timbot the great wrote:
Where is this race located exactly? Is close enough that the RD could be in the running for Philly's Biggest Loser in 2016?
Rossiland.
timbot the great wrote:
Where is this race located exactly? Is close enough that the RD could be in the running for Philly's Biggest Loser in 2016?
Rossiland.
somebloke wrote:
timbot the great wrote:Where is this race located exactly? Is close enough that the RD could be in the running for Philly's Biggest Loser in 2016?
Rossiland.
Population: 1
Leeza Gibbons wrote:
Editor's note: The post below is a spoof. They are making fun of the fact that the race directors for the marathon refused to DQ marathon cheat Mike Rossi from the race a few years back even though he cut the course.
Email from the RD this morning:
After a thorough review of the available evidence in relation to a train's participation in the 2016 Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon, the Marathon committee concluded that while there is data from participants indicating that a train may have impeded them, there is not conclusive evidence that their times in the 2016 LVHN Via Marathon are inaccurate. The LVHN Via Marathon has reviewed more than 2000 race photos from our licensed photo checkpoints and midrace data from 6 on course timing mats all of which show no data from a train's timing chip. Therefore the LVHN Via Marathon Committee concluded that a train did not cross the marathon course unless additional conclusive information arises in the future.
Bonus points to the author for drawing a moderator edit. Well done!
timbot the great wrote:
Where is this race located exactly? Is close enough that the RD could be in the running for Philly's Biggest Loser in 2016?
I believe so. Maybe Mike, Barb, Gerry, and Cindy could all be given a very special award together.
The Strava flyby is hillarious. It shows that the train stopped people from 7:59:33 to 8:07:26. You can also see that Ryan Kenny, Richie Gebauer, and Jeff Webb jumped the train. One guy even named his run "Hopped My First Moving Train." These guys should be DQ'ed for being idiots.
srp2b wrote:
The Strava flyby is hillarious. It shows that the train stopped people from 7:59:33 to 8:07:26. You can also see that Ryan Kenny, Richie Gebauer, and Jeff Webb jumped the train. One guy even named his run "Hopped My First Moving Train." These guys should be DQ'ed for being idiots.
Those guys could actually face criminal charges. And they should, in my opinion. DQ'ed from the results and prosecuted by the local authorities.
Someone save the data before they delete it.
timbot the great wrote:
srp2b wrote:The Strava flyby is hillarious. It shows that the train stopped people from 7:59:33 to 8:07:26. You can also see that Ryan Kenny, Richie Gebauer, and Jeff Webb jumped the train. One guy even named his run "Hopped My First Moving Train." These guys should be DQ'ed for being idiots.
Those guys could actually face criminal charges. And they should, in my opinion. DQ'ed from the results and prosecuted by the local authorities.
Someone save the data before they delete it.
Yes. Barb has shown such a propensity to DQ athletes who have obviously cheated.
timbot the great wrote:
Those guys could actually face criminal charges. And they should, in my opinion. DQ'ed from the results and prosecuted by the local authorities.
Someone save the data before they delete it.
No, they couldn't. It's not actually "criminal", it's likely just a breach of a bylaw or act which would attract a fine. It would be no different than a jaywalking ticket - not an actual criminal offence - just very stupid and very dangerous and probably about a $200 fine.
Could they be charged with tresspassing? Would be another fitting connection back to Philly's #1 Criminal Tresspasser of the Year.
Kmiller wrote:
Most of the front of the field of the Via Marathon, including me, was stopped for 6 min today behind a moving train today. I ended up missing a BQ by only a few minutes, is there any precedent for correcting a time from something like that, or am I SOL? I have GPS evidence of being stopped for 6 min.
Maybe you should have trained a little harder.
Just got a new email from Via. Basically - there's not going to be any change in official times.
On Sunday, September 11, 2016, Via Events, Inc. held its tenth annual marathon. The annual marathon is our largest fundraiser. The funds raised are vital for children and adults with disabilities. Your participation in the marathon results in children receiving therapy, adults finding and keeping jobs, and individuals participating in the Lehigh Valley community through recreational and volunteer activities. Our mission is to help the people we serve reach their full potential, and the Via Marathon plays an important role in doing so.
