Masses not starting with elite men in NYC marathon for first time ever?

This happened to me in a marathon recently. Not at the same level as NYC (race was won in 2:18) but the so called 'elite' field of about 40 runners started a couple of minutes ahead of the mass start. I started in the mass start but passed most of the 'elite field'. I was 13th over the line but 8th fastest. I only ran 2:25 but that was competitive in this race. I passed people the whole way and didn't get passed by anyone but it resulted in me running on my own the whole way and turned it into a time trial. It was annoying especially as I didn't realize this was how it would work until I got to the start. It could have been worse though as the elite start was supposed to be 5 minutes before us but it was cut to two minutes because the start was delayed so at least I had people to chase down from early in the race.

I think they should just start a couple of hundred people with the elite fields if the mass start is going to be separate. In most marathons you could probably start people with a predicted finish time of up to 2:40 with the elites and still only have a few hundred starting together. That would account for most really serious runners and I can't see any problem with doing that.

I think they've been doing this. Women in the mass race can't beat elite women if they run a faster time than someone in the elite field. So they're making a distinction for the men too & saying that the only people eligible for prize money are the men in the elite field. I'm fine with that.

If I were a race director I would 1) have somewhat loose standards for the elite field (maybe 2:25 for men & 2:50 for women, won't be able to make everyone happy but would give sub elites a shot at having themselves a day) & 2) pay out prize money if someone did run faster from the mass race even though conditions/pacing/tactics/pack running wouldn't be the same.

I think this is really about men being mad they can't start with the elite men. It's fine. You're either fast enough to be in the pro field or in the sub-elite start or you go off with the masses. You can still run great in the mass race & maybe move to the sub-elite start the next time around.

The NYC Marathon should absolutely not have the NYPD & FD lead out the mass race. I know it's a photo op but it's not right to put them there when wave 1 corral 1 runners are sub-3 types. Let them start a wave later in the race. It'll still get some tv coverage.

Citizen Runner wrote:

I bring a candle wrote:

Good point.

How slow is the slowest wheelchair person?

Just speculating based on experience, but wheelchairs tend to be slowish on uphills and very much faster than runners on downhills. As such there's a good chance chairs would be overtaken by the elite women's group on climbs and could pose a potential safety hazard re-passing on downhills.

I don't know how big a deal this might be for a staggered start like NYCM, but it's why there is a staggered start.

There is an upper and lower bridge though. Athletes are separated this way. Why not put the women on top and the wheelchairs on the lower level (or vice versa)?

Yeah, my dad has done the fireman start through a connection a few time. He’s instructed to lock arms for a few moments to hold the crowd back. It’s more of an illusion of a mass start than an actual one.

They don’t even run the same course. When I did it the elite started at the top the bridge some of the non elite on the bottom part of the bridge. It’s quite a difference in height.

Go Pro the whole race and post it on youtube to shatter the mystique of their event. It is revenge for this egregious stratification of the runners. We might not beat ALL the elites, but I at least wanna take my shot at Bekele.