7 replies to this topic

[masterofnone]

Due to a recent spate of illnesses and injury I pulled out of the marathon and transferred over to the 12km event. For my troubles I had the privilege of having to shell out another $2.50, forgetting the fact they took my employer's $125 for the (now) $45 race. No real problems with no refund policy, but come on, they can't absorb the transfer 'admin'?

Anyway to make matters worse by the time I transferred the fastest 'wave' was 1hr 35 mins+. I'm a previous 45 minute runner and have recent 10-14km pace of 3:36-3:40. They basically told me, sorry, just try and start up the front of your wave.

Does anyone know how difficult it is to start in faster waves? There's no way in hell I am starting in wave 3A, I should be in the Priority Start wave.

I don't really want to be put in the position of causing a scene with a good volunteer but being told I'll have to fight my way through all the semi-walkers is unacceptable.

[cappy]

What would you have them do, reserve some slots in case people change races? And how many should they save? Is that fair on the people they didn't let in the wave because they were saving a space for change-minds like you?

Don't see the grumble really. Just be glad there is a category you can change to. Usually if you are injured you have to pull out altogether

Edited by cappy, 25 August 2011 - 10:19 PM.

[masterofnone]

No, but why cap the waves? It's not like they are capping the number of people on the course for safety reasons. In fact it's more dangerous having people of greatly varied speeds in the same wave. This from the official guide under race etiquette...

"Ensure you start within your designated category start zone (sign posted) so that faster participants are not impeded"

What if someone the ilk of a Todd Ingraham, Raf Baugh etc expectedly signed up the day before. Technically they'd have to start at the back also but I'm sure RD's would grant special privileges.

If you can clearly prove you can do the times you should be able to enter those waves.

Edited by masterofnone, 26 August 2011 - 07:06 AM.

[Digger]

This is a case of the system not understanding the purpose the system was put in place for.

Waves were devised  to ensure that those around you have similar abilities, so that in the early crowded stages, you don't have fast runners getting frustrated by slow runners and its to stop slow runners starting up the front, where they become a risk as the pack sweeps past.

But now we are looking at the evolution where once the fields or waves are full, that the officials(Not necessarily the race organisers) just put you in a wave which has space of suits them, and don't fully understand the outcome.

All parts of our community are the same.(Unfortunately): 'Rules are Rules', and even though it maybe a bad rule, an impractical rule, those who administer the rule, won't change or break the rule.

[Jackfrost]

Digger, on 26 August 2011 - 07:37 AM, said:

This is a case of the system not understanding the purpose the system was put in place for.

Waves were devised  to ensure that those around you have similar abilities, so that in the early crowded stages, you don't have fast runners getting frustrated by slow runners and its to stop slow runners starting up the front, where they become a risk as the pack sweeps past.

But now we are looking at the evolution where once the fields or waves are full, that the officials(Not necessarily the race organisers) just put you in a wave which has space of suits them, and don't fully understand the outcome.

All parts of our community are the same.(Unfortunately): 'Rules are Rules', and even though it maybe a bad rule, an impractical rule, those who administer the rule, won't change or break the rule.

I'd say from the number of walkers and pram pushers I had to make my way around in 2009 then it would appear that no one actually enforces people starting in the correct waves anyway. Just sit in with Group 1 and if they don't say anything you are fine.

[LTLFTC]

Find a friendly wave 1 person and do a conga up to the front, artfully concealing your race number behind them.

[geoffa]

As LTLFTC says, just go up the front anyway. I have never seen any enforcement of the seeding at the C2S.

[mynameisnoone]

I think they'd struggle to practically enforce this.

The waves are determined by the runner's expected finish time. And this isn't always that realistic and no-one checks this. Last year there were people who apparently expected to finish sub 1hr stopping exhausted on the way to Kings Park!

Just keep your head down and be politely considerate of your other runners (and organisers).

I can't see how the organisers can realisticlly make allowances through the registration system, but at the same time, it would be difficult to be reasonable and polite to your other runners if you need to plough through them. Likewise, they don't need the hassle of getting out of your way.

Just start where you're going to make least disruption.