A race of 6.2 miles, but not, alas, for everyone
It’s a great event, OK? As I’ve said before, it’s the great Atlanta event. But when you’ve observed as many Peachtree Road Races as I have, you pick up nuances. And this time it wasn’t a nuance. It was blatant.
I arrived Saturday morning at my viewing spot of choice — Peachtree Battle, about two miles into the course — and the first runners I saw were two ladies. One of them had a race number in the 30,000s; the other was higher still. Given that the seeded elite runners hadn’t yet passed, it was clear these two had not, shall we say, participated to the full extent of the rules. And then a spectator asked the question I was too angry to pose:
“Did you all start early?”
(In other words, did you cheat?)
And one of the ladies said, referring to the apparent difficulty of doing it the right way: “It just takes too long.”
A stipulation: “Cheating” in the Peachtree isn’t cheating the way Rosie Ruiz did it in the 1980 Boston Marathon — jumped on the course late, got to the finish line first and collected the winner’s medal. Peachtree course-jumpers and start-flouters don’t taking anything from anyone else. Every finisher gets the T-shirt. But I wonder how many of the 55,000 can wear it with real pride.
It’s only in recent years I’ve begun to watch the race numbers. My wife has walked five Peachtrees now, and she’s scrupulous about starting where she’s supposed to start. (On Saturday it was in the final group — the dread 90,000s.) Others are less attentive to detail. I saw a couple jogging on the right while the lead pack buzzed by on the left. The man was wearing a number in the 90,000s. That group wouldn’t start officially for another 90 minutes.
I posed the question on Twitter: Am I the only one bothered by this? Those who Tweeted back didn’t seem to share my indignation, and one respondent offered this: “How is it cheating? What are those people ‘winning’?” Then, in a confessional moment: “I’ve done both depending on who I am running with, number I get, et cetera, and have never felt I was cheating anyone.”
Loading ...I can understand if it’s a matter of companionship: You’re running with someone whose number is in the 20,000s and yours is in the 40,000s. To alleviate the problem of finding one another in Piedmont Park, you simply move up. But over time I’ve seen too many examples of Peachtree cheating done simply for the sake of expediency. And that, to be frank, burns me up.
And it doesn’t sit well with the Atlanta Track Club, which stages the event. Said spokesperson Tracy Lott: “The race is meant to be run from start to finish. The T-shirt is truly a finisher’s shirt … [Cutting logistical corners is] not what the event is about by any means.”
That said, the ATC and its volunteers cannot police every foot of a 6.2-mile course. Said Lott: “We do the best we can we the resources we have. By timing all individuals [a first this year] we will hopefully cut down on [cheating].”
And we can hope. Because it is a great event, and it is held on the day we celebrate truth, justice and the American way. Even in the 21st Century, I don’t believe the American way has been amended to allow cheating.
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195 comments Add your comment
just saying
July 4th, 2009
3:27 pm
I did the Peachtree a couple of years ago and I commented to my veteran runner brother about the line jumpers, fast ones in the slow lane, slow ones in the fast lane. He made the great observation that it’s same way people behave on the Atlanta interstates. Some just think they are too damn important to follow the rules.
Coach Scott
July 4th, 2009
3:27 pm
When I’m not even sure Americans are “winning” an Independence Day race – I’m not sure cheating really makes me flinch.
Bo
July 4th, 2009
3:28 pm
BobBQ:
Your excuse is lame. ATC is holding no one hostage. You can certainly stay home if you don’t like their registration method.
You’re a cheater, plain and simple. And if it weren’t for idiots like you, I would chill.
jm
July 4th, 2009
3:28 pm
I saw MANY RUNNERS to the right this year. I thought that the right was for the walkers and left for the runners. We get yelled at when we cross the yellow line to your side…Therefore; you should get yelled at on our side. YOU DON’T OWN THE ROAD!
