tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post6304007228771752406..comments2024-03-25T09:03:19.099-07:00Comments on Well, I'm TRYING to run...: Corral enforcement frustrationAKA Darkwave, AKA Anarcha, AKA Cris.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09873516028463495708noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-11066061810231330362015-10-04T13:00:13.875-07:002015-10-04T13:00:13.875-07:00Although an older post, I came across this because...Although an older post, I came across this because of my naivety. Having never run a 10-mile race before, and honestly never running regularly until 5 months ago, when I signed up I estimated myself at 10-minute miles. Now with my training, I am aiming for a 1:20 finish (8:00 minute miles).<br /><br />So it appears I put myself in a disadvantageous position, but IN NO WAY would I ever jump corrals to get to where I would belong if I knew where I would be when I signed up. I guess all I can do is as best as I can get to the front of the ridiculously large wave I'm in.Jonathan L Parker, CPAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188550649570355329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-16329423207168858852014-05-12T13:30:46.590-07:002014-05-12T13:30:46.590-07:00As with the other commenters here, I couldn't ...As with the other commenters here, I couldn't agree more. I found this post looking for information on wave seeding times for the ATM, as I'm hoping to run it for the first time this year. Now I'm a little hesitant to do so, as it would require some expense in travel and accommodation. Enforced wave seeding is so important to a big race. I've run the Gate River Run (US 15k championship) in Jacksonville, FL for the past 3 years. The race is similar in size to ATM, but it is so well organized and wave entry is strictly enforced. It's a great course and an awesome competition, with world class athletes like Mo Trafeh and Shalane Flannigan (who won this year) regularly in the field. But the smoothness of the race, despite some narrow streets and tight corners, is made possible by the enforced wave entry. That makes it my all-time favorite race. Hopefully the Army can get that straightened out.<br /><br />BrianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-31782279505099486852012-10-11T09:21:03.398-07:002012-10-11T09:21:03.398-07:00Okay, now I'm a bit nervous. This year will b...Okay, now I'm a bit nervous. This year will be my first ATM. Because I had never run an ATM or sanctioned 10-miler, apparently this is the reason I was put in the LAST corral. I do my long runs every weekend and consistantly run 10 miles in just about 1 hour 30 minutes (easy conversational pace). My understanding is that if I had run in an ATM before with that time I would have been put in corral 2 or 3, but I am in 6. I will not "corral" jump as I don't want to be looked at like a race cheater, but I got to say, I wish the Army would allow for runners that are normally recreational runners to be put in corrals based on their typical pace times. I realize people could cheat only to get in the more advance corral, so I don't necessarily have a solution. I'm just wondering if I'm gonna get dogged trying to get through the slower crowd. My goal is to finish in 1:20.RLloyd69https://www.blogger.com/profile/16648267175435842359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-23522451653677007772011-10-21T10:28:46.440-07:002011-10-21T10:28:46.440-07:00I ran the Army 10 Miler (ATM) for the first time t...I ran the Army 10 Miler (ATM) for the first time this year and was in the second to last start corral. I have no issue with that at all - I'm slow, I need to be back with the slow folks. And if I seriously cannot make it to mile five in the alloted time - even starting in the last corral, I probably should not be signing up for 10 mile races. I ran the Cherry Blossom for the first time this year as well - again second to last starting corral. My observation for both races - I think a lot of people must have jumped up corrals because the start of my ATM corral group was spread out and not crowded at all. While the Cherry Blossom was super crowded, bottle-neck start and the slowest mile of my race. So, being that the ATM was at least twice the size of the Cherry Blossom, there must have been a boat-load of corral cheaters at the ATM - because they were not back with my group. I think enforcement and education could definitely help the situation. Corral cheaters suck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-21356270914398501452011-10-20T10:38:14.561-07:002011-10-20T10:38:14.561-07:00I can't believe the people who thought corral ...I can't believe the people who thought corral assignment was determined by registration date. Especially for a race that reaches capacity in less tha 48 hours. I totally agree with you about the ATM being one of the worst offenders. Why go to all the effort of requiring a previous race time and color coding bibs if you atent going to enforce it!?Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265175590096078175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-35829906261986475352011-10-19T12:06:56.133-07:002011-10-19T12:06:56.133-07:00Ah Cris, I am Totally with you on this. As someone...Ah Cris, I am Totally with you on this. As someone who always tries to place herself in the correct corral, I really can't stand corral cheaters. <br />When I ran MCM last time, I started back with the 5 hours group becasue that's where I I belonged at the time and by the time I got to Sprout Run (which is like mile 3-4), ALL of the people who could NOT run a 3 hour marathon were now walking up that hill, and so was everyone else. Now, I know MCM doesn't really have any type of corral enforcement, but maybe they should because I know for a fact I can run up the Sprout Run hill and I hit a complete dead slow wall of people walking last time, and it really threw off my time as I couldn't even dodge people it was so full of walking folks.<br /> <br />This year I'll start at a faster corral for sure because my abilities are different this time around, but I'm sure I'll still have similar problems at Sprout Run. :-/Emma Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07425801531549756721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-53275489003640628242011-10-19T11:43:26.414-07:002011-10-19T11:43:26.414-07:00As a slower runner, I take no offense to your post...As a slower runner, I take no offense to your post at all...because I agree. Just as faster runners have to deal with slower runners getting between them and their goals, slower runners have to deal with the same from even-slower runners and walkers. I try to be ethical -- lining up in my proper starting position, communicating when I need to squeeze by someone in a tight pack, and moving off to one side when I need to slow down. But lining up in my proper starting position last always seems to mean losing a minute off my first mile because I have to keep dodging runners who were significantly slower than me, had no endurance and choked on a slight incline, or stopped to wait for a boyfriend or friend who was lagging 15-30 seconds behind (for some reason, ONLY women do this). That was just the runners. Then there were the people who made no pretense of running at all and walked three and four abreast, seemingly oblivious to being in the way of the THOUSANDS of people (and for some reason, they were always heavyset, middle-aged women). I'm in no position whatsoever to be an elitist, but nevertheless, having to deal with that is enough of a pain that I really wish races were not so "open," even if it meant I wasn't good enough to participate.The Glowy Onenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415039431326089985.post-18091224072503868642011-10-19T11:14:31.520-07:002011-10-19T11:14:31.520-07:00I'm going to also add that, they become a dang...I'm going to also add that, they become a danger to the wounded warriors that start the race first. I'm constantly concerned when running this race, if I try to dart around these groups who started in the wrong corral (because they seem to be in pairs, trios or foursomes), if I'm not going to wind up somehow inadvertantly tripping one of the wounded warriors, because these corral cheaters are so oblivious. <br /><br />I'm absolutely fine with the wounded warriors early start, they should start first. PLUS, they always stay to one side and typically have someone racing near them who "guards" them. But it still concerns me that I will become so frustrated with the corral cheaters that I will wind up accidentally getting in the wounded warriors way. I think the corral enforcement would make that less dangerous. <br /><br />I actually was thinking during this years race, that I may try to be a guard for one of them in next years race, as I think the faster runners have a difficult time finding help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com