Did anyone else run the Army Ten-Miler? Did you find it a bit disorganized from the start?
It was my first ten-miler. Due to a package on the 14th Street Brdige between D.C. and VA (and the Army's screw up) it turned out to be 11.36 miles. There were no sensor pads at the end either. Any thoughts on how to calculate my pace?
Tons of eye candy, but half the Guard had been on the course. Why didn't anyone notice the package?
Full Version: Army Ten-Miler
I ran the Ten-(11.3)-Miler yesterday.
And I knew immediately when we didn't turn left from Independence Ave on to 14th St to cross the bridge that something was up. Since the race course winds through the neighborhood where I run every day (the course goes right past my building on Virginia Ave), I also knew that there was no way to get back to the Pentagon via Memorial Bridge that wouldn't be a great deal more than 10 miles.
The package was discovered by DC Harbor Police at 8:02, after the start and while runners were already on the course. At that point there was little that could be done, and a decision had to be quickly made.
I have run the Army Ten Miler before, and find it to be very well organized and executed, particularly given the sheer size of the event and the challenge of moving close to 20,000 runners into the proper stalls for the start. My only real complaint over which the organizers have much control is allowing headphones on the course. People running with them during a race are not generally serious runners and are oblivious to the runners around them -- and that's fine -- just go to the back of the pack where you belong.
In every race, you have the problem of people who have no business lining up in the front, and then running 3-4 abreast across the middle of the course. The Army Ten Miler tries to control this by requiring you to provide an estimated time at registration, and then giving you a color coded bib on that basis. Why people can't line up where they are supposed to is beyond me.
Like many people, I was running a PR for this course, and am disappointed that there will be no official timing or results, but sadly, these are the times we live in. However, my disappointment is nothing compared to the true grit of the "Missing (Parts) in Action" team of military amputees who run this race and will run the MCM in a few weeks.
[ October 03, 2005, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: PennState4Ever ]
And I knew immediately when we didn't turn left from Independence Ave on to 14th St to cross the bridge that something was up. Since the race course winds through the neighborhood where I run every day (the course goes right past my building on Virginia Ave), I also knew that there was no way to get back to the Pentagon via Memorial Bridge that wouldn't be a great deal more than 10 miles.
The package was discovered by DC Harbor Police at 8:02, after the start and while runners were already on the course. At that point there was little that could be done, and a decision had to be quickly made.
I have run the Army Ten Miler before, and find it to be very well organized and executed, particularly given the sheer size of the event and the challenge of moving close to 20,000 runners into the proper stalls for the start. My only real complaint over which the organizers have much control is allowing headphones on the course. People running with them during a race are not generally serious runners and are oblivious to the runners around them -- and that's fine -- just go to the back of the pack where you belong.
In every race, you have the problem of people who have no business lining up in the front, and then running 3-4 abreast across the middle of the course. The Army Ten Miler tries to control this by requiring you to provide an estimated time at registration, and then giving you a color coded bib on that basis. Why people can't line up where they are supposed to is beyond me.
Like many people, I was running a PR for this course, and am disappointed that there will be no official timing or results, but sadly, these are the times we live in. However, my disappointment is nothing compared to the true grit of the "Missing (Parts) in Action" team of military amputees who run this race and will run the MCM in a few weeks.
[ October 03, 2005, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: PennState4Ever ]
I didn't consider the shear numbers of runners or the upcoming MCM. That's gotta hurt.
But, I still think there was room for improvement before the start. People were misdirected to the tents for garment checks. A number of corporate sponsors handed "fast" bibs indiscriminately to walkers and slow joggers.
On the bright side, at least, the weather was great. I got a decent tan. And I can't complain about the Guardsmen handing water.
But, I still think there was room for improvement before the start. People were misdirected to the tents for garment checks. A number of corporate sponsors handed "fast" bibs indiscriminately to walkers and slow joggers.
On the bright side, at least, the weather was great. I got a decent tan. And I can't complain about the Guardsmen handing water.
Washington Running Report
This article on the ATM lays it all out pretty clearly. It appears that a lag in notification by Metro police to race organizers complicated things. Intrestingly, the MCM race director was out there among us runners.
This article on the ATM lays it all out pretty clearly. It appears that a lag in notification by Metro police to race organizers complicated things. Intrestingly, the MCM race director was out there among us runners.
QUOTE
Marine Corps Marathon director Rick Nealis was among the race participants. \"At seven miles, I said, 'Hey, where are we going?'\" Nealis recounted. While sympathetic with the Army's dilemma, Nealis expressed concern about the decision to reroute. \"I hope it was more than a suspicious package,\" he said. \"I would have thought it was something more like a truck bomb or something.\"
The Marine Corps Marathon, which also traverses the Mall and the 14th Street Bridge, is full with 30,000 registered runners, and set for October 30. \"I've got a lot of work to do on Monday,\" Nealis said.
The Marine Corps Marathon, which also traverses the Mall and the 14th Street Bridge, is full with 30,000 registered runners, and set for October 30. \"I've got a lot of work to do on Monday,\" Nealis said.
I ran the Army Ten-Miler the first few years that I lived in the DC area. It kind of was becoming an annual tradition for me. Then 9/11 happened... After leaving us lingering, the race organizers finally decided to cancel the 2001 race. While I sort of understood this, I felt like they kind of guilted us into letting them use our $25 fee towards those directly affected by the horror at the Pentagon. If you truly wanted your money back, you had to write to them asking for it. So, you looked like a jerk if you wanted your money back. Like all of you, I was upset at the events that occurred at the Pentagon and New York, and I do quietly donate money to worthy charities. But, this just kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, especially since they went ahead with the Marine Corps Marathon just three weeks later. Maybe I overreacted, but I never did the race again. The Cherry Blossom 10-miler is a much better race anyway.
Woo hoo! I ran it, too. Despite the Gator loss (which drove me to drink the night before), I actually had my best mile splits ever - 15:00/mile, which for you guys is awful, but for me is a Big Deal. 
Dunno what to think about the rerouting. I feel for the folks who were trying to PR it, but I don't know that I would have done anything differently if I were the RD.
Dunno what to think about the rerouting. I feel for the folks who were trying to PR it, but I don't know that I would have done anything differently if I were the RD.
GatorJamie -- That's great. Hopefully, the Cherry Blossom 10-miler will be better.
both my sisters ran it. I was supposed to watch thm finish. But I was sleeping off my 3am snack of Tabouleh and Gyros from DC cafe.
But I'm glad I didn't show up to cheer on the finish... since I would have been a mile and a half off!
I heard that there were many people requiring medical attention due to there being an unexpected mile and half added on when people thought they would be finishing...
sad. I do hope the rerouting was justified by the package found. But so far it look slike possible over-reaction.
But I'm glad I didn't show up to cheer on the finish... since I would have been a mile and a half off!
I heard that there were many people requiring medical attention due to there being an unexpected mile and half added on when people thought they would be finishing...
sad. I do hope the rerouting was justified by the package found. But so far it look slike possible over-reaction.
QUOTE
tiev:
Hopefully, the Cherry Blossom 10-miler will be better.
Agreed. I'll be there.Hopefully, the Cherry Blossom 10-miler will be better.
And ung - it seemed like the MPIA folks (Missing Parts in Action) were really hurting. These were the guys with missing legs who were running on prostheses. An extra mile with no water during the last three were really affecting them. Seemed like 3 of them had their lower right legs missing. Big studly guys who were gutting it out - I have NOTHING to piss and moan about.
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