Clyde's Comeback!

That totally sucks! They should have been on top of that and I agree mistakes like that should not be made!! Im sorry it was such a bad experience for you! You are an incredible runner!!!!

Clyde, that totally sucks, it has happened to me a couple of times when I was much younger. The thing is, no one seems to care. I always question non-runners putting on a race, the odds are always that they will screw something up. I wish races would pay running clubs or professional timers to put on the races, it would be worth the extra 5 bucks. I think we are all tired on courses too short, too long, awards screwed up, volunteers on the course who don't know jack.

Hey Clyde,

Sorry things got mixed up on the course. I was really surprised when I saw you heading back so soon, I figured something was wrong. When nobody else showed up behind you a mile later, I was really beginning to wonder what was going on. I guess things were pretty bad, for a lot of the slower runners. I heard they ran out of water on the course, which is never good, especially in a half marathon.

I was satisfied with my race 1:26:10 (6:34 pace), even though I was treating it more like a glorified training run. I haven't been training enough lately to feel like I'm in any kind of race shape. Plus with the hip injury I was really just hoping to run under 1:30.

Well, I know how upsetting it can be, especially when people on the course tell you the wrong way to go. Hang in there and just know you would have blow the competition away.

I can't even imagine how you feel! I'm thinking I wouldn't be a very nice person to the officials in a situation like that! Way to run off steam and blow a little off on the blog! That's why we are all here! It's a great place to share the ups and the downs! Ups will be coming your way now!

Oh geez. Clyde, you definitely deserve better than this. Sorry for your rotten experience.

The volunteers at James' race today didn't even know what direction the runners would be coming from! But at least there were caution cones and stuff to keep people on the right track--AND they had a bicyclist who stayed a few yards in front of the leaders the whole way.

Way to destory Grebrselassie's world record by 12 minutes!

I loved your entry, now I am not the only one that people see on the blog that has trashed a race. Too bad people dink around so much and good runners get a swift kick in the pants because of it. I don't know about all of the other races down there but I think the marathon is the best put on race I have ever seen. However, I was ticked that they took your silver shoe and gave it to tricky Nicky, and I let them know that I thought that was crap!

One time I got lost during a half-marathon at Hill Air Force back in the pre-9/11 days. I was not a US Citizen back then yet. So they had a Russian exploring the US military base - got to see some cool stuff - hangars, planes :-)

Another time I got lost in the Provo River Half along with Paul Rosser and Demetrio Cabanillas Jr. So we decided just to finish together and share the win, as if there was much to share anyway. We took a shortcut. I was in charge of timing, so I just added what we cut off to our actual times to make things fair. Then a week later I was running the Great SLC half, and Demetrio Sr. yells at me - Sasha, this race has no shortcut! Very profound message. Indeed, there is no shortcut to success.

My comment was to say way to destroy the half marathon WR.

I got lost in a 5k at UVSC one time and everyone followed me so I didn't get a DQ.

Thanks to all for comments. I've cooled off after thinking about it all day. I guess if you race enough your bound to have a few of these things happen here and there. Although it still freaking sucks. I think what bugs me the most is like Brent said no one seems to care. It's like no big deal that this runner guy just got the shaft in this race... yada, yada, yada. I'm thinking you know I don't just go out and throw down 100 mile weeks for fun so some Mickey Mouse race director can skrew things up for me.

If your making thousands of dollars on a race- have the thing set up right for those who are putting in the time and care about what is going on.

Or advertise your race like " This one is for all you non- serious runners that don't care about your time, place, or distance. Just come give us some $$ and we'll give you a T' shirt".

Anyways after all that maybe I'm glad this happend. I talked to Steve H. on the phone and he said the course (the part I didn't run) was a killer.

Clyde, I don't know you at all, just from the blog, but I feel a "tiny" bit of your pain. It sucked to find that at the "correct" turnaround point they didn't have an aid station set-up like the woman at the start had indicated. So there I was with gel in hand and no water to wash it down. I did confirm with some of the slower runners that the final aid stations did run out of water and the finish line ran out as well. How in the heck does that ever happen....it's only water....stock up and make sure you have more than enough. This water thing has happened in two of my races this year alone. I hope you let someone at Leisure Services know about your experience even if it does involve adult language this kind of thing is absolutely unacceptable. But as has already been said....I doubt they will even care.

Clyde that should not of happened, people who know nothing about running should not put on a race, I do not under stand why this has to happen... I have no doubt you would have blown away the whole field, you are a champion!!

Keep up the awesome training you are an inspiration to me everyday to get better!!!

Sorry Clyde, it sounds like you would have won without a problem. They need to get the course straight especially for elite runners like yourself that are going to be way ahead.

This happened to me two weeks ago in my marathon in California where I was told twice the wrong route. I know it cost me first place.

Sorry to hear about the race on Sat. that is just wrong!

Clyde, please tell us how you really feel! Sorry, man. What a bummer - you finally get geared up for it and then they blow it. It's kind of like how they didn't even have a start line for Painters - "Where is the start?" "Oh, just pick a place, wherever." But even worse. Good hard 8 mile (?) threshold run for you though. Also - I liked how you didn't even mark it as a Race Report! Down with the man!

Are you staying in town for Thanksgiving or taking off? I am coming down Tuesday night and would like to run with you guys a couple of times over the break. Live and learn from cruddy races like this!

Saturday morning sounds great. Earlier might be better because Katey and my family want to go on a hike.