Leeza Gibbons wrote:
Email from the RD this morning:
After a thorough review of the available evidence in relation to a train's participation in the 2016 Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon, the Marathon committee concluded that while there is data from participants indicating that a train may have impeded them, there is not conclusive evidence that their times in the 2016 LVHN Via Marathon are inaccurate. The LVHN Via Marathon has reviewed more than 2000 race photos from our licensed photo checkpoints and midrace data from 6 on course timing mats all of which show no data from a train's timing chip. Therefore the LVHN Via Marathon Committee concluded that a train did not cross the marathon course unless additional conclusive information arises in the future.
Genius!
Some Facebook comments.
(Barb McKeever is removing them quickly, she gained some experience thanks to Mike Rossi, who was apparently in the train.)
As one of the few spectators (less than 10) that witnessed this, it was a nightmare. Only about a dozen runners made it across before the train came and stopped the initial runners for up to 10 minutes. Train company was notified ahead of time, but obviously it didn't matter. We were in shock and then watching runners attempt to jump on and through the train cars was terrifying. It took me awhile to think of it, but I did post post a live FB video towards the last few minutes of the stoppage. We never go here to spectate but we messed up directions and decided to go here instead. For those of you that remember, it occurred at the start area of the old 22 mile River Relay a little over 7 miles into the race.
Is anyone concerned about the train messing up people's times and possibly ruining a qualifying time for Boston which needs to be submitted this week. Not only did those people lose time, but also momentum. You just can't stop for 10 minutes at mile 13 while you have been going at a 6:30-6:50 pace and expect to regain your momentum. Any thoughts.....
Hey Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon... You going to offer time adjustments to everyone affected by that train? The GPS doesn't lie:
https://www.strava.com/activities/708663283. I waited 8 minutes for it to go by. Some people had it worse and missed out on a Boston Athletic Association Boston Marathon qualifying time either due to time or dropping out because they knew they couldn't make it. Something needs to be done and quickly. Special thanks to Strava Run for making forensics like this possible!
Hi. I had several teammates run today in an attempt to Boston Qualify. At mile 7.3 a train ran through the course effectively stopping them for just over 4 minutes. In looking at some splits via Strava some of them would have hit the qualifying standard with time to spare had this not occurred. Are you planning on adjusting times to compensate for this?
I was one of the first people stopped by the train and it took at least 8 minutes to go through. Runners were JUMPING onto the train to try and stay on pace. One almost fell under the wheels. Via needs to step up and correct these times to give runners the time (and potential BQ) they deserve. Whatever that means, I'll gladly send in my GPS data that shows me (and at least 50 others) standing around.
Unfortunately I dropped out at the 1/2 bc I knew it would be next to impossible to make up almost 6 minutes (given the temps) lost at the train stop. Had I know that Boston would accept the time if adjusted I would have continued! Incredibly frustrating!!!!
WE LOVE YOU BARB MCKEEVER