Bad marshalls

runnerman1971 · #1 28th May 07, 10:22 PM

I did the lymington 10k on the 13th of may. A marshall sent the first 5 runners the wrong way. Anyone had anything like this happen? I was on for a PB too!

Runningfox · #2 29th May 07, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runnerman1971

I did the lymington 10k on the 13th of may. A marshall sent the first 5 runners the wrong way. Anyone had anything like this happen? I was on for a PB too!

Some years ago I was running a LDWA route, about 28 miles, when a marshall three quarters of the way into the race pointed the race leaders in the wrong direction. They ran all the way down into the valley before realising their mistake, then had to go back up again. Having recced the route the previous week I ignored the marshall and stuck to the proper route. I finished fourth overall with a lot of very good runners behind me I wouldn't normally have beaten. So it was to my advantage.
In a similar vein, in a ten mile race in 2005 a marshall was missing at a vital point and ALL the runners went in the wrong direction and reduced the race distance to about 9.3 miles.
Cheers!

runnerman1971 · #3 29th May 07, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runningfox

Some years ago I was running a LDWA route, about 28 miles, when a marshall three quarters of the way into the race pointed the race leaders in the wrong direction. They ran all the way down into the valley before realising their mistake, then had to go back up again. Having recced the route the previous week I ignored the marshall and stuck to the proper route. I finished fourth overall with a lot of very good runners behind me I wouldn't normally have beaten. So it was to my advantage.
In a similar vein, in a ten mile race in 2005 a marshall was missing at a vital point and ALL the runners went in the wrong direction and reduced the race distance to about 9.3 miles.
Cheers!

That's what happened. first 5 went wrong way. Some bloke who ran about 39 minutes, came in looking somewhat suprised with his victory. A true tale of tortoise and the hare.

ed_m · #4 30th May 07, 08:37 AM

i'm assuming this was a volunteer marshall... in which case it sounds like they were inadequately briefed by the race organiser.

given the difficulty to get enough marshalls for many races it's a bit harsh to put all the blame on this one person who's giving up their time so that we can race.

runnerman1971 · #5 30th May 07, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed_m

i'm assuming this was a volunteer marshall... in which case it sounds like they were inadequately briefed by the race organiser.

given the difficulty to get enough marshalls for many races it's a bit harsh to put all the blame on this one person who's giving up their time so that we can race.

It was also a charity race, so we can't argue really. After I calmed down, I did write a letter to the marshall to say not to worry and that these things happen etc. I'm not a total arse! I shall still enter next year; at least I'll know where I'm going!!

OZBOZO · #6 31st May 07, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runnerman1971

I did the lymington 10k on the 13th of may. A marshall sent the first 5 runners the wrong way. Anyone had anything like this happen? I was on for a PB too!

I once had a dumb spectator direct me the wrong way within 400m of the finish of a ten miler.I too was on a pb,doesn't it make you want to spit.

steepler · #7 1st Jun 07, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OZBOZO

I once had a dumb spectator direct me the wrong way within 400m of the finish of a ten miler.I too was on a pb,doesn't it make you want to spit.

How many of you actually ever work or volunteer at a race?
I do and runners are whinging gits!
They want the moon on a bleedin' stick but NEVER help at races themselves!

ed_m · #8 1st Jun 07, 10:50 AM

i'm marshalling on sunday :P

runnerman1971 · #9 1st Jun 07, 03:08 PM

I'm running on sunday. But my club is marshalling it, and I have to supply a family member to take my place on the organising side.

steepler · #10 3rd Jun 07, 11:23 PM

Excellent!
We all need to pay it forward sometimes!