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Tiffany On
1/21/2004
14:15:10
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 Subject: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
I really enjoyed my run this past Sunday. However, what I don't understand is why there are so many walkers starting out the same time as the runners. It was dangerous to run with all those SLOW walkers! Maybe next year, the runners and the walkers could start at a separate time.
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Bruce
1/22/2004
07:56:57
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
Tiffany,
It was not just the 1/2, there was a problem with the full as well. I think that is one of the biggest problems that needs to get addressed at this time.
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Laura
1/22/2004
09:59:19
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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I agree as well. IT is not only dangerous, but I was not able to run my normal pace until mile 4 or 5. i feel I could have saved 5+ minutes of my time if I was not batteling the crowd and wasting energy getting around all the walkers. Must have people line up by pace!
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Charlie
1/22/2004
19:29:28
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
I ran a marthon the week before in Walt Disney World. They had a pretty good system to avoid that.
First of all, runners/walkers were to be placed in 5 separate starting corals. A through E.
You had to send in proof of your anticipated finish time with your registration or you would be placed in the last coral.
The coral were set up facing the start line but the entrences were from the side. Each entry was monitored by race officials.
Each race number had a coral leter on it.
YOu would not be allowed to enter a specific coral unless you had the corresponding letter.
It worked out pretty good. For the most part, and yes, there were some inconsiderate people who did it the way they wanted, everyone complied.
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Runner
1/22/2004
21:52:12
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
The problem is that because The HPMarathon has a six hour time limit walkers invade the course prior to the start and begin to walk. The don't realize they are unofficial because they started to early and to make it worse they think they are walking in the mall and can walk three wide. I don't have a good answer on how to fix the problem
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tgarr
1/23/2004
09:32:47
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
I was standing at the 7 mile mark for the race and saw some of the 3-5 abreast walking that was going on, on the way back in to town several of the race leaders had to go around some of those walking the half. It didn't seem like a big deal to them but the potiential for a problem is there. SO if you walk the marathon do you get all the finishers goodies??? If so do you wear a chip???? anyone know???
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Some guy
1/23/2004
13:31:31
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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This is a problem at Houston and at other large city marathons. NYC's start is an absolute nightmare, so much so that many non-elites looking to break 3 hours will not run there. Corralls are one solution, but that creates headaches. In a way, this goes back to that RW online article that was posted here recently. It seems that almost every marathon thinks they have to have thousands of finishers to be considered a "real marathon." Back in the old days, the emphasis was on the front of the pack, not the back. Decide for yourself if that's a good thing or not.
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Marathon dude
1/23/2004
15:41:32
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
If focusing on the front of the pack determines a "real marathon" then Houston has to be about the "realest" of all marathons -- with the exception of Boston, the U.S. Trials, and the Olympics.
Houston closes its course in just six hours -- far less than many other races, most of which get far more participants. Possibly only Boston, the Trials and the Olympic Marathons are "more real" by your definition since they have fairly tough time standards which one must hit in order to participate.
Does that mean this will end the constant carping from the front of the pack about how Houston caters to the back of the packers -- or whining from the back of the packers about how the race should extend the time limit? Probably not.
Just a thought...
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Has Been
1/26/2004
09:11:13
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
The walkers just ought to have respect for the runners and use common sense and common courtesy. As runners know, in the late stages of a marathon, it is difficult to run sideways to go around walkers 3-4 abreast. Speaking of thinking they are at the mall walking, one lady was actually carrying her purse.
And another thing, in spite of the instructions, LOTS of participants were wearing headphones. The race committe ought to give up this rule if they are not going to pull offenders off the course.
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Dave
1/27/2004
20:56:18
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
I agree with Has Been... I need to go out and try a run with my headphones, rollerblades, and my daughter in the jogger to see if anyone will say anything.. I already know the rule about urinating outside a port-a-can is written in stone...
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waddle
1/29/2004
10:32:03
| RE: Halliburton Int'l Half Marathon
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Message:
Tiffany, I find your message insulting to all walkers. We have as much right as anyone to be on the course. So what if we are a little slower, we pay the registration fees just like the runners do, (more in fact when you consider some elite runners get free entry into the race). And besides, the race needs the money they make off our fees to be able to keep the event going, we are the ones that should be the real celebrities of the race. I think you should chill out, relax and enjoy the event like we walkers do; just like a walk in the mall.
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