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
John Yackett
July 4th, 2009
7:53 pm
I was in the sub-seeded group. I was amazed at the number of folks with numbers lining the street at mile 3-5, just waiting to jump in. At mile 5 I got pushed by a jumper and he did not even say “sorry.” When I passed his ass running I looked at his number and he was in to 90’s. I too hope that the d-tags for all the runner are there to stop some of these folks who Jump in or do early starts. Who are they cheating?? Those that work hard each year to get into shape to walk or run the event. They also diminish the value of the shirt. BTW, It was in the 100’s in Kuwait when the soldiers did the “peachtree.” If they can do it in that temp, you sure can get off your lazy ass and do it in the 70’s here in ATL.
Alicat
July 4th, 2009
7:58 pm
Prevent Cheaters from getting t-shirts… – your idea is brilliant. Not foolproof, as people could still get into their time groups pre-race, get their bracelets, and then head out again, but I bet it would deter a good bit of the cheating. At the T-shirt area…. instead of crossing through the race bib, perhaps volunteers could remove the bracelet, and then give the T-shirt bag. No bracelet = no t-shirt.
I don’t mind people that run/walk. I don’t mind people that need to walk the entire event. Common courtesy is what seems to be lost these days. Stay to the right (or at least the far left/far right, if moving to the right isn’t feasible / safe at the moment), don’t walk more than 2 people wide, and for pete’s sake.. start at the official start line. Easy peasy!
fin c
July 4th, 2009
8:04 pm
1 Maybe more timing mats at each 1 km,
2 Also there could be a TV H.D.live feed at each 1 km mark that you could buy later.
3 If all timing mats very passed you finished.
Alicat
July 4th, 2009
8:23 pm
Heywood.. here’s the thing: Those that are serious runners… CANNOT have a good time on the course, if slower people are cutting in front of them. It’s dangerous. It’s frustrating. Should one person’s enjoyment be at the expense of another who refuses to be honorable?
Maryanne
July 4th, 2009
8:42 pm
What they need to do is severalfold: stop paying out prize money because that corrupts the race. I was involved with the Peachtree for 17 years before I got tired of the snotty attitudes of the ATC and decided I had had enough. Secondly, they need to reduce the number of runners. When they incresed it to I believe it was 40,000, that is when the problems started, especially with runners coming off Lenox Road from the train station.
Thirdly, they need to have more runner-friendly parking cooperation with Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square. It used to be that we (volunteers and runners) were allowed to park in those areas and now I think Lenox charged $5 this year to park. Not everyone is enamoured of Marta!
The Peachtree has lost it’s focus: it was orginally NOT about the elite runner but the everyday fitness enthusiast with a love for the sport. The Track Club says they can’t attract the elite runners without offering prize money, but when I first started, that was never a problem because the elite runners still entered.
It’s a shame the Peachtree has gone so far from it’s original intent-and the issues with cheating that have surfaced are a result of it’s lost focus and for that I entirely faut the Atlanta Track Club.
Peachtree Road Race | All Days Long
July 4th, 2009
9:16 pm
[...] A race of 6.2 miles, but not, alas, for everyone | Mark Bradley By Mark Bradley Mark Bradley of the AJC expresses despair over the course-jumping and start-flouting that has become a sad side note to the Peachtree Road Race. Mark Bradley – http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/ [...]
Jeremy
July 4th, 2009
9:32 pm
They could totally fix the problem with Dtags. The Volunteers keep people in the appropriate time groups and if someone has a tag that didn’t pass go they shouldn’t get a shirt. I completely agree that it is cheating if someone jumps in at mile 2,3,5,etc. Facts are facts, they didn’t run the race. NOW how about the problem with my friends who couldn’t get a number through the ATC but the day after electronic registration they could buy numbers for 100 bucks from 4 different online commercial outlets! Thats a real problem and the ATC has to be involved.
Nancy Miller
July 4th, 2009
10:06 pm
I am VERY proud of my Bosom Buddies, who walked in Time Group 9. We have been walking since last October to train for the Atlanta 2 Day Breast Cancer walk. It was my very first Peachtree, and I managed to come in at a respectable (for me, who usually walks a 20 min mile) 1 hour and 49 minutes. I am proud of walking EVERY step of the way, including back up the hill from the park to the Broadway Diner, where we enjoyed the most delicious breakfast EVER!!
