both of them. I would have been first if we didn't say anything. I'm proud of my 3rd. I wouldn't have been proud of the win, if I hadn't said anything.

The Kenyans should have known the course, although its especially tough when the lead vehicle takes you off course. The winner was in no way obligated to tell them they were off course if he knew the course and they didn't, but I think he should have said something. That would have been more "fair." But sometimes life isn't fair. The winner rightfully, won, but it's a win I wouldn't want. I'd have been more happy with 3rd.

I don't agree with the initial post. It's not the other runners on the courses job to tell the leaders where to go, especially if he was 20 seconds back. That's about 100 meters, even if he yelled at them they probably wouldn't have heard him. Also just because maybe they might need that money more, doesn't mean it's still not a competition.

The “winner” sounds like a real crappy person. Probably posts here and loves Salazar.

I wish there was a downvote button so I could downvote utterly ridiculous and unnecessarily indignant posts like these.

I just donated to the Go Fund Me. C'mon Let's Run. Help these guys out.

poster xyz wrote:

The “winner” sounds like a real crappy person. Probably posts here and loves Salazar.

You just got the words out of my mouth. Dude is a doushe for celebrating.