Shannon
July 4th, 2009
3:31 pm
AMEN!! It burns me up as much as it does you. It is flat out cheating!! If you don’t want to wait until your time group starts, don’t run the race. I know, better yet, if you want to start up front simply run a qualifying race earlier in the year. I am wearing my shirt with pride because I finished all 6.2 miles!
Jay
July 4th, 2009
3:36 pm
I wonder how many of these low -life cheaters have already posted their shirts on EBay? Oops…I hope I haven’t given them any ideas!
Mike
July 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
I was in Time Group 3. I walked, and I kept to the right.
At the two-mile mark, I was passed by a wave of serious runners from Time Group 4. At the four-mile mark, I was passed by the runners from Time Group 5. And at the six-mile mark, I was passed by the runners from Time Group 6. I saw DOZENS of people from time groups 7 through 9 along my route, and I knew they couldn’t possibly have started at Lenox at their official time.
The ATC volunteers at Lenox are very diligent about not letting people into areas for time groups earlier than theirs. The rules state that if you want to run with someone in another group, you run in the later group. I saw a man with a 1B number asking directions to Time Group 8 so he could be with his daughters.
The people who cut ahead are cheating themselves, and they’re cheapening the thrill of winning and getting the t-shirt. Hopefully the timing tags will show all of these cheats who didn’t start, and their names will be blacklisted from future events.
(One question on timing – I was doing about a sixteen minute mile, and I crossed the 6-mile mark 96 minutes after I started. Why, then, did the clock on the finish line say I did the entire route in 90 minutes?)
John
July 4th, 2009
3:39 pm
OK, Coach Scott. As I understand your position, because the event’s elite runners are non-Americans, you can’t get excited about boorish behavior and jumping into the event after the start? Is this how you coach- we don’t have much of a chance, boys and girles, so instead of participating fairly, do whatever you can get by with?
BobBQ
July 4th, 2009
3:40 pm
John: The PTRR has evolved into more than just the road race. It’s an event. People attend for many reasons now- spectate & cheer, hear the music, socialize, visit the park, food & drink, and run. So what if someone hasn’t built up to 6.2 mi yet(not me), & decides to run the last 4 by dropping in (no shirt involved). They can soak up the atmosphere & have a blast- just follow the rules & stay right. I’ll make a deal with you- I won’t focus on the baffling distribution of lower race numbers & you focus on the 99% of everyone that follows safe etiquette and has a great day!
Mark Bradley
July 4th, 2009
3:40 pm
A word here on behalf of the Atlanta Track Club: When it expanded the race to 55,000, it knew what it was doing. It was making the Peachtree Road Race a place for non-runners and runners alike. And that’s what makes this the great event I believe it is — 55,000 people moving down the main street of a major American city on the Fourth of July.
But when you get that many folks in a race that isn’t really competitive — except up front, and most participants never even get a glimpse of the winners — you’re going to get some corner-cutting. I understand that, too. But it seems to me it gets more blatant every year, and that I don’t like. I hope that timing everyone helps to alleviate that, and maybe it will.
tyler
July 4th, 2009
3:42 pm
i finished in 64 minutes, 9 minutes faster than last year! whoo! legitimately too… what a great event
Julia
July 4th, 2009
3:43 pm
Man- you guys are such whiners!! Have good sportsmanship- stop taking it soo seriously and grow up! I ran the race, my mother walked. Who cares?!?
Mark Bradley
July 4th, 2009
3:43 pm
It was weird watching the real runners who got assigned higher numbers and started where they were supposed to start. They obviously wanted to run, but the left side was clogged by walkers from earlier groups by then. So the runners veered to the right, veering so far they were almost on the sidewalk.
I kind of felt for them, too. They played by the rules (regarding starting) but didn’t really have a place to go.
Jay
July 4th, 2009
3:44 pm
To “jm”…I was one of those runners that veered into YOUR right along with many others. We HAD TO because there were hundreds of your precious walkers clogging up the left walking in the shade, socializing, petting dogs, etc. I even had one person STOP in front of me so her friend could take her picture! Luckily I had just enough space to avoid her. Next year….right over the top…how’s that picture, sweetie?!
