By Bruce Fordyce
This is the way the (race) ends
This is the way the (race) ends
This is the way the (race) ends
Not with a bang
But with a whimper
Apologies to T.S. Eliot “The Hollow Men” (1925)
A “whimper or a bang” that is the vexed question about cut-off times and final cut-off guns in marathons.
South Africa appears to be the world leader when it comes to the practice of setting a time limit to an event and the firing a gun to loudly announce the end of a race. I like the concept but there are many who don’t.
I think the firing of the final cut-off gun at the end of a major marathon is one of the most dramatic moments in any sport, anywhere. I’ve experienced both ends of the finish of a major race like the Comrades marathon and I can confidently report that the winners’ arrival at the finish and the breaking of the tape, while stirring, is not nearly as dramatic as the firing of the final gun.
For one thing the stadium is packed with thousands more spectators and runners in the final minutes. There is a huge reception committee for the last strugglers. Some of those finishers receive more media coverage than the front runners.
But there are those who dislike the idea of a cut-off for any marathon; particularly runners from overseas. Their view is that you are a finisher no matter how long you take. Having just run the London marathon I can confirm that there were runners in fancy dress and carrying various ridiculous costumes who finished long after the 5 hour South African marathon cut-off time.
An English celebrity took over 8 hours to finish the 26 miles (I haven’t a clue who she was). She raised quite a few thousand pounds for charity but afterwards can she claim to have RUN a marathon? When 10 Coldstream Guards carry a London bus through the marathon or a celebrity staggers through the finish 8 hours after the starting gun, is that marathoning?
I’m not certain how to judge this particular question but I am certain that I am a fan of our cut-off guns and all the drama and passion that accompanies them. And having noted on telly that the stragglers at the London marathon were greeted by a pitifully thin gathering of officials, family and two drunken tramps hoping for a hand-out.
I prefer the way our races end with a bang and not a sad whimper.
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I couldn’t agree more…(but)
Having been brought up the ‘South African’ way using cut-off times, I think this is the best way to give a race medal meaning or status. It ensures you dedicate time and make sacrifices in order to reach the end goal.
That said, having done the London Marathon and similar events in the UK, they’re nothing like our SA events. They’re charity/fun events set-up mainly for the purpose of raising funds.
And then there’s the added aspect of different individuals face different challenges. Yes it might be fair to have a cut-off for able-bodied participants, but what about someone who’s always wanted to complete a marathon, does all the training and sacrificing but has no chance of finishing in 5 hours? Do they not deserve a medal or the status of completing a marathon?
Really difficult to find the middle ground.
Or you can pick and choose your events – cut-off or non cut-off.
They should be abolished apart from the major long distance events. Is it fair to have the same cut off time for a 20 year old elite athlete as a 70 year old slow plodder?
I was brought up the SA way with cut off times – I still believe the cut off should be 4:30 – but five hours is ok at a max. The 70 year old plodded or any plodder enters the marathon to achieve a finish. That event should be completed in 5 hours so they can say they completed it. This idea of ‘ doing a marathon’ in like 8 hours or even a couple of days should not earn a medal. A marathon needs to be trained for not just go do a marathon. Love the cut off gun in SA.
So how good do you envisage people have to be before they attempt a marathon in a set time. I agree that the 8 hours run/walking isn’t exactly ‘running a marathon’ but surely it’ll just become an elite/fast runner thing to do. What do you say to the people that struggle if it was a hot day and run it in 5h and 5 minutes. Is this not a great achievement for a beginner runner in itself?
It’s an interesting question only brought up by the ‘good’ runners but ultimately, who has the right to tell a runner whether they have completed a marathon based purely on the fact that some people can do it quicker and some people do it slower. It’s an elistist view point.
