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
Kevin Jones
July 5th, 2009
3:35 pm
I agree with most people that if you start somewhere other than the Lenox start time that is cheating
so there should be no debate about that.I was in TG-3 and I had to dodge people who were walking
on the left side of Peachtree so my solution to that would be to have one group maybe the last
reserved for walkers and for anyone else who just want to be seen.That way runners can devote our
energies to finishing the race and and not dodge the walkers who are on the left side and the
walkers can devote there energies to also finishing the race.Maybe not perfect but it is something to
think about.
Bill
July 5th, 2009
4:09 pm
Excellent idea from Runninchick about marking bibs as you enter corrals.
I appreciate the comments from those in groups 4-9 about it not being a race. However, when you have trained, ran another race to get a qualifying time, gotten into TG1 and still have to dodge walkers at mile 2+, then cheaters are causing a problem.
Meg
July 5th, 2009
4:20 pm
To Chuck, and others who are looking at the results here on the AJC website:
The places AND results are based on the individual line to line time, NOT gun time. So those people in the 90,000s who placed better than those in the 1,000s (ie, 224-226 as mentioned above) didn’t cheat. Go to the ATC website results… you can see that those people actually have a clock time, from the point the race actually started, of just over 2 hours, and a chip time- the amount of time elapsed between when they crossed the start and when they crossed the finish, of just under 40 minutes.
So, those specific cheaters mentioned definitely did NOT cheat.
Peachtree Justice
July 5th, 2009
4:31 pm
I disagree that there is not a victim when these vermin cheat by jumping in the race ahead of the start line. The victims are the thousands of people who wanted to run it but were closed out because the 55,000 limit was reached. Peachtree cheaters should be tasered. Repeatedly.
ames
July 5th, 2009
4:58 pm
I agree with Mark and BnB . It’s just a fun event that brings to many a feeling of city pride. I was scheduled to run at 7:30. My number was in the 1500s. My friend did not submit a time and was placed in the 90,000s. We found a place in the 80,000s and started there. It was super fun! Definitely no PRs were made- but who cares.
Watt
July 5th, 2009
5:33 pm
This was my 18th P’tree Road Race. I ran group 4 and finished at 62:07 –my best time was in ‘97 at 42:21. I want to thank all of the wonderful volunteers for this year –without you there would be no PRR.
The PRR is a reflection of society isn’t it? I mean, you have people who are honest, dishonest, selfless, selfish, abide by rules, break rules at any given opportunity. I cannot understand why anyone would cheat. I train, prepare and look forward to both the physical as well as the mental challenge of running 6.2 miles in 60 minutes. I like knowing that I really accomplished something when I stick my chest out, have a black mark marked on my bib # and get handed my tee-shirt. The rulebrakers, well that’s on them. They are the ones who have to live with themselves.
What I do get a little annoyed at is the walkers on the left side of the road. Dear people, just move over to the right. It really is a problem when you are attempting to thin yourself out from your group and you’re dodging walkers before the 1 mile mark. I’m all for anyone and everyone who wants to participate in this event to have the opportunity to register, pay, and receive a bib #. Walk the entire course if you so desire –but do it on the right side of the road, please.
I dealt with two “self-before-others” happenings in 2009. 1) At the 4 mile mark two “runners” with group 6 bibs (hmm, must be some fast runners), having finished a chat with spectators on the left sidewalk, walked, yes walked, right out into our running group –thank goodness I saw this happening as it unfolded or I would have run slap over the woman. As it turned out I had to dodge fellow runners who were having to dodge them –like a domino effect.
2) When group 4 approached Pharr Road, a spectator with a bicylce was pedaling up the left side of the road –bad enough– but he was pedaling AGAINST the flow of runners. Unbelievable stupidity.
As always though, I had a terrific time. I thoroughly enjoy myself each and every year, be it I’m running with family and friends, or running by myself. I look forward to #19 in 2010 –and know that I will still have to avoid those left-side walkers.
