Slow runners unite!

[StringsandKeys]

safe space to vent. I’m doing the Manchester half tomorrow and I know I’ll be over three hours. I was for my Swansea one last year too. Having read the details they’ve just sent out it says that if you don’t do 13 minute miles and you get overtaken by the coach you’ll have to go on the coach. You may be allowed to run on the pavement but they’ll take the signage down. Plus no finish line and you may be recorded as DNF. So I’ve emailed them and pointed out nowhere in the details when I paid the sum for this race did it say that. If it did I wouldn’t have entered. I’d prefer not to have to do this and for my race to finish in a good time but the reality is what it is despite the training. I won’t be getting on any coach. Leaves a bit of a sour taste to be fair. Thank you for this safe space to vent!@

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

That’s harsh. Does it give an actual cut-off time? Sometimes they’re restricted by needing to reopen roads etc, but that should be made crystal clear opening entering. After all, these races aren’t cheap. Cardiff had a generous 4.5k cutoff so I had plenty of wiggle room. 🙏

I run at a similar pace to you it seems, and I’d be cheesed off with that too. There are plenty of slow runners and walkers at HM events so I suspect there’ll be plenty of others who are equally as upset.

Hope it all works out for you, and good luck. 👊

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Vent away!😠 This is so disappointing to read - particularly if they have only just announced the cut-off asI thought this would be made clear to entrants beforehand. I really hope that you are able to enjoy your run tomorrow despite this and hope all goes well for you. And remember - a HM is 13.1 miles whatever pace you run at! 🙂

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you. They have previously said if you’re over three hours then you may have to run on pavements etc but this stuff about DNF and having a minimum of 13 minutes is new. But I’m hoping they will not be so strict tomorrow!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

so sorry to read that after all the training you’ve put in and money spent. How are you meant to know where to go without signage? In the Great South Run tomorrow the finish line is open until the last person comes in, but they may have to move onto pavements., as roads have to be reopened at some point.

[CBDB]

I have to admit, this has been a key reason for me to never enter an in-person race (but have entered 2 virtual races).

You might enjoy this open letter to all race directors, which every race director should read, I think:

300poundsandrunning.com/an-...

So vent away!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to CBDB]

That’s a brilliant article! I wonder what sort of response it got from race directors?

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Goodness, a well justified vent in my opinion. I'm not sure how you sit in relation to those times, but I do hope the stress doesn't spoil the day for you. It seems teribly unfair.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I hope you got the right reply from your email. That’s just not on to tell you the rules after they take your money 😡

Still, you can vote with your feet, literally, and spread the word and not enter this particular race again.

Whatever happens, good luck and congratulate yourself for all your hard training as you stand at that start line 👍⭐️

[Teresa1632 Marathon]

Retrospectively altering the T&Cs can't be right OMG! Go out there and enjoy the run, and protest with all the other runners in the same situation. The power of a crowd of you will be hard to ignore. Also take it to the press/media - in these days of equality in sport, they may take up the story. Good luck!

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon]

Update on my vent story. After all that worry they did leave the signage and finish line up. It was a great race and so many supporters and I ended up sub 3 at 2:57:55 so happy days! They ran out of tee shirts (you had to pay separately for them) so now have to email for them to post to me! I hope all in all the organiser I spoke to had time to think about the back of the pack runners ( he had said most people could do a 13 minute mile walking pace haha!!! I feel bad at moaning now as the race was amazing but I love the article shared about back of the pack runners so true!