Even though i have a running coach, i will never run faster than 8mins / km. I have been running for 4 years now. I missed 2 Oceans cut off last year by 4 mins. It broke my spirit. I came back strong and made it in 2h48 this year. It means the world to me. For all you runners who are able to run at faster speeds, you do not have that added stress over your head that you will not make cut off. It’s very stressful. Add to that, the back markers don’t have pace setters either. It’s a tough, lonely race! Run a race in my shoes one day… feel my victory and sense of achievement when i make that cut off time! Nothing beats it! I enjoy running just as much as you Bruce.
Well done with your Oceans achievement Bronwynne! Regards to Karl!
You ran a half Marathon – NOT THE TWO OCEANS which is 56km. Please get your facts right. A 2h48 wiould put you in the winners enclosure and liable for a blood test as your performace improvement would be phenomenal !!!! You can’t claim a TWO Oceans on a half marathon
That’s pretty snarky Jim. I think anyone with HALF a brain would have figured that Bronwynne had run the HALF marathon…don’t you have better things to do than make petty comments about people without giving them the opportunity to slap you in the face?!! Now you go and have yourself a nice day, you hear?
Leave Jim alone – he’s training hard for next year’s 56m Nappy Dash!
Way to go Jim the elitist. Thank goodness there are people like you to aid those of us with obviously inferior intelligence that we cannot work out that if this runner runs at 8mins/km and finished with a 2hr48 time, then they might have just been talking about the half marathon. Come ashore…
Anyway – To Bronwynne, yes you are right about the stress of cut off times. A friend of mine completed his Comrades qualifier in a smidge under 5hrs on a flat marathon course in good conditions. It seems that the thought of not finishing in time is putting him under immense pressure, to the point where we think that he may not actually race. I wonder how many others do not run for fear over getting so close… yet so far… ?
if it takes you 8 hours to complete a marathon, or really more than 6, you shouldnt be attempting a marathon. the status isnt just about completing the distance, its about the training and commitment for months before you prepare your body to complete the distance in a set time.
even if you enter for charity, whats one day given to charity? i mean, one day is better than no days. but why should someone donate to you and your cause when all you do is go enjoy an expo and the vibe of a marathon for a day? a large part of what people donate to is your commitment for months to get yourself ready to complete 42.2 within a time limit.
not everyone can run a marathon, not everyone should. if it takes more than 6 hours, you really just did a long brisk walk.
it is absolutely an elite thing to do. should I get a marathon medal for every 42.2k’s i drive in my car? or carry a pedometer with me everywhere I go, and every 42.2k’s I walk I count as completing a marathon?
I think our cut-off time is particularly harsh – BUT I like the idea of having a cut-off.
The average overseas cut-off is around 6.5 hours which sounds reasonable to me. Back markers have more fun than anyone else on the road but a marathon is still not to be taken lightly. Without the proper training, etc you can do permanent damage to your body and the distance is to be respected.
Having said that, there are walkers out there or even jog/walkers who currently are fit enough for the ditance but can’t participate because of time constraints. I vote to keep the cut-off but extend it slightly to accommodate more participants.
After all, the back markers may be slow but at least they aren’t on the couch watching the action!
Races such as the Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans Ultra have both extended their cutoff times to accommodate more participants …
I just ran my first half-marathon. It went wrong. Largely thanks to heat and a high pollen count, but partly thanks to nerves and inexperience. I didn’t get it right first time, and my best-laid plans went utterly out of the window.
I had planned for a not-very-fast time and ended up adding slightly more than half an hour to it, having just about made it round the course with a combination of running and walking.
I ask you to imagine what being classed as a finisher meant to me that afternoon – even though it meant appearing almost at the bottom of the timesheet.
Without it, would I now have the motivation to continue competitive or even leisure running? Unlikely. At least I have a baseline, some hard-won experience and something to build on for next time – plus those all-important few scraps of dignity.
I’m incredibly grateful to the generosity of the organisers for not operating a cut-off and for giving me a spirited welcome at the finish line, and also providing a reason to stick with it and plan for my next event.