Patricia Angle
July 5th, 2009
6:37 pm
This was, as always, fantastic fun! Great job by the ATC!!! I actually thought that fewer walkers were to the left this year – normally I get pretty upset about that – but what I did notice was that there were lots of kids whose parents had lied about their ages to get them into the race. In fact, the little girl and her mother who started near me didn’t even bother with numbers! Silly me, I actually got up early one day in March and went through a lot of frustration and spent money to get a number.
Oh, and re the iPods, I use a Nike+ sensor in my shoe, and it uses the iPod to record my distance, time, and pace. It only works with the headphones plugged in, although I tuck the earpieces into my shirt and don’t wear them. Maybe some of those other iPod people are using the same device?
Bill
July 5th, 2009
6:45 pm
I must have said “loser” 50 times during the race. Once for each time I saw someone that I knew started way before their time group did. I was in Group 2 and I passed many people in the race that had numbers in a higher group. Their groups hadn’t even started yet and I saw them 2 miles into the race. It’s cheating. If you want to walk then walk, just start with your group. I saw a mom jump in from the sidewalk with her 2 young sons about a mile into the race. A fine example she is setting. If it’s just about the t-shirt then pay your registration fee and go striaght to Piedmont Park and get your shirt. But stay out of the race.
Chris
July 5th, 2009
7:16 pm
I run a qualifying race every year and am proud to earn my 1A spot. While cheating may occur in other races, the blatant disregard for the rules and disrespect for other runners seen at the PTRR tarnishes the spirit of the event, not to mention presenting serious hazards for other runners. Don’t know how to fix this problem other than to publicize it and “call out” those who do jump in. Volunteers do a fine job of manning the start corrals but you can’t police the whole course. Check out the picture in the AJC – there’a a guy with a TG9 number finishing with TG1 and 2 folks. Think he started fairly??
Brandon
July 5th, 2009
9:13 pm
I certainly agree with the you on the cheaters, but even worse is the fact that 25% of the walkers are on the left side of the road. You have to dodge them all race long if you are legitimately running the race. This can clearly be enforced by race offficials but isnt at this point.
Chad Eaton
July 5th, 2009
9:26 pm
The folks jumping ahead into groups they dont have a number for does tick me off, but I have to say that people walking, and I mean slowly walking down the left side bothers me more The registration clearly says if you plan to walk, tell them, so they can give you a 9 for crying out loud and stay out of my way and the thousands of others who like to actually run the race as it is intended.
Nikita
July 5th, 2009
10:33 pm
I’ve run 7 times in the last 12 years. I thought the volunteers did a reasonably good job of stopping people from moving up to earlier groups, but there were definitely some people who either jumped a higher group or jumped in later.
Other thoughts:
1. I ran in group 2 this time, and I turned in a time in a qualifying race that was not good enough for the official seeding time (I ran the US 10K last year with a 102-degree temperature. and didn’t PR. Shocker.) I understand that if you turn in any time, you will get into a group that is relatively high. I understand also that a lot of the corporate groups are in higher groups, and the people in those groups may not be runners at all. Plus, of course, people sell their numbers. As a result, there are always people clogging up the lanes by trudging along in all the groups, starting at 2. The further back you are, the more of them there are. I don’t so much care, except that my time suffered a bit when I had to dodge walkers walking 5 abreast in the first few miles and I don’t think that’s right.
2. I really think the PTRR folks need to limit what kind of items can be given/thrown at the race — and I think anything other than paper cups of water should only be obtainable by stepping off the course. The Moe’s and Chick fil-A t-shirts were really distracting and potentially dangerous.
3. As to the comments about it being hotter later…true. But that doesn’t give you the right to get the conditions you want if you haven’t earned them. I have to admit I’d consider not running if I ever drew a number in the 9s again, because it does suck. But again, it’s not fair to switch up by breaking the rules.
4. I like the idea about DQing those who fail to cross both timers. That would open up the opportunity for more serious entrants to get numbers, and that’s a good thing. But no doubt some cheaters would cheat by just buying someone else’s number.
