Etiquette for front rows in local road race

True, but it's also a matter of energy not time alone.

If you start at the front you can have a clear way and don't get stuck behind anyone. This makes running for 3:15 km pace for example less energy demanding than running 3:15 in the back while passing people.

Also it important to note that a difference of 20 meters in the start line will quickly become a 60 meter difference when it starts to stretch.

So really you will have to run 3:10km pace in order to catch he front group and probably will have to do so in traffic so you'll be more tired than the others by the time the last mile arrives (unless you're virtually the best runner on the field).

There's nothing more annoying than seeing women with their a** twice as heavy as your total weight in the front rows tough. And running 1hour+ when you're aiming for 30-40 minutes!

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

Bob Sacamano wrote:

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

rwzh wrote:

Bob Sacamano wrote:

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

And we all believe, truly believe, that we should be given blue ribbons for just showing up.

rwzh wrote:

Bob Sacamano wrote:

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

Yep. You guys suck at raising kids.

sequoia wrote:

Is it just in Seattle that everyone is excessively modest and lines up half a foot behind the start line?

Funny, they do that here too. I direct a local half marathon, 750+ starters. I'm in the bed of my truck with the bullhorn just in front of the start line (off on the grass of course), with two 3' cones and two 12' high feather banners that say START, right on the start line, plus an orange chalk line on the ground on the start line. All the racers hang out about 5' behind the start line and I practically have to drag them up to the actual start line. As much as I like that nobody's crowding the front, it's something that always makes me wonder why.

d2xccoach wrote:

sequoia wrote:

Is it just in Seattle that everyone is excessively modest and lines up half a foot behind the start line?

Funny, they do that here too. I direct a local half marathon, 750+ starters. I'm in the bed of my truck with the bullhorn just in front of the start line (off on the grass of course), with two 3' cones and two 12' high feather banners that say START, right on the start line, plus an orange chalk line on the ground on the start line. All the racers hang out about 5' behind the start line and I practically have to drag them up to the actual start line. As much as I like that nobody's crowding the front, it's something that always makes me wonder why.

I stand back from the start line for one reason. I don't trust the timers. If you are right at the start line, you may trigger the chip time if the timer accidentally has his system live. Stand back half a foot as a precaution. It is smart.

rwzh wrote:

Bob Sacamano wrote:

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

What kind of a deranged psychopath criticises someone for asking for advice?

rwzh wrote:

Bob Sacamano wrote:

I've been racing for over a quarter century and have never had trouble figuring this out. Back when I contended for the win in local races, I lined up at the front. As I slowed with age, I moved back as appropriate with my expected pace.

Really, this isn't that hard.

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

Glad to hear you're taking responsibility for being a lousy parent. It's a start.

rwzh wrote:

You forget...we've raised an entire generation that has zero ability to think for themselves. They have to be guided every step of their entire lives.

That is not the generation that I see in my kids and their friends, or at the university where I teach, or at the races I go to.

After 40 years of starting lines, the behavior in the first couple rows seems the same to me as always. 85% being there. The top women are right up there, as they should be. There are a few guys who are in the wrong place but don't know it. There are a few guys in the wrong place because they are too douchey to line up where they belong. And there are 8-10 kids who are going to go out in 65 and die.

Nothing changes.

One problem that invariably occurs in 5k races is some moronic parent lining up in the front row with his or her two sub-10-year-old children who have never previously run a 5k. Often I'll overhear the parent tell the kids to make room for the faster runners, but (1) the kids obviously have no idea who will be the faster runners, and (2) they're still blocking space in the front row from the serious runners.

Am I overreacting here and being too serious about my place in a typical charity 5k? Or is there something one could/should do about this, such as telling the parent "unless your 8 year-old plans on running a sub-17-minute 5k, please have him line up toward the back?"

I try and get in the front row so I can have a clear path to crab-walk the 1st hundred meters of every road race. That is of course if I can't find somebody to do the wheel barrel with.

Annoyed5Ker wrote:

One problem that invariably occurs in 5k races is some moronic parent lining up in the front row with his or her two sub-10-year-old children who have never previously run a 5k. Often I'll overhear the parent tell the kids to make room for the faster runners, but (1) the kids obviously have no idea who will be the faster runners, and (2) they're still blocking space in the front row from the serious runners.

Am I overreacting here and being too serious about my place in a typical charity 5k? Or is there something one could/should do about this, such as telling the parent "unless your 8 year-old plans on running a sub-17-minute 5k, please have him line up toward the back?"

Yes, you are over-reacting. I don't think I ever won a local road race without going around a few kids near the start. No big deal. A little weaving for the first 400 or a few little pauses to look for a gap does not amount to much... the road is wide enough to share with some kids.

What you should say to the parent is "Awesome that your kids are out here, you guys have fun, good luck!".

In my experience, if you approach the front of the pack with a hydration belt, people will generally make room for you.

(Cue entitlement generation.)

sc42 wrote:

That is not the generation that I see in my kids and their friends, or at the university where I teach, or at the races I go to.

I'm reminded of that Socrates quote on the 'youth of today' - as you say, nothing like this really changes.

I've never been what you might call elite in a big race like this, but have usually found people let me through when I wanted to get to my 'rightful place' (2 or 3 rows back).

As others have said, I don't think you necessarily want to be in the front row unless it's a very serious event - there's always jack rabbits setting off at a ridiculous rate, people not running in straight lines etc. Better to keep an eye on your likely rivals and take it carefully - it will all settle down after a few minutes anyway.

What if I plan to run a 5 minute opener, 7 minute middle mile, and then a final 3.1 in 5:00? Front or back?

d2xccoach wrote:

sequoia wrote:

Is it just in Seattle that everyone is excessively modest and lines up half a foot behind the start line?

Funny, they do that here too. I direct a local half marathon, 750+ starters. I'm in the bed of my truck with the bullhorn just in front of the start line (off on the grass of course), with two 3' cones and two 12' high feather banners that say START, right on the start line, plus an orange chalk line on the ground on the start line. All the racers hang out about 5' behind the start line and I practically have to drag them up to the actual start line. As much as I like that nobody's crowding the front, it's something that always makes me wonder why.

Break the bank and get a start strip for your half. That way, it doesn't matter who starts where.

Any race that goes by gun time is going to have this problem.

Just do a coupe of striders a few minutes before the race and file in up front. Nobody takes issue with it as long as you get off the lone at the start and hold your position for a little while. Even the little kids that sprint off the line and fall apart shortly after are no big deal because they get out fast.