Prevent Cheaters from getting t-shirts...
July 4th, 2009
3:44 pm
The Atlanta track club should hand out wrist bracelets in the the starting carols about 5 minutes before each group starts. Then require a bracelet in order to get a T-shirt.
Brian
July 4th, 2009
3:44 pm
I agree — the number of cheaters has increased substantially. I used to run seeded and subseeded, and saw people jumping in all the way up at Brookwood. Now that the ATC is using chips, there is a reasonable solution: back check the numbers for who crossed the start and finish using the chip technology. Those that don’t start at the beginning should be banned next year and/or for life.
Runner
July 4th, 2009
3:47 pm
Did anyone look at these wacky overall times? How did so many runners in late time groups (like 9)have faster chip times than the runners in time groups 1A/B. Why did lots of runners in time groups 1A/B have times exceeding 1 hour. Didn’t you have to submit qualifying times?
cab
July 4th, 2009
3:48 pm
Mark I’m glad you called these people out. They have no shame and will strut around in their t-shirts like they completed the entire course. Well at least this year everyone’s time is posted online. No more lying about times and if you can’t fine someone’s time? Well, you already know!
JR
July 4th, 2009
3:50 pm
Overall, I agree that people jumping in halfway through the race and trying to jump time groups is reprehensible… on the other hand, not sure what the ATC can do to curb such behavior. It’s unfortunate that we live in such “me first society” where people think the above behavior is OK. On another note, if you’re going to walk, go to the side. I understand that not everyone is in super-duper shape, but to stop and walk RIGHT in the middle of the course… 200 feet into the race(yes, I saw several people do this)… is bad sportsmanship. I think we’d all be better off if we thought about the other participants in the race. My $.02
Mike
July 4th, 2009
3:50 pm
Times are out now for all of the runners – the highest place finish I could find was 50009. Wouldn’t this imply that 4,991 people either didn’t show up, or didn’t get an official time because they cheated?
BG
July 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
I like the wrist bracelets idea (@ 3:44 pm); “back check[ing]” won’t stop the cheaters — they’ll just avoid crossing the finish line, or there will be a horrible jam at the t-shirt station.
Chuck
July 4th, 2009
4:00 pm
Checking out results and perfect example of what Mark is talking about b/c obviously 224-226 didn’t do this time and guessing won’t be running in any more Peachtree 10K’s. http://projects.ajc.com/running/peachtree/2009/?index=200&order_by=place&dir=asc
Mike
July 4th, 2009
4:02 pm
From the Wikipedia article on Rosie Ruiz:
“As a result of the scandal, the Boston Marathon and several other races instituted a number of safeguards against cheating that are still used today. These include extensive video surveillance and the transponder timing RFID system that monitors electronically when runners arrive at various checkpoints on the course. ”
Hmm…
Dave
July 4th, 2009
4:07 pm
It’s not “it’s only cheating if you get caught;” it’s cheating if you cheat. If you jump in someplace other than the starting line, you’re cheating, plain and simple, and you should not get a shirt. People who would cheat in the PRRR probably cheat in other things; it’s part of their fabric. But hey, it’ll catch up with you sooner or later, usually at the most inopportune time.
Keep it up Mark! Good job
Mark Bradley
July 4th, 2009
4:08 pm
Obviously the Peachtree is different from the Boston Marathon. (I saw a bit of that last year on Patriots Day — the Hawks were between Games 1 and 2 of their series with the Celtics.) The Marathon is much longer, and walkers can’t enter. (They’d be walking after midnight, to sound like Patsy Cline.) The Peachtree caters to the less serious runner and is more an event and spectacle than a competition.