Jay Stone
July 4th, 2009
10:12 pm
While I would agree that it’s not a race for 90 percent — probably a higher percentage than that — if people can just jump in, traverse two miles and get a t-shirt, it does undermine the value of the event. I’m proud of my t-shirt because, as Mr. Yackett mentioned, I trained and got myself into good enough shape to do the whole thing, and then I did the whole thing. If it’s too much trouble to do that, then don’t go out there. It does burn me a little that some people felt it was too early to get up, too much of a hassle or the course was too long, yet they walked out of Piedmont Park with the same t-shirt I did.
Eric
July 4th, 2009
10:22 pm
One way to cut it down – you have to show you finished some other 10k in the last year to even GET an entry to the Peachtree. Prove you are willing to make some effort to get in the race, and it might cut down on some of the cheaters.
Just using the new timing tag won’t matter because they don’t have real-time data at the shirt station. Unless you want to mail shirts to proven finishers the tags are meaningless.
BG
July 4th, 2009
11:19 pm
Eric (@ 10:22 pm), and what’s to make the cheaters run a complete 10K to qualify? Furthermore, that just increases the already-too-high cost of the PRR.
Ken
July 4th, 2009
11:25 pm
Chik-fil-A stinks.
My 10 year old son and I ran up to their truck to get a T-shirt, but they wouldn’t give us one because we weren’t “running” at that exact moment. They would rather throw the shirts into the running masses as they go by and then have them trip over each other and fall to get one of their lousy shirts.
Shame on them.
Ranae
July 4th, 2009
11:26 pm
This was my 4th year participating in the Peachtree Road Race. I always run the race with my mother because she’s my running partner. When we signed up for the race this year only one of received a number because of the new random selecting the ATC did for this year’s race. I have always been bothered by those who jump on the course before their time groups but this year I will admit my mother and I did jump on the course a half mile away from the starting line. We had made the decision to watch the elite runners go by because we’ve never had the opportunity to watch them run. Since this year was the 40th anniversary for the Peachtree we were also able to watch the group of the original 110 finishers run past us. That was an incredible experience and moment for me to share with my mother, a moment I would have missed if we had started the race at the starting line. We didn’t jump on the course until after group one ran past us. I don’t intend to make this habit and I probably won’t ever do it again because there’s nothing like walking up to the starting line of the Peachtree and seeing that great huge American flag hanging above the crowd. I view the Peachtree as a fun10K race, not a race for a PR, but a 6.2 mile run with my mother on our Independence Day.
Bryan M.
July 4th, 2009
11:27 pm
Two very distinct issues here, and only one is “cheating”. Anyone who jumps in the race after the start has little shame. They deserve our scorn, forearm shivers, or maybe a nice lugee on their leg for hopping in front of us.
However the corralling issue is completely different. Everything from 20-99k is a random issue. Most of that is done so ATC can have some type of crowd control, but to expect every corral to only have their numbers (or earlier) is unrealistic, and truly not that big of a deal. For someone earlier to suggest that someone in the 90,000 numbers could not run a 36 min race is a mistake. Most likely that twosome started in an earlier time group, but to have the time they had to cross the start and finish line, and No way MARTA could get them there that fast! I think the ATC volunteers do about as well of a job as a volunteer force can to keep at least the first 4 to 5 time groups as tightly controlled as possible.
Ken
July 4th, 2009
11:40 pm
In the past I have been seeded, subseeded, and this year (after 14 races) I walk-ran in TG 3 with my wife and son because of a worn out knee.
You people need to get over yourselves, especially you idiotic twits running at breakneck speed in TG’s 2 and above (these timing tags for everyone is the stupidest idea I’ve ever seen–it just creates more midpacker jerks). If you are so hellbent on running a fast time, then run in a regular race and get a QT to run in TG’s 1 or better. Newsflash: if your number has more than 4 digits in it, it’s not a “race” for you!
