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Hull Marathon, 1st Female!!
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http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/photo.py?event=Sports/CPUK/2012/Hull%20Marathon&photo=HULC0754&match=3
Some pics from yesterday...
Oh dear sounds like there were quite a few issues which is a real shame especially if it threatens a potentially good event - If it is staged again lessons will have at least been learnt (the hard way - with runners penalised sadly.)
I don't think there's any difference between events organised by companies & running clubs, both can be equally good or bad - Those working as part of companies have in most cases had a running background & belonged to running clubs - just because you can run does not automatically mean you can organise ?
Fingers crossed this event recovers & bounces back next year.
What a nightmare for you Hilly. I hope the course measurement gets sorted. Well done on the win though.
I think this is a point well made.
She hasnt intentionally gone out to do anything untoward and struck me as being a little startled at being suddenly thrust into the headlights.
She was being badly 'advised' in the immediate aftermath and, quite frankly, it is the last thing you need when your head is somewhere else at the end of a marathon.
She will be the biggest victim in all this when it all settles down so deserves plenty sympathy.
A Garmin Measurement thats online from the race!!
25.84 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166099944
Not sure about the turn around near the ferry terminal, tired legs bit of a stumble you would be on your way to the north sea!!
Well what a fiasco for Hull
I didn't run this one myself, but was hoping that the organisers would prove everyone wrong and stage a great event. It's a bit embarrassing for running in the area, with proper planning and consultation, and a lot more marshalls by the sounds of it, this should have been a great event for the city! IF it goes ahead next year I think they'll struggle to get the backing of the running clubs again, and therefore struggle to get the numbers and quality of runners needed. It's a shame really.
Well done Hilly on your deserved win - I hope the course measures right and you get the credit you deserve for a crackin' time!
I agree with Pete wholeheartedly though - the lady who crossed the line and was awarded first deserves our sympathy. Bless her it was her first marathon, and I know she trained really hard for it. Due to no errors on her part really she is now the subject of much debate, and to top it all off doesn't even have a marathon time to show for it at the end of her months of training. I feel genuinely sorry for her, it must have been so confusing. She may not have been the rightful winner, but she does not deserve to be branded a cheat. I imagine she absolutely devastated about all of this. I just hope she picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets back to training for another marathon - even if she was 3 miles short or whatever, she has obviously got a pretty decent time in her legs!
Give her a break. Its the organisers that have messed this one up - BIG TIME!!
Will the Humber Bridge 10k get into the 21st centrury and be chip timed this year as we all know accuracy is an expectation these days, having a simple timing mat on the Hull Marathon victoria dock turnaround would have certainly shown some descrepancies.
OK, my tongue in cheek comments about her sharing her training may have been a bit harsh, but I didn't go so far as to accuse her of cheating. As I've said elsewhere on t'interweb (not this forum, before you all scurry away to check up on me!), on the basis that the girl who 'won' was mis-directed, I hope they do give her a refund and that, once she's got over this, she has a crack at 3.15/3.20 elsewhere. By the look of the results she was in with a shout at 2nd or 3rd lady even though 1st was a bit beyond her, assuming that the halfway split of 1.35 being bandied about is accurate.
It's not been good for big town/city races recently, what with some runners being misdirected at Reading, cones out of place in Brighton, Cardiff being short the other year... Maybe it always used to happen and we just never knew before because no-one had GPS devices!
Sorry I posted my pics on here by mistake earlier
Also I did say to the lady yesterday I was sorry for her and that still stands and yes the organiser is to blame not anyone else! I have not as yet been awarded any prize and await my first prize from them. I understand they gave her first prize soon after crossing the line when they said it would be when the first 3 had finished. Now it appears they will have to give me exactly what they gave her but I'm still waiting for an update from Hull Marathon.
It is only fair for Dawn Broom to get the full prize money, she completed the course.
As for Garmin measurements, I am a course measurer, not of this race but many in the Hull area and they can be very inconsistent !
See this link http://www.coursemeasurement.org.uk/gps.htm
No word yet from the organisers ?
Another point on Garmins. Here's a reading from yesterday:-
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166270839
If you zoom in close, it seems as if this runner spent much of the last 10k running on water! I know it was Easter Sunday where we celebrate the ultimate miracle of Christ's resurrection, but I don't think that divine spirit extended to running on the River Humber...
Hope they sort out your prize soon, Hilly, and give you and any other innocent parties affected a full apology and an explanation.
2 and a bit entry fees I think!!
Hilly.....just want to pass on my congratulations and to say i think you have handled yourself with patience and grace on here......
on a smaller scale i entered a race on boxing day with my family........i was presented with the mother and son prize.......5 mins later a lady asked for our times....when i gave her times she said she thought her and her sons were a few seconds faster.so we looked at the official results.she was correct...the organisers started looking for another trophy...without a thought.my 16 son handed the organisers back the trophy so that they could present it to the correct winners............it was his first trophy but even he knew that he would never enjoy it knowing he hadn't deserved it.........
the smile on her face was worth it as it was the first time her son had run with her.........
Juggler - they have agreed to look at the last 10k for next year. There is actually a decently organised HM that goes over the Humber Bridge and then does a loop round the village of Barton on Humber on the south bank. IMHO it would be far better to have the extra 10k on that side in the middle of the race. It wouldn't have the city feel of Hull but be a much better course to race on.
I think this is a case of a company which specialises in triathlons trying to take on a big city marathon without taking on any support on offer from local clubs (they could probably even have hired some mile markers for a small donation!). I wouldn't even say most of the issues were first time teething problems, but basic stuff people like me had been banging on about for months.
I recall doing an inaugural marathon in your neck of the woods - the North Dorset one - in 2009. I think they set a limit of 200 as they wanted to sure the integrity of the event and the first priority was to make sure it all ran smoothly for those that did enter, rather than maximising profits by overextending themselves.
Seren - nice story and as a sportsman I could never claim anything I had not properly earned.
Thanks for such kind words all!
Yes a very nice story, Seren.
Juggler, the Humber Bridge section was okay yesterday, but I wouldn't want to be up there on a very windy day!! Yes there are lots they need to do to make it a better course although there were some parts that were quite nice.
We'll definitely be coming up north for a race or two in a year or so when we have a bit more free time, There must be some cracking races in your neck of the woods.
Yes, the North Dorset Marathon is a classy event. We'll be running it in a relay of four this year. They are gradually increasing their numbers, but keeping it small enough to maintain quality.
🙂
Juggler, let us know if you want any information on races in this area - BR will have done a few
There were 868 finishers. Taking in for a few dropping out, I would make it just over 900 took part.
They need to get rid of the relay next time or at least separate it out.
It is confusing and it wont be long before someone thinks of setting up a pacing crew and imagine the claims of unfairness then.....best get rid of it now.