Well done running a marathon...Err, actually you didnt

event

Well this would be a pain in the ar$e

http://news.sky.com/story/1089637/marathon-runners-sent-on-wrong-route

About 5,000 runners have been told they failed to complete a marathon after they took the wrong route due to a marshalling error.

Organisers of the Marathon of the North apologised for the blunder after they realised the route was 264m short of the full distance.

Winner Jake Harrison, of Leicester Tri Club, was the only entrant to run along the correct course and therefore complete the run in Sunderland.

Every single one of the other competitors missed out on running the full length of the marathon or half marathon courses on April 28 because the second and third placed runners were not within sight of the race leader and lead vehicles.

In a statement to Sky Tyne and Wear, race organisers DS Media & Events said: "Regrettably, due to incorrect placing of marshals, which we take full responsibility for, only the lead athlete followed the correct route through the Sheepfold area near the Stadium of Light.

"Unfortunately, the second and third placed runners were not within line of sight of the leader and lead bikes/vehicle.

"This resulted in all those who followed taking an incorrect route through this section.

"Our course measurer has now confirmed that 264 metres were therefore lost from the measured route.

"We are sincerely sorry for any confusion and frustration that this has caused."

Race-goers reacted angrily, with one tweeting: "Bit gutted!"

Another wrote: "Been thinking about the Marathon of the North debacle. Think it's an insult to offer 25% off race entry as recompense.

"People train ... for months and have had a hard earned achievement taken away from them. Free entry to alternative race is the least they deserve."

Affected runners have been offered 25% off entry to other events in the hoped the error will not put off future competitors

MrCreosote

It would be a bit annoying, but it's less than1% of the course. I'd still be claiming I ran a marathon in the time I did

Cabaal

I know its only a short distance but I honestly can't blame people for wanting a refund or a free entry to next year, thats a pretty big mess up. A few people going the wrong way is one thing, but 5k people is a big error.

TFBubendorfer

MrCreosote wrote: »

It would be a bit annoying, but it's less than1% of the course. I'd still be claiming I ran a marathon in the time I did

That must be so annoying! If that had happened to me I would definitely be claiming to have run a marathon and count it all the same, but had I run a PB I don't think I would accept it.

robinph

If I was even close to a pb I'd be seriously annoyed, anyone going for a GFA time for London would now be screwed for that as well and no chance of running another in time.

the_syco

Winner Jake Harrison, of Leicester Tri Club, was the only entrant to run along the correct course and therefore complete the run in Sunderland.

Every single one of the other competitors missed out on running the full length of the marathon or half marathon courses on April 28 because the second and third placed runners were not within sight of the race leader and lead vehicles.

So after that one turn, no-one ever had a chance of ever catching up and winning? I wonder will that race get blacklisted by people over this?

hardCopy

MrCreosote wrote: »

It would be a bit annoying, but it's less than1% of the course. I'd still be claiming I ran a marathon in the time I did

Aren't certified courses deliberately marked 1% extra long to allow for potential measuring errors? So they could have actually covered the full marathon distance?

Oisin11178

I did a marathon a few years ago were something similar happened making the course about 25.6. I ran the extra distance after the line. Was very annoyed for a long time about it.

BeepBeep67

hardCopy wrote: »

Aren't certified courses deliberately marked 1% extra long to allow for potential measuring errors? So they could have actually covered the full marathon distance?

0.1% 1mt for every k

Corkbah

I'd be well pi$$ed ... but Well Done Jake, even the rest of the field ran almost 264m less than him and he still won !!

certainly would not do the race again the following year out of protest.....ha ha ..can just imagine all 5000 register for next year and refuse to run ...everyone just stands at the start line !! (that would cause some publicity !!)

slowsteady

hardCopy wrote: »

Aren't certified courses deliberately marked 1% extra long to allow for potential measuring errors? So they could have actually covered the full marathon distance?

See this link for the definitive method of measurement http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=79325954

Only 42m added so need to include warmup/cooldown for full distance:). Only GFA and PB runners should really be seriously p*$$ed, the rest could add a minute or so to get a truer time.