I watched today as some middle aged jerk literally ran over about 10 people, including a much older woman, on the way to the finish line, checking his watch as he crossed. The “gun time” was about 1:33. And there are plenty more like him. If you want to run fast, earn your time and run with the big boys, rather than feed your ego by running over people in the slower groups while trying to shave 2 seconds off your meaningless PR.
It’s an event. Not a race. Enjoy it and chill out.
Lola
July 4th, 2009
11:59 pm
Bravo Ken…
Ken didn't get a shirt
July 5th, 2009
12:04 am
Ken, who are you to dictate if Peachtree is a “race” for anyone with any number? Some people race the clock, try to beat the last 10K time, last year’s PRR, or have a little race with others from their club or family. For some it is a race, even if they are in TG6. You were “seeded and subseeded for 14 years” (yeah right) and you are bitter because Chic-fil-a wouldn’t give your kid a freakin’ shirt…maybe you need to just “enjoy it and chill out”.
It is called the Peachtree Road RACE, not the Peachtree Road T-Shirt Giveaway.
Ken
July 5th, 2009
12:16 am
KDGAS,
It’s impossible for a race with 55k participaants to be a true “race”. It’s simply too packed-in to run to your potential unless you steamroll people the entire way, but apparently plenty of jerks do anyways–sounds like you are probably one of them.
As for me, I used to take the Peachtree seriously, and collected my finisher’s mug every year, until I chilled out, grew up, and decided to enjoy the event with my family, and not make my personal self-worth dependant on whether I cut 5 seconds off my PR.
Newsflash: nobody really gives a rat’s patootie what your PR is.
And I wasn’t angry because my kid didn’t get a shirt. I was ticked off because Chik-fil-A was endangering the runners by tossing shirts out into the streaming masses rather than allowing them to run off the course to the truck and receive them safely.
Besides, I already had a Planet smoothie, Willie’s, and Moe’s shirt, so my wardrobe was quite well-stocked to that point, thanks.
Chuck
July 5th, 2009
12:23 am
Bryan M. if you think they Condra’s (just an example) ran http://projects.ajc.com/running/peachtree/2009/?index=200&order_by=place&dir=asc this time together side by side the whole course I’ve got a magic carpet I’ll sell you. That is when they finished, note the highlighted ones. Not saying someone can’t run 36 mins. but maybe someone who knows them can tell they jumped in b/c never seen their names in running events and probably won’t again at Peachtree.
Bryan M.
July 5th, 2009
1:02 am
I hear you Chuck; on second look I see your point about them not being “elite” category. I am red/green colorblind so it does not jump out of the page that they are the first non-elites in the finish order. Someone (whether it was them or not) had to cross the start line, trigger the timer and end up at the finish 36 minutes later with their D-Chip. I’m just saying that is not impossible. There would be no time if they jumped in later in the race.
Another interesting thing to think about: I had to get my number on the secondary market this year (I have run Peachtree somewhere close to 15 times since 1982), and the guy I bought it from has an official time of 55:00 flat from my run today. Hope he is ok with that. I wonder how many people who sold their numbers have an official Personal Best/Worst today.
Gen Neyland
July 5th, 2009
8:17 am
Cheaters, bandits all. The leaper has no conscience, no sense of fair play. These are the people that will try and steal your wife or husband, your dog. When a line opens at a jam packed grocery store and the checker announces,’I can take the next in line’, they will jump from the back of the masses and swipe the spot. They have no sense of fair play. We that start at the start and finish at the finish have seen them. We may not know their names and won’t remember their faces but that’s okay. They’re not real runners anyway. Just wannabe’s in search of the prize the rest of us have worked for. In essence, they are the runner’s version of a loser…
dmac
July 5th, 2009
9:01 am
I agree that the Peachtree is a very large moving party.
I used to be a serious runner and the one time I ran the Peachtree I started with the “elite” pack. It does not bother me that people jump-in/start early, just so long as these people don’t finish in the top 200 or so.
As Garth and Wayne liked to say, “Party on”.
Ken didn't get a shirt
July 5th, 2009
9:39 am
Ken, you still didn’t answer the question. You just made assumptions about me and commented on your belief that you are a more enlightened person because you now run the peachtree for pleasure (but you mentioned that you got the finisher’s mug and ran seeded several times, refreshing to see you aren’t one of those jerks who thinks your time grouping and finishing spot means you are a man of substance).
