to be annoyed at peoples lack of running race etiquette

[rookiemater]

I ran/lumbered a 5k this morning which I enjoyed as I do 2-3 road races per year of varying distances. Now I'm not particularly fast, but I did have a time I was aiming for, which I managed to meet despite the other people I encountered en route.

I know I am being mean spirited, but some of the participants really annoyed me. It is a fantastic effort to complete the race if you are new to running or whatever, but please if you are going to be walking from the very start - as evidenced through lack of running gear and bobbly knitted hat, then start at the back.

Also you get a colour based on the time you think you will take. It's really poor to stand in a faster area as you are holding back those runners.

Equally if you have an injury and aren't able to run, whilst it's great that your partner/friend is supporting you round the course, if you decide to walk slowly two abreast swinging your arms to the side on a tight bit of the course close to the beginning,then you are holding other people up.

Oh and if you are running/walking as a team, again that's fantastic, but you do not need to run/walk all side by side, taking up all the room and stopping people from going past.

Sorry it's a bit of a rant and it is wonderful to see people out, probably as part of their new year resolution to take more exercise, but honestly a bit of consideration would be nice.

[Knottingley]

Doesn't matter anyway Bumply. The last finisher is the hero IMO, it's much harder to turn up and come last than it is to win.

[Bumply]

Someone in their 70s coming in last (ignoring the ones older than me that did beat me...)
I don't do fun run 5ks as they're just not fun for me, but I like the winter run as it's a good start to my racing calendar.

[Bumply]

Oh, I did come last in the Hunters Bog Trot (twice up Arthur's seat - the actual hilly bit, not on the road) and got a round of applause for finishing.

[rookiemater]

Well done Bumply - I couldn't do that, so even coming last you're a lot better than me.

I like the relative anomynity of a big run I have to say and I guess having some people who don't know how to behave in a race is the downside of that.LessMissabs - I wouldn't want to be closer to the front, I'm certainly not fast and I am in the area appropriate for a realistic time for me, unfortunately not all follow this convention.

Anyway next race is the half kilamathon - I can't remember any irritations like that at it as it's a nice wide flat run.

[PiggyPlumPie]

I used to quite often get beaten by a man with one leg!