5. The t-shirt — whatever. This year’s was ugly and cheap.
SGonzales
July 5th, 2009
10:35 pm
You 2s and 3s whiners, not to mention non-participating sports reporters, should get a life! I’ve run the Ptree off and on since ‘79 and it’s now a race for about 1000 runners, and a parade for the other 54000. Just because you lucked into a low number you resent someone not wanting to start a 7:30 race/parade at 9:00? Let me guess; you’re also prone to road rage? Another news flash; a whole lot of folks in the 2s can’t break an hour and a half. Chill out and try to enjoy the fireworks without having to ’set the world straight’!
Dave F.
July 5th, 2009
10:36 pm
“Cheaters” are those who collected a t-shirt without completing the race from start to finish. I don’t know how many of those there were, but surely there were plenty. I don’t know how they can live with themselves, but it’s probably something they do every day.
I wouldn’t call those who start before they should “cheaters.” I’d just call them selfish. It’s just not convenient for them to obey the rules, and of course the whole point of the rest of the world is the make life convenient for them. They are the same people who cut through shopping center parking lots to avoid waiting in line at a traffic light, or who leave grocery store buggies in the middle of a parking lot rather than walking 30 feet to put it in a safe, out-of-the-way place. They are too self-centered to care that rules are created to maintain order. But a lot of our culture these days teaches people that they should just grab and claw and push and shove and ignore other people and disobey rules that make living easier for everyone. It’s all about them.
Keeping people out next year if they jumped their start time would be a good idea, but I don’t know how you’d enforce that. They’d just register under another name or email address. It would be more immediate punishement to deny them their shirts at the finish. Have computers at the shirt handout so people can tell what time any tag crossed the start line. If you started before your designated time, no shirt. The problem with that is the tag they used yesterday. I looked around and noticed many tags improperly applied (or not applied at all). Only 50,009 folks officially were timed, which means almost 10% didn’t get times. Most of those surely did not “cheat.” The instruction sheet was poorly designed: The side with the big, colorful pictures was the side that showed how NOT to do it. Obviously many people just saw the pictures and didn’t read a word. That will need to be improved before it can be used to enforce the rules.
I had a great time (though my time wasn’t great), and I hope to be back next year, starting in my designated time group once again, doing my part to keep things orderly and fun for everyone.
Tracy
July 6th, 2009
9:06 am
Yes, cheaters suck. It is a slap in the face to those of us that bust our butts training, getting a qualifying number to get into a time group, show up on time to our groups, and then run the race start to finish. We can wear our t-shirts proudly because we EARNED them.
I hope the ATC uses the information provided by the timing tags when they send out next year’s numbers. If you didn’t have a start time but you have a finish time, no number for you!
LisaRW
July 6th, 2009
9:44 am
as a walker/jogger i DO stay on the right side of the road. and there are participants that i must pass and there are those that must pass me. when there are 50,000 – 55,000 participants, there is going to be some congestion. the event organizers and volunteers do a wonderful job!! it is unfortunate that some “participants” are unable to appreciate the beauty of the event and/or the sense of accomplishment from an honest run.
i personally believe that all participants should be qualified for this event in order to assign everyone to an appropriate group. a 10k event should be part of any training plan for the PRR! of course there will always be those who negatively impact the event by not being able to follow the rules!
dlp
July 6th, 2009
9:57 am
I think the tags would not take care of any cheaters, because when you cross the finish line, the rfid tags would not tell you if they ever crossed the start line.
You would need one additional step at the end of the race to verify a true start line position.
Had a great time and could care less if cheaters participated. They have to live with it, not me. I enjoyed the real thing!
Gary
July 6th, 2009
10:26 am
I also dislike the “cheaters”. I think the volunteers could do a better job of monitoring who goes in at each location, but moreso, with the timing chips, they could determine who started with the correct group, and maybe they should send them an email saying “We Know!” and for those who went over the finish without going over the start… ban them from future participation. If you can’t run/walk a 10K you shouldn’t enter the race. There are only 55,000 spots available.