So the PRR is your opportunity to spend quality time with your family while filling your wardrobe with cheesy t-shirts, super! As far as being crowded, the PRR is that every year. And yes, a person who positions themselves well can “run to their potential” without running others over. Please do everyone a favor and let others enjoy the race as they wish and not dictate that everyone should be as enlightened as you are…there just aren’t enough shirts! (BTW…most people who have run Peachtree as often as you say you have know all the spots where the shirts get tossed and they are cautious in those areas.)
Kev
July 5th, 2009
9:40 am
Ken -
Your a loser. It is a race, and cheating is cheating. I have a hard time believing that you have been seeded in anything other than a whining contest.
For those of us that look forward to a challenge it is frustrating to see cheaters and deal with knotheads like you.
#82,393 – You are a perfect example
Slow Moving Vehicle
July 5th, 2009
9:50 am
This was my second Peachtree, and the sixth race (10K or half-marathon) I have done, and while I agree that cheaters and line-jumpers are annoying, I can’t get too exercised about them. The Peachtree is more an event than a serious race. I did it for the bands playing along the course, for the cheering spectators, for the “Holy Water” spray at St. Phillips, for the sheer unadulterated fun of it. It’s a great Atlanta street party. I had a wonderful time.
As for having to dodge walkers and slower runners – well, not long ago I was one of them. They are part of the race and part of the fun, and I very much dislike the nasty attitude of some of the “serious” runners – calling people “wide loads” and “lardbutts” is as classless as cheating, and quite a bit more malicious. There are plenty of smaller, less crowded runs over the course of the year, if you’re trying to set a PR or looking for a more competitive race.
I certainly don’t think my t-shirt is “cheapened” in any way by the cheaters – I know I ran the full 6.2 miles, and under my target of 60:00, and my t-shirt represents that accomplishment to me.
Navairmike
July 5th, 2009
10:12 am
Come on Bradley,
You need to get a life.
You absolutely wasted an entire Sunday sports column discussing people walking down Peachtree.
Jay
July 5th, 2009
10:15 am
Hey, cheating is the American way. No problem. Where’ve you been? I ran some P’trees in past years. I really *ran* it. I was a 38-40 minute 10-k’er and was always able to start just behind the elites and seeded runners, and I would occasionally see peope there who clearly didn’t belong there–obviously bought someone else’s number. I’ve also seen this many times in other, smaller, races not as tightly controlled (at the front anyway) as P’tree is. Within one mile, these clowns begin to “die” and are nothing but a hazard for the others, having been burned by the pace. I never could figure out what these idiots were trying to accomplish. But of course, it’s pretty common knowledge now that the P’tree is (and has been for years) a big joke for the most part. For the vast majority of participants, it is nothing but a 6.21-mile cattle drive. And as far as the silly t-shirt thing, I always gave mine to my wife who’d wear it a little.
Tone LaRone
July 5th, 2009
10:38 am
I agree with most of you. I have ran the Peachtree for over 15 times. I started years ago in Group 9 and Saturday I was in Group 2. I start at Lenox and finished at Piedmont. I thought that was the intent of the race or gathering, or whatever you want to call it. Thousands do the correct thing, but more and more others do not. It does bother me that a guy had 99000 and was waiting at the train station with me at 9:00 a.m. I always think of those individuals who register and do not get a number that would love to complete the entire course for the t-shirt.
Mr. Touchdown
July 5th, 2009
11:13 am
People – how many of you would like to start a “race” 90 minutes after it really started? It is 5 to 10 degrees hotter, the sun is higher, the ceremonies are complete, your fan club is tired of waiting on you, and Ken Rodriguez has already gone home. There is no solution to this issue. Chill out and move on to something important.
ty
July 5th, 2009
11:23 am
Imagine if some of the wheelchair athletes had this attitude given what they sacrifice. I cannot hear any of them saying “it takes to long starting from the back, so I rolled in with the group ahead of me”. It is cheating. You cannot rationalize it. If you want a better number then train for it. This behavior reflects the all too familiar American “it’s all about me” attitude. It is lazy and just shows many people want everything but don’t want to “inconvenience themselves” to get it. It is hard enought to get in the race, so respect the process.
