Train stopped me and other BQ seekers for 6+ min at Via Marathon today

JustSomeGuyWhoRuns wrote:

Yeah, my official time was mid-3:06. And my running time was just barely sub-3. I came in 20th. So it affected plenty of people at the top of the heap. There was a half marathon that started half-way through the marathon course and a 4 or 5 leg marathon relay that all started at the same time as the marathon. So I suspect that most of the "20 people who made it before the train came" were not marathoners but half-marathon'ers and relay'ers. The marathon winner won by about 20 minutes which is an impressive accomplishment.

The half started after the train crossing, in Bethlehem.

I merged the two threads into 1.

Yeah, I had a heel-of-hand-to-forehead moment on that moments after I pushed 'post'. You're right. So it was a mix of marathon'ers and marathon relay'ers that were affected. And it looks as though about ten-ish of each made it through.

Rojo,

Did you major in journalism? Be consistent.

I was taught early on that if you spell out one number, you have to spell out the second, and any subsequent numbers. If you use the actual number the first time, use it the same way the next time want to mention a number

Either "I have merged the two threads into one"

OR "I have merged the 2 threads into 1"

Other than that, keep up the great work.

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.

Your write.

RvaRunner wrote:

Rojo,

Did you major in journalism?

Actually did chuckle out loud at that one.

Legitimate LOL.

Oh Snap! wrote:

I won my age group and I damn well better not be passed up by somebody "supposedly" got behind the train. Not my fault I didn't get stopped by it.

These people expect to get their time back. Hell, I could have gone faster too if I took an 8 minute break.

There's going to be a $shit-storm if I don't get 1st.

Will the real age group winner please stand up? Check my fly by dude... I got stopped for 8 minutes basically on the nose which means I would have been around 3:51:40 (3rd overall). Keep your "title", I couldn't care less about that. All I (and most everyone affected) want is a fair time that gets me into Boston and right now at 2:59 it's pretty close.

Honary Age Group Winner wrote:

Oh Snap! wrote:

I won my age group and I damn well better not be passed up by somebody "supposedly" got behind the train. Not my fault I didn't get stopped by it.

These people expect to get their time back. Hell, I could have gone faster too if I took an 8 minute break.

There's going to be a $shit-storm if I don't get 1st.

Will the real age group winner please stand up? Check my fly by dude... I got stopped for 8 minutes basically on the nose which means I would have been around 3:51:40 (3rd overall). Keep your "title", I couldn't care less about that. All I (and most everyone affected) want is a fair time that gets me into Boston and right now at 2:59 it's pretty close.

Ugh... *2:51:40... and the link...

I don't understand the Mike Rossi remarks, who achieved a respectable BQ-14.

He would have laughed about such a short train stop - he had that much time to spare!

Yeah, and you got a rest break. So, I'm adding a few minutes back onto your fake time.

2:55:34 for you. Complain just once and I'll add another minute more.

never invest weeks/months of training for a marathon that has this type of issue. just terrible.find a course with no problems and good weather

Photo booth operator wrote:

I just saw some runners posting that a freight train ran through the middle of the infamous Lehigh Valley marathon course delaying a lot of them. If this is true does anyone know if time adjustments can be made or ever have been made in the past? Also, does blame fall on the RD for not checking schedules?

Xanax wrote:

WhitePony wrote:

No, just a runner that knows where my running fits in importance in the grand scheme of life.

Who are you to tell other people how important their running should be to them?

I am telling them how important it is in life in general, not an individuals life.

I was only stopped for about a minute because I wasn't quite as quick as the OP, but this was definitely an absolute cluster.

Of course, I wish I could blame the rest of my terrible race on the train.

It's probably been stated, but this is karma for that race for not dq'ing Rossi. Just another event in the bizarre legacy that since unfolded.

And whoever called out dxcoach - you are correct. He has zero credibility despite being able to wax poetic about race logistics. He chimes in on every marathon course or cheating thread, yet did not have the sense to DQ Kip Litton for his "2:49" in 2009 at his VCM race. The evidence was overwhelming. Do the sport a favor and delete his result so he cannot claim your race as his PR. Its not too late.

Hearing they will be accepting Yasso 800 workout times to support timing adjustments.

I stopped my watch at the train stop, just assuming we would get our times adjusted. So, my watch has my actual race time which is 2:45 faster than the 'official' time. So, I have the evidence.

runnerde wrote:

I stopped my watch at the train stop, just assuming we would get our times adjusted. So, my watch has my actual race time which is 2:45 faster than the 'official' time. So, I have the evidence.

That's not evidence at all. You could have stopped your watch at any point.

Unless there is photographic proof of you stopped at the train for 2:45 than the marathon isn't going to do squat. The burden of proof is upon you to provide evidence, real evidence, that your finish time is inaccurate. Additionally, the race isn't going to give anyone the full time they were delayed. As it constitutes a rest break, the train stop actually did provide some benefit to your race. Those will real evidence are likely to get 50-60% of the time spend waiting for the train subtracted from their time. That's the only way to be fair to those that didn't get the train crossing rest break mid-race.

Oh, it will be adjusted.