RD Blames Runners for Cutting Course after Runners Directed Off Course

Downership wrote:

...What's really important as a runner is to make sure you know your course. We don't have course marshals at every single intersection, so people should study the course before they come out to run it.

This. ALWAYS know your course. I usually drive it the night before. Richmond marathon had a tour bus you could take the day before to see the course.

It looks more like the leaders were lead off course. A runner should know the course but trying to remember every turn in a marathon can become difficult and a RD should have marashalls at all turns. If they can find that many maybe they have to many turns.

I suppose it is easy to stop and ask for directions if you are walking or jogging it in.

A+ reporting . The picture caption says he ran 2:28 and article says 2:58. Big difference. Too lazy to look up but one of those times is pretty slow for a win.

????????????? wrote:

It looks more like the leaders were lead off course. A runner should know the course but trying to remember every turn in a marathon can become difficult and a RD should have marashalls at all turns. If they can find that many maybe they have to many turns.

Yeah. If you can't gather up enough volunteers to direct runners at turns, you haven't done your job as RD.

And to lay blame on runners and not even to take partial responsibility, really?

No way. If I thought I had the course route memorized but then a cop or race official directed me a different way I would just figure I remembered wrong and would trust the person directing me. I'd probably be thankful they saved me from an "error"

Be Optomistic wrote:

Yeah. If you can't gather up enough volunteers to direct runners at turns, you haven't done your job as RD.

And to lay blame on runners and not even to take partial responsibility, really?

Looks like it happened again, same race.

"Front-runners missed the turn and continued straight, race director Mike Melton said, blaming a misplaced sign, an unmanned intersection and no pre-race course inspection."

Know the course! I learned that during a 5k about 10 years ago. Went 1 block in wrong direction and had to backtrack when I noticed my followers weren't behind me any more. Still had a PB in that run...trying to make up time for being misdirected by a confused volunteer.

No. wrote:

No way. If I thought I had the course route memorized but then a cop or race official directed me a different way I would just figure I remembered wrong and would trust the person directing me. I'd probably be thankful they saved me from an "error"

Exactly. And memorizing a course with 30 turns isn't going to happen.

anyone want to guess the consequences of disregarding the instructions of a police officer, mid race? Often wouldn't matter but... sometimes it could result in a ticket or even arrest, as we've seen in crazy situations.

RD blaming the runners... what a tool.

RyecorDone wrote:

Know the course! I learned that during a 5k about 10 years ago. Went 1 block in wrong direction and had to backtrack when I noticed my followers weren't behind me any more. Still had a PB in that run...trying to make up time for being misdirected by a confused volunteer.

You must be joking.

How about the race director of a course which has had runners get lost before take steps to prevent it? Cyclist outriders, volunteers at the corner? Don't forget the race began 40 minutes before sunrise and had something like 20 turns in the first 3 miles. "Know the course". Lol

Easiest solution for the latest screw up would be don’t run races that make these mistakes. Some race directors are sloppy and they always have a scapegoat but it’s the runners that get screwed.

Co-Flounder wrote:

Easiest solution for the latest screw up would be don’t run races that make these mistakes. Some race directors are sloppy and they always have a scapegoat but it’s the runners that get screwed.

True, but that requires people to spread the word. Not everyone checks LR before signing up!

Hopefully some do though and learn to steer clear of the Treasure Coast Marathon.

Be responsible........ wrote:

Downership wrote:

...What's really important as a runner is to make sure you know your course. We don't have course marshals at every single intersection, so people should study the course before they come out to run it.

This. ALWAYS know your course. I usually drive it the night before. Richmond marathon had a tour bus you could take the day before to see the course.

This is so bogus. Almost no one has the ability to memorize a course ... especially to the point of overruling someone connected to the race directing you wrongly.