Jason Luft
July 5th, 2009
11:24 am
Cathy you are the smartest person to post a comment, you are right everyone who “cheated” (took a short cut) most likely takes short cuts in their lives also. Look people running 6.2 miles is hard but it’s not for everyone. So if you feel like you need to cheat just stay at home or on the sidewalk and cheer.
Quick 6
July 5th, 2009
11:31 am
One of the biggest problems caused by those who jump in at various points during the race, or who manage to acquire numbers they obviously should not have, is the added congestion they cause for faster runners. …case in point – I started in time group TG-5 and approximately 1 1/2 miles into the race, I encountered a group of people with numbers in the 20,000 – 30,000 range who were WALKING! Over the course of 6.2 miles, the extra effort it takes to maneuver around such groups of people could cost you anywhere from several seconds to 1 or 2 minutes. This may not seem like a big deal for many, but for runners attempting to improve their PRs, this can be extremely frustrating! After missing their PRs by a few seconds or more, I’m sure these runners couldn’t help but wonder if they could have achieved their goals, had it not been for the number of 5′-5″ 230 pounds guys they encountered at miles 2 and 3 (wearing numbers in the low 30,000’s, of course), or the several romantic couples they encountered at miles 4 and 5 (wearing numbers in the 20,000’s) holding hands to commemorate how they first met at last year’s race. TRUE RUNNERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 5th, 2009
11:45 am
Taser ‘em, Bro.
Gen Neyland
July 5th, 2009
11:55 am
Jay : The Peachtree is an event where the runner is actually the spectator. Those chasing the mug every year never truly enjoy what the event is about. Your tone sounds rather condescending to all the people that are out there without blinders, set only on a PR and a flipping mug…This PRR was special to me because my daughter’s purpose for running this year was simply to run with her Dad. I played it Gallowayish and let her set the pace. This was my fifth one and her first. I wouldn’t trade the experience for all the worthless mugs you’ve lined up on your mantlepiece…
Jay
July 5th, 2009
11:55 am
“People – how many of you would like to start a “race” 90 minutes after it really started? It is 5 “to 10 degrees hotter, the sun is higher, the ceremonies are complete, your fan club is tired of waiting on you, and Ken Rodriguez has already gone home. ”
I agree. If you are not in condition to actually RUN the 6.2 miles, then walk or jog with your dog somewhere. The ATC long ago let the Peachtree Road Race lose its identity as a RACE. And where does all that money go?
Gen Neyland
July 5th, 2009
11:57 am
…BTW Jay, take a year and volunteer the event. I have and will do so again.
Gary Hosmer
July 5th, 2009
11:58 am
Thank you Mr. Bradley, but I will tell you this – the cheating has been going on for at least 30 years, as that is how many Peachtrees in a row I have done (all from start to finish ranging from 38:23 in 1989 to 59:00 this year). I can tell you that I have seen people standing at Colony Square (past 5 miles) with numbers on who jump in there and run the entire last mile for their coveted T-shirt. I have seen fathers teaching their children wonderful life lessons jumping in at the 3 mile mark to get their coveted tee shirt. The only shirt I wear is my 1980 shirt one day a year to the Expo. The shirt is meaningless these days – they stay on a shelf in my closet. I will probably have them made into a quilt one day when I am too beat up to toe the starting line.
Jay
July 5th, 2009
12:00 pm
“Jay : The Peachtree is an event where the runner is actually the spectator. Those chasing the mug every year never truly enjoy what the event is about. Your tone sounds rather condescending to all the people that are out there without blinders, set only on a PR and a flipping mug…This PRR was special to me because my daughter’s purpose for running this year was simply to run with her Dad. I played it Gallowayish and let her set the pace. This was my fifth one and her first. I wouldn’t trade the experience for all the worthless mugs you’ve lined up on your mantlepiece…”
Gen Nylande, I don’t have any Peachtree Road Race mugs. I’ve never taken one.
Can’t you bond with your daughter in many other ways? If foot “races” are your thing, there are many dozens of them in the area every year. Your response does nothing to defend the joke of the Peachtree Road “Race.”