People have to start somewhere. They also get injured, mess up their strategies or have to cope with unexpected circumstances. That’s life.
I think each race should operate a clear entry policy stating what kind of runners, run/walkers or walkers are encouraged to attend. That way, everyone can find something to suit them.
Since time is an absolute measure, no-one who is a slow runner, or a run/walker, has the slightest chance of being mistaken for a fast runner. Let a thousand flowers bloom…
As a UK runner, this article has saddened me a tad. I ran my first sub 3:30 marathon last year, and stayed to cheer on all the valiant marathoners crossing the finish line at the post 6 hour mark. Whether you’re an elite runner or a fun runner, either wa…y, 26.2 miles is an awesome achievement. Please don’t let the elitist opinions of Fordyce get in the way of your marathon glory! Come on fellow marathoners…hold your heads up high and puff your chests out. Be proud!
Guns have no place in marathons.
I think the answer to this question rests on what the race wants to achieve and who it aims to attract. What appeals to me is the inclusivity of these races: how many sports can you have a guy dressed as a hot-dog lining up (albeit 1000s of people back) with elite racers, olympic athletes etc.
The Boston marathon has entry criteria (which, in effect, sets an expectation of finish times on the race) and entry to this special race is a major goal for many. However, London appeals to a completely different crowd – many thousands who want to be part of the biggest marathon in the world, raising millions for charity in the process.
For many, completing a marathon is still an achievement, whatever the time…
I have been on both sides at Comrades. It is awful being on the wrong side when the gun goes off but it is GREAT to be on the right side. It is the best feeling to know you made the cut-off time, the feeling when finishing would lose its appeal if cut-off times were taken away. I am all for cut-off times. If you don’t make the cut-off time, you just go back more determined, better trained and you want revenge!
Tally has the perfect attitude! Achievement is measured by how hard one has to work to attain a goal. Every failure now, is a stepping-stone to later success / joy. If you achieve an easy goal first time (eg a marathon in 8 hours), you might be happy. But if you achieve a tougher goal (eg a marathon in 6 hours), having first failed once, twice or even several times, how much more fulfilled will you be when you do at last achieve that goal.
I understand there are those who have limitations, but don’t underestimate the power of hard work to get you to a goal. If you TRULY want it, you will get it, even if it takes you many attempts.
Just think of Zeb Luhabe who completed his first Comrades Marathon on his 10th attempt at age 76 (or round about there?). If I am correct, he was the oldest person running the race that year and also the last person to make the cut off. Just think about how much that medal would have meant to him, purely because he had failed 9 times previously! Now Zeb is a TRUE Champion and Inspiration, because he never gave up! Frankly, there should be far more written about him than there has been…
Definitely not. Nothing removes the sport for all ethos and encouragement to have go than the creation of an elitist culture which it is cut off times would be viewed.
I totally agree with cut-off times. You cannot have officials, traffic etc being held up for a whole day for a few stragglers.
The rest of the world is soft. Yellow-bellied. Cut-offs are what makes the achievement of a medal more valuable. Where is the value in finishing a marathon 7 hours plus. I agree with Bruce 100% – cut offs are arguably more dramatic than the arrival of the winner and it’s a chance for ordinary folk to say they ‘did it.’ Not surprised at the reaction of our overseas runners though – they had a guy who run London marathon something like 7 days in a diving suit. Ridiculous and cheesy.
I also have a coach but I will never ever be a fast runner, it is sad for those of us that train hard and don’t make cutoff – a friend of mine missed it by a few seconds and all his months of training was for nothing. Two oceans is especially bad with 14 000 people doing the half and the 5 minutes it takes to cross the finish if you are in the back could make all the difference. If the time to complete had been slightly longer or from chip to chip then he would have finished and left the day with a great feeling of achievement. This elitist view of running is why many runners only discover the joys of running when they are in their 30s and 40s. You don’t have to be good at running to do it, in fact it takes much more out of you to know that even if you train like h*ll you will still barely finish. I truly believe that that is much more of a victory!
