I'm not being elitist, but I HAVE slow runners.

Uh huh. And where are you keeping this "slow runners", sicko?

The 'V' and the 'T' aren't even anywhere near each other on they keyboard... How did you manage this?

Release the slow runners they are people too.

dumbass

This is not what I expected when I clicked the thread...

1) Let your slow runners go.

2) They already do. They may be more lenient than you prefer, but come through 5K in an hour and I don't think you will find a finish line still up.

I know lots of guys over 80 and a few over 90 that still like to run road races.

http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Hibiscus%20Half%20Marathon/Overall-08.htm

You want us to take their money and sweep them off the course when they don't meet your threshhold of 3 hours?

What experience do you have as a Race Director?

Roughly 2/3 adults are overweight. Youth: about 1/3 are overweight. So I have no problem with slow people getting off the couch to run a race if it helps them with weight/balance in their lives.

annoyed wrote:

I'm fed up of mediocrity being celebrated!

Uh huh? And how fast are you mister? I'm guessing you're not a pro. In which case, you are also mediocre. You're just a different degree of mediocre. Why do we even have fun runs at all? Even the 15:30 winners of the local 5k would get lapped at a pro race. Why do we celebrate their mediocrity?

dear lord wrote:

The 'V' and the 'T' aren't even anywhere near each other on they keyboard... How did you manage this?

Assuming he uses qwerty, there are only 4 letters that are clearly closer to "T" than "V". The "H" key stands alone for 5th closest key. "V" is tied for 6th closest with 3 other keys. Of the top 10 closest keys to "T", only "R" and "V" can be inserted into ha_e to make a word.

And hey, maybe he uses Dvorak. Then "T" and "V" would be even closer. Certainly worse errors have been made.

Unholy Cumulus wrote:

dear lord wrote:

The 'V' and the 'T' aren't even anywhere near each other on they keyboard... How did you manage this?

Assuming he uses qwerty, there are only 4 letters that are clearly closer to "T" than "V". The "H" key stands alone for 5th closest key. "V" is tied for 6th closest with 3 other keys. Of the top 10 closest keys to "T", only "R" and "V" can be inserted into ha_e to make a word.

And hey, maybe he uses Dvorak. Then "T" and "V" would be even closer. Certainly worse errors have been made.

So you guys thought he meant "hate"? That's good. I thought he just left out an "l" and meant to say "I HALVE slow runners," as in, "I cut them in two." That would have been messed up.

Or maybe he left out an "S" and meant to say "I shave slow runners." Might be a fetish of his.

Or it could be an ego trip: I HARE slow runners, ergo he claims he runs by them like a hare.

Maybe he just meant "I SAVE slow runners". Which means he actually likes slow runners...hey, they're the ones that make him look fast anyway when he runs his 18:00 minute 5k.

Everyones sense of mediocrity is different. A 3 hour or 5 half marathon for a post cardiac patient, an overweight, under appreciated wife, a non athletic senior or any one who is willing to improve his or her station in life is not demonstrating mediocrity, but bravery and should damn well be celebrated. What else would you celebrate, but not someone else's positive achievements and determination. The thoughts that you posses and are willing to share with this online community seem to me mediocre at best, mean spirited none the less. Even you hopefully have tricks that will and should be celebrated. If they are by your standards, that wouldn't be in running. EVER!!!

annoyed wrote:

Isn't it about time that race organisers set a maximum finish time for all races? It might improve standards, rather than people think they've 'achieved' something by shuffling a half marathon in 3 hours. If you don't make the cut, tough, try and improve for next time. I'm fed up of mediocrity being celebrated!

Dear Annoyed,

I can so relate to your post because I to have slow runners. I keep them in my basement. Sometimes I take one out, give them a 5 minutes head start to run away but I always run them down and retrieve them.

I don't let them go because I too am concerned about mediocrity and what their slow times are doing to my sport.

Hang in there fella. I'm with ya! Keep them outta of the races.

annoyed wrote:

Isn't it about time that race organisers set a maximum finish time for all races? It might improve standards, rather than people think they've 'achieved' something by shuffling a half marathon in 3 hours. If you don't make the cut, tough, try and improve for next time. I'm fed up of mediocrity being celebrated!

No, you certainly aren't being an elitist. An elitist would have fast runners. But what is your point?

MUCH better than I expected.

I thought he was going to talk about a very unique case of irritable bowel syndrome that he had on his long run and then proceed to brag about it.

Your mama's a slow runner.