Some of our runners have been affected by an incident that occurred during the race involving a Norfolk Southern train crossing. Via relies on the coordinated efforts of many to ensure the safety and integrity of our race. In preparation for the marathon, Via met with Norfolk Southern Railroad officials, where race logistics, runner safety, and public safety on the course were discussed in great detail. On June 23, 2016, Via staff provided Norfolk Southern with documentation that included race date, time, and logistics information related to all rail crossings on the course. We were given assurances from Norfolk Southern that rail traffic would not obstruct the race. The safety of our runners is our primary concern. For those runners affected, we offer our apologies.
Because the Via Marathon is a Boston qualifying marathon, Via Marathon race officials have been in close contact with the Boston Athletic Association (the “B.A.A.â€) since the race. Based on the information provided by us to the B.A.A., much of which was provided by our runners, the B.A.A. has made the following determination:
“Unfortunately, after reviewing the information received from the 2016 Via Marathon, the B.A.A. is unable to accept adjusted finish times from -- or make adjustments to -- the 2016 Via Marathon. Official times must be kept intact and based on the course which each participant ran. The B.A.A. must stand firm in its Boston Marathon qualifier requirements which include accepting only adjudicated results. The B.A.A. will, however, accept adjudicated results from the 2016 Via Marathon which are official and have not been adjusted.â€
We appreciate the B.A.A.’s willingness to review this matter, and for those runners attempting to qualify for the Boston marathon, we understand your frustration.
We greatly appreciate your continued participation and support in this important fundraiser for Via. We regret any inconvenience, and we hope you will join us again next year.
Sincerely,
Gerry Yasso, Vice President of Development, Via Events, Inc.
Barbara McKeever, Via Marathon Race Director
Via Events, Inc.
336 W. Spruce Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
JustSomeGuyWhoRuns wrote:
Just got a new email from Via. Basically - there's not going to be any change in official times.
On Sunday, September 11, 2016, Via Events, Inc. held its tenth annual marathon. The annual marathon is our largest fundraiser. The funds raised are vital for children and adults with disabilities. Your participation in the marathon results in children receiving therapy, adults finding and keeping jobs, and individuals participating in the Lehigh Valley community through recreational and volunteer activities. Our mission is to help the people we serve reach their full potential, and the Via Marathon plays an important role in doing so.
Some of our runners have been affected by an incident that occurred during the race involving a Norfolk Southern train crossing. Via relies on the coordinated efforts of many to ensure the safety and integrity of our race. In preparation for the marathon, Via met with Norfolk Southern Railroad officials, where race logistics, runner safety, and public safety on the course were discussed in great detail. On June 23, 2016, Via staff provided Norfolk Southern with documentation that included race date, time, and logistics information related to all rail crossings on the course. We were given assurances from Norfolk Southern that rail traffic would not obstruct the race. The safety of our runners is our primary concern. For those runners affected, we offer our apologies.
Because the Via Marathon is a Boston qualifying marathon, Via Marathon race officials have been in close contact with the Boston Athletic Association (the “B.A.A.â€) since the race. Based on the information provided by us to the B.A.A., much of which was provided by our runners, the B.A.A. has made the following determination:
“Unfortunately, after reviewing the information received from the 2016 Via Marathon, the B.A.A. is unable to accept adjusted finish times from -- or make adjustments to -- the 2016 Via Marathon. Official times must be kept intact and based on the course which each participant ran. The B.A.A. must stand firm in its Boston Marathon qualifier requirements which include accepting only adjudicated results. The B.A.A. will, however, accept adjudicated results from the 2016 Via Marathon which are official and have not been adjusted.â€
We appreciate the B.A.A.’s willingness to review this matter, and for those runners attempting to qualify for the Boston marathon, we understand your frustration.
We greatly appreciate your continued participation and support in this important fundraiser for Via. We regret any inconvenience, and we hope you will join us again next year.
Sincerely,
Gerry Yasso, Vice President of Development, Via Events, Inc.
Barbara McKeever, Via Marathon Race Director
Via Events, Inc.