Chris
July 6th, 2009
11:14 am
All that has to happen is the Atlanta Track Club prohibit people from signing up next year that didn’t have a start time this year. The problem will work itself out shortly.
Long time runner
July 6th, 2009
11:28 am
Just sent my annual note to the Track Club concerning the cheating. For a number of years I have suggested that wrist bands be distributed in the time group areas before the race. In order to receive your t-shirt you would have youe wrist band removed. Pretty simple, right? Just get a note saying thanks for my idea.
After 19 consecutive years I did not run this year and I am one of those grandfathered so get an application early.
Now with the new timing strips they could check to see if the strip had been activated before you get your t-shirt.
Tracey- bring back the honor to the Peachtree Road Race!
Brian
July 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
Thanks Mark B. for giving voice to the frustrations I’ve had for the last several years over Peachtree cheaters. For most of us, that treasured _finisher’s_ shirt is the only trophy we get. Those that don’t go the whole 6.2 miles (at whatever speed they’re capable of) demean and devalue the shirt that we’ve earned. To repeat, the shirt is earned in covering the distance, not by paying race fees. (Do you wonder if the same individuals eaned a degree by paying tuition and then blowing off classes?) Hopefully the ATC will muster the will to use the timing information to disqualify or ban those who cheat — whether shortcutting the course, throwing an elbow at the finish, or jumping their assigned time group!
J
July 6th, 2009
2:10 pm
This was my 1st PRR and it was quite an experience. Yes, I did walk. but I did the whole thing, no cheating.. I was in time group 8 and made very sure that I stayed to the right. I guess because I was in 8 I didn’t see that many people cutting in. I was about run over by a woman pushing a stroller. I really wanted to remind her that strollers weren’t allowed, but couldn’t think of a way to say it without calling her a b****. Yeah I agree they should do something to try and stop the cheating, but what do the cheaters have – a $30 shirt. Me, yeah I have the shirt too, but I also have the memory, and the sights, and the great feeling of accomplishing something that I never thought I’d be able to.
J.D.
July 6th, 2009
2:29 pm
And the big surprise here is…? There are always going to be cheaters. They cheated growing-up and in school, cheat at their jobs and cheat in their marriages. A large group of us have lost their morals and ethics.
If they get busted for cheating they’ll whine and moan and make enough of a racket to the point somebody’ll give ‘em a shirt just to shut ‘em up. We can’t change them. They’ll have to live with themselves and know deep-down what the real truth is.
Les
July 6th, 2009
2:31 pm
I had a Peachtree number in the 90,000 grouping. And I started at the back of the pack and walked the Peachtree. I walked at a stiff pace… and although I was walking, I passed countless people who were only strolling or meandering.
When I checked my time results, I discovered that I finished my walk of the course faster than nearly half of the “runners.” Almost half the participants had a finishing time slower than me… and I walked the course.
That is evidence to me that very few participants actually run the Peachtree Road Race. They casually and liesurely walk their way down the course. A minority of the participants are actually running.
It is not a “road race.” It is a social event, and “the thing to do” on July 4th. The tee-shirt is not about bragging rights for running the full 6.2 miles. The tee-shirt is a statement that you were there on that date.
If the Atlanta Track Club wants that to change, then they should require a qualifying time for every participant, and cut the number of participants down to about 30,000.
T. Lane Gray
July 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
This year was my 15th at the PTR and I have volunterred for the past four years to assist at the start line for time group 8. Most runners follow the track club’s written instructions to arrive in time to join their assigned number groups. Unfortunately there will always be the runners that are special and make their own rules. As a friend’s father said there may be no justice in this life, but lets hope they receive their reward in the after life in a much hotter and more humid place than Atlanta on the 4th of July.
Ellen Nemhauser
July 6th, 2009
3:48 pm
Oh, so Mr. Bradley now allows for walkers since his wife is one. Several years ago he was really nasty about us walkers – those of us who are honest, start with our own group and are in it to test our personal best.
Doh
July 6th, 2009
4:26 pm
It’s called cheating. It’s taking space from others. It’s against the rules. If you can’t deal with the rules stay home and watch it on TV.
