Projo Running Blog

Two runners wrote in to comment on how they were affected when the second wave of runners went off course at Sunday's CVS Caremark Downtown 5K:

Marginally affected? How about devastated and heartbroken. I was in the second wave that went off course. How dare they have such a cavalier attitude. Let me get this right - if you were not in the first wave then the race really wasn't that important. What a slap in the face to the rest of the 5 to 6 thousand runners, walkers, and
wheelchair entrants. Why did we bother with time chips, or even bother with a clock at all. How about personal goals, challenges, and those who were trying to overcome illness or addictions through health and fitness and to complete the 5K. There were many more of these folks than any of the ones who would get racing prizes.

For me it was a personal accomplishment and all I expected in return for my entry fee (donation) was a chance to run the course and receive an accurate finish time. Evidently the race was over after the first wave - no one at a critical turn to guide the runners, and almost the ENTIRE second wave went off course. When we had to double back one runner said to me "the race is over for us." It was! The wind was just knocked out of a lot of us. Then when we finally got back on the course we ran into the third wave - that is how far behind we were and it jammed two thousand or so people onto the course. I have had better course guidance in small town races that I
have competed in. This was inexcusable and at least a sincere apology would have helped; not an arrogant "oh well things happen" and by the way they weren't really competitive runners any way. Now I can see why things went wrong. Next year all 5 to 6 thousand entrants should lie about their expected race time so they can get into the first wave - after all it is the only one that counts.

Speaking of counting - you can count me out next year!

Mike Grandchamp
East Greenwich

"marginally affected those involved"?

thinking I would comfortably run under 30 minutes I end up with 32:38. my 1 mile time by my watch was 12:30 or so (instead of around 9:00). with the hundreds of volunteers it is inexcusable that there weren't some on the course to direct traffic. my guess is that most of wave 2, and perhaps 3, ran the long course.

At 71 I don't have that many races left.

Please relay to race officials.

Bill Kenyon

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