So many DNF's at OT

I'm surprised that you didn't choose to comment that a noticeably larger percentage of men dropped out than women. Does that mean women are tougher than men?

OldManRunner wrote:

I count 61 DNF's for the men and 49 for the women. I know it was hot and all..but it's the freaking OLYMPIC TRIALS!!! Really?! It only comes once every 4 years and you put in all that work to qualify, and you're going to DNF? I only wish I was good enough to qualify. They would have to drag my tail off on a stretcher before I dropped out. I can maybe understand for some of the top guys that might have a shot at making the team in track, but for everybody else? What the heck are they saving themselves for? I would be interested to know how many of the DNF's got in with a half time and were doing their first marathon.

Most everyone in the race was a pro. That means they make money by racing. Staggering home in 2:27 in the heat isn't going to pay the bills.

good question!!! Drop the half qualifier.

married to a supermodel wrote:

Most everyone in the race was a pro. That means they make money by racing.

That is super not true. I'd say 10% of runners are "pro" in that it's their only job or even a significant source of their total income.

It was very hot and just to start a OT marathon is an honor. I'll bet a lot of runners have spring marathons planned and just went to LA to participate knowing obviously they should not need to finish for it to mean something to themselves.

Also, the course lends itself to have a lot of dropouts considering the amount of loops and ease of getting back to the elite tents every 5 or 6 miles.

This guy didn't quit!

https://twitter.com/scooter_gracey/status/698639190800510976

All but 2 of the finishers BQ'd

all that footage wrote:

good question!!! Drop the half qualifier.

100% of the male winners were half qualifiers

You have no idea what you're talking about. No runner wants to drop out. All of these runners have heart and passion for the sport and the training that they put in for this race. If they did drop out most likely it was due to severe dehydration cramping or heat exhaustion. When you're faced with six or eight or more miles when suffering these ailments it is very difficult to continue a high level or continue safely. I was actually in this race and I can tell you the conditions were absolutely brutal. I can tell you that there were some very talented runners in this field. And to note that they were a high number of drop outs is not understanding the level of hardship these athletes faced. I've been running for a long time and I can tell you that the crop of American runners right now is strong and we have a very bright future ahead of us as a nation of distance running.

didn't realize that Ward and Meb were half Q's, thanks for the blinding insight.

OldManRunner wrote:

I count 61 DNF's for the men and 49 for the women. I know it was hot and all..but it's the freaking OLYMPIC TRIALS!!! Really?! It only comes once every 4 years and you put in all that work to qualify, and you're going to DNF? I only wish I was good enough to qualify. They would have to drag my tail off on a stretcher before I dropped out. I can maybe understand for some of the top guys that might have a shot at making the team in track, but for everybody else? What the heck are they saving themselves for? I would be interested to know how many of the DNF's got in with a half time and were doing their first marathon.

I have to say, I agree. More honor is finishing than saving it for the track trials, if you realistically have zero chance of making it in the 10k.

61 DNF's, I mean, why even show up for the race?

Old Man Winter wrote:

I'm surprised that you didn't choose to comment that a noticeably larger percentage of men dropped out than women. Does that mean women are tougher than men?

It's already proven women are tougher than men.

I saw three guys stop and walk due to severe cramps right in front of me. The crowd encouraged them to get moving. A couple of the guys staggered, cramped up, staggered again and just could not move. It was a catastrophic shutdown. Can't will away the body shutting down on you. It was gut wrenching to watch.

OP is a clueless idiot for suggesting that the athletes did not give it 100%.

You two dbag are idiots. Go get a hotel room together.

if I were a 2:18-2:19 marathoner, I would go to the trials for the experience, but not try to peak for it or even give 100%, there are other races they can win, why give it all to get 150th place and no prize money on a slow day?

The sun was brutal out there and there were no shady locations on the course at all. The complaint from those who dropped was that the only water was every 5k. In a normal marathon for these guys, that would be okay. But in the 70-80 degree temps with direct sunlight. They needed more water stations.

People didn't drop out to save themselves for a payday. They dropped because they dehydrated badly.

That group of runners traveled to the OT's mostly for the experience and I believe the majority left it all on the course. If anything, the half marathon is a totally different race than the marathon, and a hot day is not the ideal debut situation which resulted in a lot of DNF's. Would support dropping half's from the 2020 qualifying option.

I'm not convinced we had this many dnfs, but usatf screwed up the results so badly we may never know.

Most everyone in the race was a pro. That means they make money by racing. Staggering home in 2:27 in the heat isn't going to pay the bills.

Even if your other option is a small spring marathon with $1000.00 on the line it's better than staggering home for nothing.

So- To DNF makes sense.

Disgree. Years hence, having a conversation with someone...

"I was in the marathon trials"

"Oh, really? How did you do?"

"I didn't finish"