John
July 6th, 2009
5:09 pm
I’m 60 years old and this was my first Peachtree event. I walked a lot and ran a little and did not cheat. It was a challenge to myself and the fact that 48K+ participants posted a faster time than I is of no concern to me. I finished it – won my personal challenge and look forward to next year. Congrats to all those like myself who did likewise.
Meanbgreen
July 6th, 2009
5:19 pm
This is terrible and suggests deeper problems with the individuals who do this. This spring, Powerman Alabama officials put their head in the sand and didn’t disqualify Uli Broome who ‘took’ third place for the women’s race by cutting a block, thus cheating every single woman in the race. She also lied to officials that she didn’t cut while atleast 20 saw her cut and all started screamin that she cut immediatly. This race has made itself a joke in the Duathlon/Powerman league. And so have the officials.
Celia Gilner
July 6th, 2009
6:16 pm
Having run the Peachtree 19 consecutive years I’ve seen many improvements and the crowd is always so wonderful. There aren’t many things about the race that dampen my enthusiasm, but the CHEATERS do. I raised my children by the “What if” rule. “What if” everyone did what you did? If everyone jumped in wherever they wished we wouild not be able to have a Peaschtree Road Race, so CHEATERS get back in your assigned groups!
Be a good example to your children and mine.
Charlie Original 110
July 6th, 2009
6:37 pm
The ATC really honored the original 110 this year with an early start. It was an awesome experience to see the elite runners go by. The cheating has been going on for years for mainly 2 reasons. One is to get in the top 1000 to get the finisher’s cup and the other is to get the t-shirt. The chip system installed several years ago resolved the problem of cheaters getting the cup. This year all runners had an opportunity to compete for the The Top 1000 finisher’s Cup since it is awarded on net chip time. In years past the 1000th person may run well over 44 minutes. This year because of the cooler weather and more competitors the time to beat was 43:23.
The Georgia Junior Olympics used the wrist band system this year and it work very well. It is a good idea that I also support for the ATC and have recommended it to the ATC as many have on this website. Many charity races give you the t-shirt when you receive your number. As long as the Peachtree shirt is a FINISHER’S shirt earned by completing the 6.2 miles, then it seems that trying to set up a system to eliminate the cheaters as was done for the Top 1000 Cup would a good move for the ATC.
Walking Tall
July 6th, 2009
7:08 pm
I am a walker and I signed up online this year. I was very honest about my intention to walk, not run the peachtree and a medium pace. When I got my number in the mail, I was very surprised to get a number in the 30,000’s and thought it had to be a mistake. I went ahead and lined up in my proper group. As I started looking around me I noticed that there were many people around me that did not look like they were running either. As we started, I realized what the ATC had done this year. They were assigning walkers and non-seeded runners randomly and in what seemed to be equal numbers. I have to say, that it was great. In my group, the walkers stayed to the right as instructed and we walked as other time groups passed us on the course. We never bunched up at the start, or any of the water stations as we have done in years past. A lot of people on the sidelines made comments about the walkers “lying” to get their numbers. Not me..it was what I was given. I think it was deliberate, and it worked. I hope they do the same next year.
Chicken
July 6th, 2009
8:09 pm
Here’s an idea….arm volunteers and runners with Black Sharpies. See jumpers or a 90,000 in 1B time group, mark through the number. No t-shirt!
I thought the requirement for a T-shirt was to run the race in under 55 minutes. Remember the T-shirt clock? Didn’t start until the last person crossed the starting line. Yeah right! Now we have the D-tags. No excuse for not requiring 55 minutes to get a shirt. (Will never happen)
If you are going to CHEAT, at least WAIT until the seeded and time group 1 runners have passed.
Jeff
July 7th, 2009
12:00 am
The only people being cheated are the cheaters themselves, who will not have earned the sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that comes from legitimately running the race from start to finish. Losers!
jct
July 7th, 2009
7:58 am
This was my first race. I was going to run but hurt my back last month. I had a group 4 number. I walked with the group 9 because I did not want to be in the way of the ’serious’ runners. I walked to the right. I can’t understand why people have to jump in late. It took me 1 hour and 56 minutes to finish but I finished. I had fun and hope that next year I will be able to run with a better time.