RamblinWreck
July 5th, 2009
12:19 pm
Mark – thanks for bringing this issue to light. I hope that given the advent of the D-tag this issue can be fixed in future Peachtree Road Races. I think there are a number of other salient issues that ought to be implemented Among them: (i) force walkers to the right (ii) refine the criteria that determines start group. I run a 7:30 mile and was not happy to be in the 90000’s (which I of course started on time), and (iii) take fewer entrants – there were simply too many people. that said, what a brilliant event this is, and i still had an excellent day. thanks to all volunteers yesterday, you guys did a marvelous job!
dpjr
July 5th, 2009
12:21 pm
Who cares? Not one of the “cheaters” walks away with anything(but an overpriced t-shirt). If someone wants to jump in or start early or ?????, that is their perogative and it’s their conscience that they will need to live with. Do we not have better things to worry about on the day of (or day after) the birth of our great nation?
Runner
July 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
I worked hard and had a 10,000 number! I proudly wore it. I also proudly ran in group 5 so I could run with a good friend… we used the extra time to chat and spend time together on an American holiday.
Isn’t that what it is REALLY about?
Gen Neyland
July 5th, 2009
12:35 pm
Jay : I really don’t think you get what the Peachtree is about. If you consider the Peachtree a joke, that’s okay, but you can also entertain the reason the majority of the 54,000 everyday type runners run this race. Yes, I’ll call it a race for time groups 2-9. It’s a personal thing like it was for my daughter and me, or the guy that does it with a walker on wheels, or the guy pushing his kid in a wheeelchair. You see Jay, it’s many different things to many different people. But the bandit is the topic and to go back there is what MB would want us to do…No matter your opinion in the PRR, I’ll still consider you a brother in the world of running…oh and too, I’ve been at this game for nearly 2 decades and have my share of finisher do-dads and shirts. I’m proud of them all…
Chickadeewatcher
July 5th, 2009
12:40 pm
I’m an asthmatic and unable to run but enjoy participating as a walker. Runners must be given priority. AJC please find a way to prevent higher numbers from getting into wrong time group. Otherwise legitimate runners are hampered by cheaters. Runners/walkers can we police our own time groups? Have race supporters nearby that you can report cheaters to? Hope timing of everyone will help next year. Keep those cheaters back with us walkers where they belong.
Nora
July 5th, 2009
1:04 pm
To Runner: It is possible for a TG9 runner to have a better chip time than a TG 1-A/B if he or she is a faster runner who just didn’t happen to submit a qualifying time and was randomly assigned to TG9. And it is conceivable that someone could barely qualify for TG 1-B with a sub-55:00 and still run the Peachtree (which is usually a slower 10K for most people) in a little over an hour. I know because I am someone who has done that!
I am over the t-shirt hype. The shirt means nothing to me. Basically if you pay the entry fee you get the shirt. You can just stroll into Piedmont Park and pick it up. It means nothing – its not even a tech shirt that would be useful for everyday running.
The cheaters make me mad because they are people who think they are better than everyone else – the rules don’t apply to them. If you want a better time group, then run a qualifying race. If you don’t want to do that, then take the number you’re given, be a good sport and play fair.
I HAVE A QUESTION! It is my understanding that if you submit a QT of 55:00+ you get assigned to TG 2 regardless of your time. Okay, that is fair enough. But now, with the everyone in the Peachtree being chipped, does that mean all 55,000 runners will be able to submit a QT for TG 2 next year? They can’t all be in TG 2. And then what would be the point for anyone running over 55:00 to bother running another qualifier? They need to change this where your TG reflects your qualifying time – period – all the way up to TG 7, 8 or whatever. Those with no qualifying times are in TG 9. End of story.
John Bacheller
July 5th, 2009
1:06 pm
Agree with your dislike of cheaters. It is inexcusable. However, I do want to make a correction to your article that appeared in the AJC this morning. I am sure that my wife and I are the runners you were referring to when you said “I saw a couple jogging on the right while the lead pack buzzed by on the left (near Peachtree Battle). The man was wearing a number in the 90,000’s. That group wouldn’t start officially for another 90 minutes.” Actually, the Atlanta Track Club let the “Original 110″ and their immediate families start 8 minutes before the official race start. We were running at just under an 8 minute pace which only looked like jogging because those guys were running sub 5 minute miles. If you had checked the back of our shirts you would have seen we were “Original 110″. Hopefully that will restore a little of your faith in humanity. My family and I have run the race for many years and never cheat.
