2020 Quarantine Backyard Ultra Race! Official Race Discussion Thread

greatracedespitetheending wrote:

I don't understand waiting for a laggy feed to start a loop. Each loop started at the exact top of the hour. Just start when your clock shows all zeroes.

The RDs had already screwed this up on Saturday (I think it was?) by not ringing the bell for a full minute after the top of the hour. After that it became a joke that they were starting at 9:01, etc... But because the Czech started late and he wasn't friends with Laz we gotta go DQ when the opportunity presents itself.

wtf are people here blaming Laz for all this mess

you think he didn't want to see these guys keep going?

that's what he wants more than anything

reed wrote:

wtf are people here blaming Laz for all this mess

you think he didn't want to see these guys keep going?

that's what he wants more than anything

Bull. When Mike asked about the record Laz said it wouldn't count anyway because it's virtual. Does that sound like someone who wanted this to continue? Or does it sound like an old guy who wanted to take a nap?

I just call it like I see it. I have never seen him more excited than when he was calling for the Czech to get DQed. Even Sandra was telling him to calm down and it was just lag, but one cannot let a good opportunity go to waste.

Despite my issues with the Proctor group in the past, overall I found he organization good under the circumstances. That’s assuming as always that races have limited resources. Unlike the Olympics that have unlimited resources and still make bush-league errors.

I wish people would stop questioning the dude's English. If you watched enough, and heard the Q&A on Monday afternoon EST, you'd know there was no language barrier.

A Hungry, Violent Mob wrote:

Bull. When Mike asked about the record Laz said it wouldn't count anyway because it's virtual. Does that sound like someone who wanted this to continue? Or does it sound like an old guy who wanted to take a nap?

Say what you want about the DQ call, but come on. This was a virtual event with minimal ability for scrutiny of anyone's running. If you run a 5k WR on your local streets with Strava and a start/end video as your only proof, do you think it would be accepted?

I put this post on the new thread without realizing it was not the OFFICIAL one. So I copy it here...

It was a sad finish but the right call. I expect that after some rest both competitors will make statements that are a lot more thought out and coherent than they did after 70 hours or so of sleepless running. Of course Radek was angry/disappointed. Of course Mike was confused.

I was watching a lot in the last few hours. Radek started a little late a few times. Ten or 15 seconds on the last start I witnessed; I think it was 61? Anyhow, I thought perhaps it was an internet lag or something. Perhaps it was. If so, it's a shame. But 1:45 is a long time and if I was Radek's handler (The guy with the dog, blocking the camera and waving instead of getting him moving?) I would have been paying more attention to a clock. And not just the feed but the real clock found in the corner of the computer screen.

Anyway, I am happy it ended this way instead of with Mike taking a header in the dark or with Radek crashing into the wall behind the treadmill and getting sandpapered by the belt until someone could rescue him.

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"

Bob Hearn wrote:

Yes he got aid during laps, but this was explicitly allowed in this format:

4) Loops

Because we are unable to enforce the usual backyard rule of no aid on course, runners are permitted to receive aid during loops, whether that be while on the treadmill, or running loops/out and back

Thanks for posting this. I was not aware of this, and a lot of people I see discussing this are also not aware that this rule was different from normal backyards. Even some of of the competitors appeared to be unaware of this. I'm pretty sure Mike was not aware.

reed wrote:

wtf are people here blaming Laz for all this mess

you think he didn't want to see these guys keep going?

that's what he wants more than anything

Because Laz was on the stream screaming that it was over. Then he disconnected. When the person who created the rules says very emphatically that it's over and then leaves, what are you going to do? I think the RDs were understandably very influenced by that.

Btw, where is Laz posting his missives?

As on the other thread, this isn’t over. People directly involved are releasing their own statements & distancing themselves from the judges’ decision.

jesseriley wrote:

As on the other thread, this isn’t over. People directly involved are releasing their own statements & distancing themselves from the judges’ decision.

Let's hope.

Heads have to roll.

Dave Proctor and Laz Cantrell should never be allowed to organize any running events anymore, ever.

Wrong ....there was a power failure and mid race at around the 26th hour the clocks were off by a minute. Made it difficult to know when exactly to start.

I friended Radek on facebook yesterday and he accepted.

I asked him to explain what happened. He responded.

He said that his tablet was delayed and he started one minute after the bell. He waited for the bell on the tablet stream. After he heard it, he started.

He added that he was prepared on the treadmill and waiting.

He didn't want to start before he heard the bell, because you can get disqualified for an early start.

I feel bad for him, and I was rooting for both him and Michael.

We'll never know how far out these guys would have gone.

If they hold the Spartathlon in September, I'll be rooting for Radek all the way.

Thanks for the inside scoop! Ultra runners are privy to info that I think hasn’t reached the public yet.

And I agree, Radek Brunner has made new fans, just like Michael Wardian. They both looked psyched for a long duel.

I think it was pretty obvious that Radek waited for the sign to start.

He was standing on the treadmill, he was not sleeping or still getting the last 4.1 miles in.

But my guess is that it was way over the heads of the organizers Performance Peak. They utterly failed. They probably never expected it would take that long and that they would get exhausted too.

At least the Ambassador of the Czech Republic has to demand that Performance Peak looses their license to train in Canada. That is the smallest thing we can expect.

They could change their name to Personal Pick to describe their method of declaring a winner.

jesseriley wrote:

They could change their name to Personal Pick to describe their method of declaring a winner.

Zing! Got 'em!

jesseriley wrote:

Thanks for the inside scoop! Ultra runners are privy to info that I think hasn’t reached the public yet.

You're welcome. I got another message from him where he said that he hoped the spartathlon would go on as planned. (Sept 25-6 2020)

Go Radek!