fossa wrote:
I ran the Portland half on Sunday. The bathroom line was ridiculously long and I wasn't able to start doing strides until 9 minutes before. I was on my second stride (200m from start) when they announced the half would start in 30 seconds. I figured it was a mistake, but jogged over anyway. The race indeed started and it took me 40 seconds to get to the line, behind 10 rows of people. With the half going off 8 minutes early, I not only had to pass the 10 rows of people ahead of me but ran into the back of pack marathoners very quickly. The first mile was chaos, weaving in and out of hundreds of people and having to run on the sidewalk to get around people. I ran the first mile in 5:30, and the winner passed me there, we were still probably around 30th place at that point. It was fine after that, but I couldnt tell who was actually ahead of me given some people started on time, and my legs didnt feel great not getting to finish my warm up routine and starting so suddenly.
At mile 12, we ran back into the marathoners and I had to weave through people again. Inexcusable for a race this size, easily the worst organized event I've done.
This tracks for what I’ve been hearing back in Seattle. That it was trash and chaotic disorganization. Will never understand what makes someone think starting a race early in a last minute hasty decision is a good idea. Terrible.