Chuck
July 5th, 2009
1:15 pm
To RamblinWreck: Turn in a time next yr. when signing up, even if 5K, 8K, or 10K you’ll get seeded at least in time group 3 or better.
To Mr. Touchdown: There is a solution, you can run other races if you want to start on time and then turn in a time to get seeded higher (by turning in a time you’ll be NO worse than time group 4.
Peachtree is the largest 10K therefore you probably get 15K to 20K in which this is the only race they do each yr. therefore the frustration of many that want to “run the race” but can’t b/c of others crowded on the course. I suggest anyone wanting to run comfortable to run a race during the yr. before March and then turn in that time to get up closer to the front where they shouldn’t have these problems.
BnB
July 5th, 2009
1:23 pm
Get over it folks. It’s just a t-shirt and a foot race. This was my second and I ran with my bro-in-law (his 29th consecutive). It’s a wonderful even and the ATC and all those involved do a fantastic job in my opinion. Are there really people out there who get some ind of thrill wearing the t-shirt when they know they didn’t complete the race? Oh yeah, this is the country where people give their daughters fake breasts for graduation gifts.
I’m not setting the woods on fire but ran in under an hour. Yes, I had to dodge some folks an occasionally get up on the side walk or whatever. Life goes on….if you’re lucky. Just enjoy it for what it is. doesn’t someone want to complain about the GI marching with full back pack clogging the road? Get a grip folks. Three cheers for the PTRR.
Judy Peters
July 5th, 2009
1:48 pm
I consider it cheating when someone from time group 9 starts with an earlier group. If you want to start earlier you need to run a qualifying race. It’s the luck of the draw when you sign up without qualifying. There are 55,000 participants of the Peachtree. If you want to stay with your friend that has a lower number…well that “friend” should move back with you..not the other way around. Those are the rules. If you don’t want to abide by those rules…you shouldn’t sign up. You agreed to the rules when you did so. If your friend isn’t willing to do that..well..they aren’t much of a friend or really don’t want to run with you anyway.
This was my 3rd year. The first year I was in the 9’s, last year 7’s and this year 3’s. I saw more from the 6 and 7 time groups than I did my own. With a few 9’s thrown in as well. It was obvious they were in my opinion cheating. I don’t know what else you’d call it.
I also saw a few that jumped in along the way…maybe they didn’t want to run the entire 6.2 miles? Who knows..also cheating not only themselves..but the event itself. If you want a T-shirt…you should earn it. If you don’t want to earn it..go out and buy one later. I’m sure you can find one on ebay! Those should have a big “I didn’t actually run the Peachtree, but I got this great shirt”.
Steve
July 5th, 2009
2:06 pm
This is the Peachtree Road Race, not the Peachtree t-shirt give away. Whether running or walking, it is a challenge of your fitness. Those participating should follow the rules. If it takes too long to get started then try to submit a time to get moved up or don’t race!. I can’t stand seeing everyone in their numbers standing along Peachtree Road in their numbers waiting to jump in.
Those handing out the t-shirts should scan each individual chip to see that they have a start and an end time or no t-shirt.
Runninchick
July 5th, 2009
3:12 pm
I agree with what many have said here: 1. It’s frustrating that there are cheaters, 2. it’s frustrating that people don’t follow the rules and 3. it’s frustrating for people expecting the “run” this event to bob and weave around the less serious people.
However, to expect the ATC to develop a system to check the D-tags is absolutely absurd. There is no way that could be done effectively at t-shirt pick up or the finish for 55,000 runners. If I were to make a suggestion, the ATC should have volunteers at the corral entry somehow mark the bib numbers to indicate they passed that checkpoint and entered the corral. The volunteers are checking the bib numbers already (theoretically) and could make a mark, punch a hole, something. That way, when a participant goes to pick up a shirt at the finish, no mark of corral entry bib number means the individual didn’t enter the corral or get marked, so no t-shirt.