336 W. Spruce Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
events@vianet.org
One of the earlier posters called it... Note how they say upfront how much our race entry fees mean to them for helping children and workers... Definitely not giving refunds either. Looks like I'll be hunting down another marathon for next year...
Seems as though the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon knows a train could come through their course and has timing mats to deduct time if it does. I know Via is a small race for charity but it would have been nice if they thought of that too. But since this is the first year with timing mats, not actually expected that they think of that too.
Question #15 covers the train track:
http://www.mohawkhudsonmarathon.com/FAQS.html
It says the race directors notify the railroad officials but train traffic does not stop since the railroads doesn't give AF. That may have happened at Lehigh too. I know people like hating on this RD but it may not be all the RD's fault.
The blogger of Namethatbostonmarathoncutoff also wrote about the train stoppage in her blog post about MHRM.
http://www.namethatbostonmarathoncutoff.com/2016/08/2015-mohawk-hudson-river-marathon.html
Frinlay wrote:
There will not be a refund. LVM is very upfront that their main goal in holding the marathon is to raise money for the hospital. Why do you think they charge $170 to run on a sidewalk and unpaved trail for much of the race? They bill it as a fast BQ-friendly course just to lure more people since it is held the last weekend possible to qualify. And the suckers keep coming back!
The train thing is going to be ignored for a while, eventually a non-apology apology will go out and they will announce no refunds due to logistics of this and that while at the same time tooting their horn a bit more about the money they raise for charity hoping to shame anyone that still wants a refund.
If anyone needs me I'll be out back gloating about this for awhile.
I was a victim when the Green Bay Marathon laid out the course incorrectly a few years back, making it 1/10 mile longer or something like that. As I recall they adjusted everyone's time and that became official for a BQ. I guess the difference is that everyone was equally impacted by the course being longer, whereas not everyone was impacted by the train?
F.O.T. wrote:Sad thing is though that Boston has said they cannot accept altered times due to the train stoppage already. The rest break factor. If you BQed in the original results, you're good, but they will not even look at adjusted times.
Too much of a slippery slope in which RDs all over the country will be finding any excuse to doctor times in order to sell themselves as "BQ races". Heck, wouldn't surprise me if a savy RD scheduled a train crossing in a race next year in order to doctor everyone's time to a BQ. That's why the BAA is taking such a tough stance now.
Letsrun.com, Where Your Trolling Comes True.
Innocent Victim wrote:
I was a victim when the Green Bay Marathon laid out the course incorrectly a few years back, making it 1/10 mile longer or something like that. As I recall they adjusted everyone's time and that became official for a BQ. I guess the difference is that everyone was equally impacted by the course being longer, whereas not everyone was impacted by the train?
In that case, the runners ran 26.2 miles in a certain time so if BAA believed the adjustment was legit, they'd take it.
At Via, even if you could calculate exactly how long each person was stopped, which unlike Mohawk you can't, it's not the same as running 26.2 miles continuously. I'm surprised BAA accepts train-interrupted Mohawk times.
If I were BAA, I'd look at it like if there was a heat wave or a hurricane during the race. Stuff happens and if it ruins your BQ, that's the way it goes.
As posted before, the Tour de France was interrupted by a train. That's a different deal because the front of the peloton can just wait for the rest.
Let's face it, if you have to sign up for a last minute BS marathon with a BS course like this Lehigh Valley affair then you don't deserve any breaks.
Qualify like an adult and you don't have these issues.
Calories wrote:
Doesn't anyone here watch Breaking Bad? Since 9/11, trains don't publish 'schedules.' What's more, they intentionally vary their routes/times so one cannot be deduced.
Seems very convenient for the travelers.
And what has a train to do with 9/11? Are planes as well hiding their schedules?
rennurz wrote:
Calories wrote:Doesn't anyone here watch Breaking Bad? Since 9/11, trains don't publish 'schedules.' What's more, they intentionally vary their routes/times so one cannot be deduced.
Seems very convenient for the travelers.
And what has a train to do with 9/11? Are planes as well hiding their schedules?
Most trains are not passenger trains.