It’s supposed to be fun.
j
July 7th, 2009
8:10 am
I’m a former runner, and even though i’ve never run the peachtree, I can understand where people are coming from. Of course, try running a cross-country race, and this wouldn’t seem like a big deal … no matter how much you complain, there is always going to be people walking in the wrong lane or slower runners in front of you. I recall having to elbow and push my way through a pack in cross-country b/c the other teams had their slower runners near the front. Stop whining, nothing is going to change … this event seems to have become more a social event than an actual race.
Les
July 7th, 2009
8:36 am
The Peachtree Road Race is NOT an actual race. 90% of the people out there are not there to win anything… or even do a personal best. They are out there simply to participate, and have bragging rights that they went down Peachtree on July 4th. More than half of the people out there walk the entire course. Another 25% run/walk the course. A fraction of the people out there are actually running the entire distance.
With that in mind (that it is a social event, and not a race), it helps to keep you in the right perspective about the behavior of errant individuals. I am sure that the people who “cheat” in the Peachtree Road Race don’t see it as cheating. I am sure that they would rationalize their behavior. Despite that, all of the posters here have pointed out the problems with the cheating behavior, and why it is wrong – even at the Peachtree.
Thomas P.
July 7th, 2009
8:48 am
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.
- – - – -
This has got to be the stupidest post on here. You’re chastizing runners for wanting to finish up with a good time? Are you serious!? And hey pal, guess what –it is the Peachtree Road RACE, not the Peachtree Road EVENT.
I check my watch at every mile marker, and certainly try to finish up with the best time possible. That’s what it’s all about, running and finishing.
Wrong again
July 7th, 2009
9:37 am
Les
July 6th, 2009
2:31 pm
…It is not a “road race.” It is a social event, and “the thing to do” on July 4th. The tee-shirt is not about bragging rights for running the full 6.2 miles. The tee-shirt is a statement that you were there on that date.
———-
It is called the Peachtree Road RACE, not the Peachtree SOCIAL EVENT.
Les
July 7th, 2009
4:18 pm
Wrong again: You may disagree with what I said. And that’s fine. I was not giving my opinion of what it should be… I was making an observation.
When 60% of the people out there do not run at all… and when at least 25% of the people out there liesurely stroll… it may be called the Peachtree Road RACE. But an overwhelming majority of people out there are not racing. They are treating it like a social event.
I am not saying that is what it is supposed to be. I am merely making a statement of what is happening.
And, as I said in my previous post… the Atlanta Track Club can easily change that. But I believe that the Atlanta Track Club does not want to change it. ATC wants to have bragging rights that they sponsor the biggest 10K in the world. If the ATC restricted the PRR to real runners and real racers, then the field would be smaller and they would no longer be able to tout having the largest “race” in existence.
George
July 7th, 2009
11:17 pm
Meg wrote: “The places AND results are based on the individual line to line time, NOT gun time. So those people in the 90,000s who placed better than those in the 1,000s (ie, 224-226 as mentioned above) didn’t cheat. Go to the ATC website results… you can see that those people actually have a clock time, from the point the race actually started, of just over 2 hours, and a chip time- the amount of time elapsed between when they crossed the start and when they crossed the finish, of just under 40 minutes.
So, those specific cheaters mentioned definitely did NOT cheat.”