Wendy
July 4th, 2009
4:12 pm
I agree with you about the walkers needing to stay to the right out of respect for the runners and I agree with starting at your slotted time – but I don’t see how the numbers can represent what you have done in the past because one of my sisters has only “walked” the race 1 time and she was given a 30,000 #, her husband has walked it a few years more than that and he was in the 90’s, my other sister and mom have never done it and they were in the 80’s. Now – as far as wanting the “walkers” out of the race – it is the ATLANTA Journal and Constitution PEACHTREE Road Race – so I think, before you tell the American citizens – or GEORGIA residents – that they can’t participate in something in their own country/state, you should get rid of the others! Sorry, but that is how I feel! But wtg to the winners…. I LOVED IT and would love to do it again next year – if you allow a GEORGIA walker in.
Dave
July 4th, 2009
4:15 pm
Oh yeah, BobBQ, you just don’t get it; dropping in is CHEATING; you’re breaking the rules. If you haven”t built up for it, don’t run it; wait until next year and do it right (start training earlier and wait your turn to start). Either that, or start where/when you’re supposed to, run/walk it, and stay out of everybody else’s way.
I have a better idea for you; how about just play by the rules, and then we don’t have to have this discussion.
‘k? thx.
Marie
July 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
I’ve been a spectator at Peachtree for years. The timing device which everybody was given this year didn’t do much, if any, good. I had hoped the ATC might publish a list of names of those who did not start, yet finished the race. This morning I was frustrated to see many of the cheaters had not even put the timing device on their shoe as instructed. I guess that would eliminate their name from any “did not start list.” I would love it if along the route, the ATC had volunteers mark any blatant cheater’s number with a magic marker. When those runners arrived at the finish line with a marked number, then they would not be given a t-shirt!
BTY…… the three runners in my family had numbers in the 10,000’s, 60,000’s, and 80,000’s. All three ran in time group 8 so they could be together. Honor IS important in our family.
Charles
July 4th, 2009
4:24 pm
WOW!! This was my first P’tree race and I wanted to say “Thanks” to the ATC for hosting such a awesome event. I started running seriously Jan 09′ and this was my first 10k. Everyone was very gracious, but I did have one girl jump into race at Mile 6 from the sidewalk…( wanted to trip her, but refrained..LOL) Anyways, it is unfortunate that some folks feel they are above the rules or just too impatient! Thanks again ATC, great job!!
Michael
July 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
This kind of cheating mirrors the cheating in Americans daily lives that involve greed, envy, and shortcuts to wealth and perceived happiness.
Everything is a product that can be purchased by just anyone and the exclusivity perishes along with the pride in attaining it.. This means our present economic slump, even if we recover, will be masked in government bailouts and those wanting to profit somehow off scamming the bailout money. BushObama should have just let the house burn down.
Biff Pocoroba
July 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
The last time I ran Peachtree a few years ago, I was sub seeded but could barely run for the first three miles because of people jumping in off the sidewalk instead of starting where they belonged. I haven’t run it again since. I prefer to run the Woodstock 5k that only has about 1000 people and not have to deal with Marta.
Running
July 4th, 2009
4:28 pm
I have to agree wtih Julia … stop whining about this. There are walkers and there are runners. The times start when they cross the start line and finish when they cross the finish line. If they are cheating, they won’t have a time to compare with any other years that they run it. So, even if you run in time group nine, your time doesn’t start until you start, so Chuck, those runners (222-224) that you posted probably did finish in less than 40 minutes. For all of you who get irritated with the “fat walkers”, grow up! They have every right to be doing this, just as you do. Just because you are in shape and run all the time, doesn’t mean that everyone else is going to be the same as you. If the race is so important to you, why are you so worried about what anyone else is doing? As for the ones who mentioned trying to get into a higher time group, unless you are an elite runner and in group 1 or 2, the numbers are given out on a TOTALLY RANDOM BASIS! My husband has run it 8 years in a row, with virtually the same race time each year, and has been in every time group.
Roz
July 4th, 2009
4:33 pm
What about the people with iPods? I thought the rules stated NO earphones? There were plenty of people with those.
