I Don't Get It !!!!!???????

This morning I clicked on the link for the Houston Marathon/Hal Marathon. I wanted to check for results of the USA half marathon championship. I notice that they have a live camera link showing the finish line so I click on it. As I'm waiting to see the final 5 seconds of the race I got to watch the finish of the 5k race that was being "run" concurrently and sharing the same finish line as the half and full marathons.

It's now nearly ONE AND A HALF FREAKIN HOURS after the 5k started and there are still TONS of finishers coming across the 5k finish line!!!! Can someone PLEASE explain to me WTF are people doing paying $20 to "run" a 5k that takes them more than 30 mins to finish?????????? If you can't RUN a 5k in less than 30 minutes what the hell are you doing out there????????????? The race director must be laughing his/her ass off as he/she collects the money from these people.

I then took a look to see what the cut off time was for finishing the marathon and the half marathon. The marathon cut off is 6 hours (which is bad enough), but the half marathon cut off is FOUR HOURS!!!!!! Are you kidding me???? Entry fee for the marathon was $65 and it cost $45 to "run" the half marathon.

I really don't get it. Can someone please explain it to me?

BTW - Browne finished second (first American) in 1:04 something. Winner ran 1:03 something.

Welcome to American running in the 21st century.

This is one reason why some hard a*s types are wondering if BAA will toughen up the Boston qualifying times to their older standards, i.e. sub 3-hours.

Okay I'll bite on your whining and inane comments on why slow runners participate in and are permitted/encouraged to partake in road races. WHO CARES HOW LONG IT TAKES SOMEBODY TO FINISH THE FUCKIN' RACE.

Here's a thought: If it wasn't for the slow idiots who run/walk/crawl/slog/puke and shit their pants through a marathon, half and even a 5k, there wouldn't be any prize money for the winners. FULL STOP.

First $10,000

Second $8,000

Third $6,000

Fourth $4,000

Fifth $2,000

Marathon Masters (Male / Female) First $1,500

Second $1,000

Third $500

Marathon Wheelchair (Male / Female) First $500

Marathon Local Athlete (Male / Female) First $500

Second $350

Third $150

Marathon Local Masters (Male / Female) First $250

Prize Money Schedule - Half Marathon

Half Marathon Overall (Male / Female) First $5,000

Second $3,500

Third $2,500

Fourth $1,500

Fifth $750

Half Marathon Masters (Male / Female) First $750

Second $500

Third $250

Half Marathon Wheelchair (Male / Female) First $300

Half Marathon Local Athlete (Male / Female) First $250

Second $150

Third $100

Half Marathon Local Masters (Male / Female) First $150

Why ask the question then? You seem to have all the answers; so explain it to US then.

Why be such a hater? why do you even care how long it takes someone to run a 5k, at least they are out there doing something. What the hell are you doing, but sitting on your ass posting at letsrun! you must be a superstar!

Ahhh....The typical Let's Run poster. Some "never will be" that runs a high 16's 5K, but knows everything about running, and feels that this gives him the right to bash everyone else who is slower than him, and most people who are way faster than him too.

As long as they're not finishing last, than it's a race, and they beat someone.

I personally don't care how long it takes them to run. They're not making my race results any less significant. At least they're out there doing something. Everyone always says, we should do something about the obesity problem in this country....As long as they don't take up running, because as everyone on this board knows, that if you aren't running low 13:00 5K's then you have no buisness running period.

You all ask "What's wrong with American distance running?", honestly, it's most of you. You'd rather bitch about it, and people who are trying to do the best that they can within it, than offing valid solutions on how to help the state of it.

By the way....Are you really so stupid as to think that people are running 90 minute 5K's? They're walking it you moron. And by the way...That's their right to do so.

"free publicity for CHEAP"

interesting.

Someone Please Explain wrote:

I really don't get it. Can someone please explain it to me?

There's no explaining it to you because you don't get it and it doesn't sound as if you'll get it any time soon. But, rest easy. Time will come when your naivete will melt away and you'll see, WHOOOOOOOOOA, there's a world beyond your narrow scope. Your definition of 'what should be' needs some expanding.

How fast are you? Maybe Bekele wonders what you're doing wasting your time running 16 minute 5ks. Just a thought.