It’s not as straightforward as that. It’s possible for runners to take MARTA or a car to Midtown after crossing the starting line. Alternately there might have been a computer error. In the case of these particular three runners with 9xxxx numbers that ran just under 37 minutes, one of them Cameron Reid in 225th pace looks legitimate. A quick search shows that Cameron is a 4:27 miler and was a top high school runner in the state last year. However Scott and Robin Condra in 223rd and 224th don’t look right, Robin in particular stands out. A 36:58 for a 39 year-old woman is very, very fast. She’d be one of the top women runners in Atlanta if she could run that fast and would certainly turn up in race results from other races. However the only other two race results I found for her were a 36:32 at the 2007 Gobble Jog 5K and a 36:20 at the 2008 Polar Bear 5K. Those were 5Ks not 10Ks! So I think it’s safe to conclude she didn’t run a 36:58 at the Peachtree. I didn’t find any race results from other races for Scott Condra, which is unlikely for a sub-37 minute male masters runner, but not impossible. Maybe somebody else that was really fast used their numbers. Maybe there was a computer glitch in the results. Maybe they took MARTA to Midtown after jogging across the start line.
Les
July 8th, 2009
9:20 am
George,
I agree with what you have written.
In the marathons that I have run with the timing chip, they provide splits at various other points in the race. Usually the time is captured at three other points in the race.
If the ATC is going to provide timing strips to every single runner, then the next logical step is to capture splits at 2-miles and 4-miles. That would prevent the type of cheating that may be possible here.
It is certainly plausible (and an easy thing) to cross the start line, then run off the course and get in a car. Drive (or get driven) close to the finish line, then jump back on the course. Using Marta to cheat is unlikely, because on race day the Marta trains were running a delayed schedule, and the Marta stations down track are too far away from the course to make it feasible to use it as a time advantage.
Then another possibility is system error… which I know happens, because my time was erroneous. I did not put my timing strip on my shoe; I put it in the pocket on my shorts. I did not want to get timed, so I decided not to install the strip onto my shoe. When I pinned my number onto my shirt as I was standing in the 90,000 starting chute, I pulled-off the timing strip and put it in my pocket. Apparently something got picked-up because I see that I am listed with a recorded time that is twenty minutes slower than my actual time. The time is very slow, so it is inconsequential in anyone’s examinations of the results. But errors can happen.
Chicken
July 8th, 2009
6:24 pm
I think all times were defaulted to 7:30 start time if chip did not cross the start line. I know of a pair of runners who were late for the race, came out of MARTA North Springs Station about 8:30, did not cross the starting line but crossed the finish line just after 9:30. Their times were listed in results as over 2 hours.
That probably means that our friends the Condra’s are triple cheaters. They did not start in their time group, probably jumped in at the halfway mark just as the elite runners were coming through, and ran a 36 minute 5k. Congratulations! Wear that shirt with pride Scott and Robin! Everyone can now improve their finish position by AT LEAST 2. WhoHoo.
Alan
July 12th, 2009
6:20 pm
lol, someone coined the term FWW (fat waddling walkers). Not saying that they have less right to be in the PT Roadrace than me, but I ran by a FWW with her elbows swinging about three people wide and she nailed me in the gut as I ran by…not too cool when I’m already huffing. Honestly, if they say walkers to the right….walkers, please get over to the right.
It’s hard to push yourself for a good time when you have to zig-zag for 6.2 miles.
Sam Cox
June 11th, 2010
9:40 am
I grew up in Atlanta, where most of my family still lives. I ran mhy first PRR in 1972, at the age of 13, when there were only 200-300 runners, still the biggest race in the South. Since 1972, I have run 31 Peachtrees, in spite of coming in from out of town. I’ve missed a few when living in Europe and a couple of others due to injuries. Peachtree has many positive memories for me, as it has for years been somewhat of a family reunion, with my two brothers, my sister, and a sister-in-law all running. For years I was a seeded runner, running in the 31:50-34:00 range. Now, at 51, I’m hoping to run 39:00 but I’ll probably just be in a time group that will make this goal difficult because of thei increasing number of cheaters. I agree with many of the comments above; for years now I’ll be running 6:00 minute miles and have overweight walkers and 12:00-14:00 minute mile joggers ahead of me at miles 2, 3 and even 6 miles. It is so frustrating, that every year i debate whether i will ever run this race again. And, as an out-of-towner/non-ATC member I have over the years faced significant discrimination in both an entry as well as seeding. After all these years, 2010 may be my 32nd and final PRR; it is just not worth it anymore.