Rant - NYCM puts ~300 hobby joggers at the front of the race

People who are saying it's a cool tradition, or that the NYPD/FD deserve some special treatment - do you think those first responders are actually having a good time as thousands or faster runners blow by them in the first few miles? Safety issues aside, I imagine that would be fking depressing. And the NYPD doesn't strike me as the most humble bunch.

If you are a fast runner and pay to enter the NYCM with the expectation of running fast, why is complaining about the fact that they screwed that up a problem??

This is a matter of paying for a service and not receiving what is advertised. Just because NYCM colored their error with good intentions doesn't change it.

If you ordered a large pizza but then received a small,but Dominoes said "yeah but we gave your large pizza to an orphanage." it doesn't cut it. 230 marathoners paid to run a race with expectations that there were corrals and the actions of NYCM totally changed that.

Hey man, sub-elite lives matter.

Yes,S.E.L.M.

Trolling for dollars... wrote:

Hey man, sub-elite lives matter.

sub-elite don't start behind the FDNY / NYPD. Local competitive start behind them.

6I wrote:

[quote]forthekeeeuds wrote:

If it was NYPD and NYFD, then stfu!

The NYRR threw the police and fire a bone, so what?

What he said. If you are so great then earn a spot in front of them or stfu !

crete wrote:

Honestly, I have no clue why anyone runs these stupid races.

Local competitive start BELOW them.

If I ever get into competitive running again the only big city marathon I will ever run is Boston, and even that I'll probably only enter once. NYC and Chicago don't interest me at all because of the large crowds and logistical nightmares those races have.

Groucher wrote:

You are upset that they put First Responders, NYPD, and NYFD runners in front of you in a race (in their own city) that covers 26.2 miles? You must be some entitled millennial.

With that mentality, why aren't you upset that they had to line up behind the elites? These are noble people so why should they have to be behind people who are just professional runners?

jjjjj wrote:

it's ludicrous to do this, because it is a race. you have corrals divided by time for a reason. If you want to reward NYPD and NYFD, no problem, give them a guaranteed free entry and transportation to the race, etc. Just don't impede the race.

+1

sc runner wrote:

If I ever get into competitive running again the only big city marathon I will ever run is Boston, and even that I'll probably only enter once. NYC and Chicago don't interest me at all because of the large crowds and logistical nightmares those races have.

Really? I found Chicago to be super easy, and the pre-race area is way more spacious and closer to the corrals.

Well for starters, there are usually a decent bunch of FD/PD guys in the sub 3 hour range. So they're not exactly getting blown away by thousands of people.

Secondly, as I pointed out, passing through the group at 5:40 pace was no problem, hardly a safety issue.

I'm not saying that FD or PD deserve special treatment, although, if the NYRR wants to give it to them that is there prerogative, I'm just saying the "issue" that's being complained about here, really wasn't one for me.

amkelley wrote:

I don't understand why any runner who is serious about time but not a true elite would want to run a zoo like NYC. There are a semi-infinite number of small to medium sized marathons that are well organized and have a strong enough field to provide competition for almost any non-pro, but don't have the horrible logistical problems of NYC. And cost a whole lot less to enter and run.

NYC, Boston, and Chicago are just about the only races where a serious but not professional runner can be guaranteed to have someone to run with. Drafting off of a decent pack is worth roughly 5 seconds/mile at sub-six pace, and more if it's windy. There's also a psychological advantage to following other runners. It's a far easier way to run a PR.

angryjohnny wrote:

ekw wrote:

Da Fuq you talkin' bout?

Other than the trials, I'm not aware of another marathon with higher qualifying standards than NYC. Guaranteed entry for NYC was 2:55 for my age group, which is faster than Boston (3:10) and Chicago (3:15). That may not mean anything to the typical Letsrun poster who can train through a 2:15 but for me it was a significant accomplishment just to qualify for NYC.

Berlin is 2:45, Fukuoka is 2:35 and Lake Biwa is 2:30.

800 dude wrote:

angryjohnny wrote:

Other than the trials, I'm not aware of another marathon with higher qualifying standards than NYC. Guaranteed entry for NYC was 2:55 for my age group, which is faster than Boston (3:10) and Chicago (3:15). That may not mean anything to the typical Letsrun poster who can train through a 2:15 but for me it was a significant accomplishment just to qualify for NYC.

Berlin is 2:45, Fukuoka is 2:35 and Lake Biwa is 2:30.

You must have missed the part where "angryjohnny" wrote in the US. Idiot.

I've run the NYCM three times. I agree that it's one to run just to enjoy the crowds and spectacle of it all. It's a pretty freaking amazing event. But if you are running to hit a certain self-imposed time standard, there are many other, better options to choose from.

d3 wrote:

Well for starters, there are usually a decent bunch of FD/PD guys in the sub 3 hour range. So they're not exactly getting blown away by thousands of people.

Secondly, as I pointed out, passing through the group at 5:40 pace was no problem, hardly a safety issue.

I'm not saying that FD or PD deserve special treatment, although, if the NYRR wants to give it to them that is there prerogative, I'm just saying the "issue" that's being complained about here, really wasn't one for me.

For me, it wasn't just the fact that I was running zig-zags for the first 2 miles, it was also the fact that I was held for over a minute at the start. As I and others have stated, a big incentive to running NYC is having other people to race. Starting 90 seconds behind the local comp and sub-elite corrals basically ensured that I was running a totally different race than most of the people I was hoping to compete with. Of course it's the NYRR's prerogative to do whatever they want. They could make the blue corrals swim to Brooklyn instead of taking the bridge, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

What time did you run/were you shooting for?

I ran 2:33 and had a pack to run with nearly the whole way.

Nor jamin wrote:

This is one reason why I started doing masters track races during the spring and summer. No crowds, small fees, good competition and always accurate course! My dollar limit is $25 for 5k when I want a road 5k and I don't expect much so if it's accurate and has some competition then that's gravy.

^^^This. The track is where it's at for true competition. XC is a close 2nd. Hobby joggers avoid these type of races for fear of being "exposed."