Lola
July 4th, 2009
4:33 pm
OK folks…enough with the rude comments. I was in Group 8 and stayed where I belonged and to the right when I walked. But calling people fat *sses, lard butt and wide loads is pathetic. I was just as annoyed by the runners on the far right acting like I was in their way! Move to the left! As a beginning runner, I have a right to try my best and stop when necessary for my health. Not everyone in the world is a size two athlete and we all have to start somewhere! The lady next to me was running her first race after losing 230lbs! She ran and walked and had a right to do both! Another man was crippled…so does he not have a right to walk. Yes…there should be rules and walkers to the right and no cheaters but being rude makes you the *ss!
BobBQ
July 4th, 2009
4:37 pm
Dave: I see many “runners” walking (left side) before hitting the 3 mi mark. I check, issued 10,000 or 20,000 number. That’s a problem. People make the event what they want. This isn’t the Boston. Quit whining. Enjoy the holiday. Focus on yourself. Have fun & stay right if you are walking!
Echo
July 4th, 2009
4:50 pm
I have complained about the jumpers for a few years and most of the time I am told “to stop being a whiner, other people can’t run the entire way” or whatever excuse they have. I like the wristband idea as well!
I was one of those who didn’t have a time. I didn’t wear my d-tag because I didn’t want an “official time”, been out for 7 months with injuries and knew my time was going to be dissappointing. I did start (in a later time group than my TG2) and the wristband idea wouldv’e worked even without my chip time.
If you didn’t submit an official time (from a previous race) you are assigned to time groups randomly. Some slower runners do end up in TG2 and some faster folks get TG9.
DB
July 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
Just had to vent: I was standing in front of the High Museum, just past the water stop and watching for the rest of my family when when idiot teenage runner runs up to me (with a number) and throws the entire cup of water on me, screaming “Happy 4th of July!” Thanks, bozo — you got the cell phone I was holding wet. I was obviously a spectator and was sanding there, politely clapping for runners and chatting with another spectator — why in the hell would he do that?!
Spence
July 4th, 2009
5:05 pm
The people starting beyond the starting line really chap my hide. A few years ago, I shouted “shame!” at some of these people wearing bibs more than a mile into the race sipping their coffee. One shouted back, “no, brains!” I was so peeved I ripped the bib from a woman standing at the 2-mile marker waiting to start. Someone chased me down and got it back from me. He must have felt like a hero, but he was defending a villain.
Pam
July 4th, 2009
5:12 pm
Last year I flew in from Oregon to run the Peachtree with my sister and nephew. My nephew had a fairly low start number, unlike my sister and me. So, he start BACK with us so we could all run together. We roasted on the pavement in the start “corral” for at least an hour and a half. My brother-in-law, on the other hand, was seeded and started a little after 7. He finished quite a while before we even started to run. Was it miserable for us? Yes. Did we “sneak up?” No, didn’t even consider it. That’s part of the experience of the Peachtree. I like to tell people that the Peachtree was the hardest race I’ve even finished, which is absolutely true. Harder than any of the 20+ marathons I’ve run. It isn’t supposed to be easy so why would someone cheat to make it so?
pchtree girl
July 4th, 2009
5:14 pm
The only thing you “cheat” by”jumping in” is getting an official time for yourself. If you paid for a entry/number, you’ve paid for your shirt. As far as inconveniencing others by starting ahead of your time group…if this is a problem, Atlanta Track Club should do something to rectify so people can’t “jump in.” Otherwise, to each his own. Happy 4th Americans. Land of the free.
xc for life
July 4th, 2009
5:47 pm
This year, I tried to register for the Peachtree for the first time ever, but registered too late. I am a serious runner for my high school cross country team. To hear that people are cheating and just walking the race p*sses me off so bad! If you want to walk, walk the Greenway and make way for the serious runners!
Jake
July 4th, 2009
6:03 pm
One of my good friends does this, he was supposed to be in group 8 but jumped in past the buckhead marta station. He says he finished at 8:50… 5 minutes after our time group started. His reason? Doesn’t want to wait around. He tried to get me to join him, but I wouldn’t do it. People who think the rules don’t apply to them (but I’m sure they think everyone else should follow them) are what is wrong with america, and I let him know it!
Allen
July 4th, 2009
6:32 pm
I was in time group 1B for about the 5th year in a row and thought it was noticably less jumpers than usual. It was pretty much open to as fast as you wanted for a 50-55 minute 10K guy like myself. (1st mile always a little clogged) So hopefully the psyche of the timing devices at least detered a few hundred from years past and will only get better in the future.
run_all_the_race
July 4th, 2009
6:35 pm
This has been my pet peeve for several years. One year I took a disposable camera and snapped or fake-snapped pictures of runners obviously cheating, telling them they would be on “peachtree.cheaters.com” (never actually did this). Several ideas that have been stated are great – all about returning the race to runners. Who said everyone could do it. I remember the ‘T-shirt clock’ from my early PRRs. The first PRR I ran (1989) I was extremely motivated to beat the T-shirt clock. I certainly don’t remember any walkers then – but the race was limitted to 20 or 25K – big difference from 55K. Anyway, my response to the people that say they paid their money and should get a T-shirt – mine is cheapenned by your actions. Mine is from the Peachtree RR 10K, not 8K, 5K, etc.
Danny
July 4th, 2009
7:10 pm
I’ve been watching from my favorite spot for 9 years now. (About 100 yards short of the finish line, Piedmont Park all around me.) I too was annoyed at the cheating that I noticed this year. Seemed to be more than ever. I like to compare it to golf. A person plays a round of golf, takes “gimmees” that he happens to miss, rolls the ball in the fairway for a better spot, drops a ball out of his pocket while searching the woods for his wayward ball, etc…. Then this person comes in boasting about the 80 he shot! Unbelievable! Absurd! And it’s the same exact thing with the Peachtree Road race participants. I don’t care whether they run the entire distance, if it’s not when they’re supposed to, it wrong! And those jumping in, don’t get me started…
Rogers Nelson
July 4th, 2009
7:15 pm
Who cares? Why doesn’t the AJC quit sugar coating this event and talk about how bad MARTA is about getting people to and from the event? Come on, no shuttle to the Midtown station? Did it really need to take an hour to get from Five Points to the start?
Oh but no, people jumping in the race to get a T-shirt is much more important. Continue please…
Bobby
July 4th, 2009
7:25 pm
Chill folks. I was in TG3 and had no problem finishing just under an hour. True in a less crowded I would have finished a little faster but I enjoyed the race. I ran it all the way including up Cardiac Hill. I did dodge walkers on both the right and left but I didn’t have a difficult time getting past them when I wanted to. I even ran the PRR 18 minutes faster than last year. It is what it is. Looking forward to next year.
Runner Girl
July 4th, 2009
7:32 pm
I’ve run in the Peachtree for years now. To me, it’s always seemed to be more of an “event” than a serious race – at least once you get beyond that first group of runners. I thought the vast majority of walkers were on the right side of the road today, and if I had to run around someone here and there? Big deal – the Peachtree is what it is. It’s a holiday event, and most people seemed to be enjoying themselves. If you want a really serious road race, this is not the race for you in my opinion. I’ve always felt this way, but I still participate. I’m surprised at how many posters here are so up in arms about people jumping in along the way. Yes, some people do this, but I think the vast majority start where they are supposed to.
Carrie
July 4th, 2009
7:44 pm
This was my 5th Peachtree Road Race and I chose not to wear my chip because I didn’t care about having my time included. I walk and I know I’m slow – and I started with my time group. I don’t think I should not be allowed a number next year because it didn’t trigger at the start line. You guys are way to wrapped up in this – it’s a fun run. You’re not going to win.
Mark
July 4th, 2009
7:50 pm
Folks, it’s not a ‘Race’ for 90 percent of the people out there, it’s a social event, a celebration, a fun for everyone in the family tradition. They might as well call it the annual Peachtree Fun Run. And that’s OK, there’s nothing wrong with a Fun Run.
Anyone looking for a serious race can find one on the other 51 weekends of the year.