Many races are organised by running clubs for the love of the sport at very little financial gain (if any) with the services provided by volunteers that sacrifice half a day of their time to make a race happen. Perhaps these 8 hour marathonners should volunteer to man a refreshment station for 8 hours and dish out refreshments and collect the rubbish left behind.
I am always very happy to see new runners taking on the sport and work very hard to complete a race – but then build up from 5km fun run to an Ultra to be able to finish in a reasonable time. It is great for both health and sense of achievement.
Another aspect to consider in S.A. is the road closure and safety aspect, it must be hard for race organisers to get permission to extend road closures for slower finishers and particularly in S.A. it becomes dangerous as traffic volumes increase as the cops are less effective and drivers can be aggressive.
I think cutoffs are absolutely necessary, and those incapable of meeting them are rarely true runners, they spend more time walking. This might be considered elitist but really, if you train adequately but cannot even keep up even a very slow running pace, which would give an official finish, then you are part of an extremely small minority and should make do with an unofficial finish or complete a shorter distance. It is unfair to expect the whole organisation from traffic cops to marshalls to the organising club and other organisations involved to wait for hours longer for perhaps 5% of the field, most of whom were probably unprepared rather then incapable, and the remainder should really be classed as walkers.
How should the majority who train to really RUN a standard marathon feel about someone who completes the distance in 8 hours but still considers themselves a marathon runner, even though they walked 3/4 of the way and did no training? That is what it would amount to, except for a few special cases.
I ran the Wally Hayward 42.2km in 5 hours 40 minutes…did not finish in the cutt-off time. BUT it doesn’t mean I didn’t exercise enough, didn’t work hard enough or hasn’t got the potensial to run a marathon. Instead, I worked VERY hard to finish. In fact, I probably worked much harder than a lot of finishers. It’s just that I’m not so quick…I’m just a slow runner. I’ve got endurance…more than a lot of finishers!!! I wonder if some of these pro cut-off times guys would be able to stay 5 or 6 hours on the road?? What makes me slow? The way I’m built plays a huge role…I’m a DD…nothing I can do about that…losing weight won’t help. So big mouth quick finisher, try running with 2 bricks tied to your chest and see if all goes so smooth and well…and then, please reconsider.
A 6 hour cutoff would allow for 8.5min/km shufflers to finish officially, any slower than that is really no more than a moderately brisk walk. If a race really wants to accomodate a few special cases like partially disabled runners or competitive walkers over the full marathon distance they should consider an earlier batch start perhaps, rather than making everyone at the finish wait much longer.
Seems practical to me.
If anyone wants to organise an all day standard marathon with something like a 12 hour cutoff, then what is stopping them? Is there a demand for it in S.A?
From a road closure and safety point of view I think the cut-off is a must. Plus, it seems unfair that volunteers should stick around for ages while the guy dressed in drag attempst 42km in stilettos. It’s also a give and take thing – the longer we have back markers in running or cycle races out on the road blocking traffic, the more it irks other road users. This is why many motorists loathe rather than admire groups of cyclists or runners.
As worried as I am about beating the cut-off gun in my first Comrades later this month, I know it will mean a whole lot more should I cross the line in time. And if I don’t, well, I hear there is a brewery in nearby Nottingham Road that is a good spot to drown sorrows.
Inasmuch as I think that running is about personal goals & internal victories for the 99% of the field that is classified as as an “also ran” (and hence official cut-offs are largely irrelevant), I DO think official cut-offs in SA are important.
After all, can you just imagine how many drunken bergies (aka “tramps”) we might have after 8 hours at an event in an SA city … heh, heh.
I agree 100% with Bruce. Overseas runners also find it hard that we don’t use chip time in Comrades and other events but gun time. The minutes we lose because we start at the back of Comrades are unheard of overseas. They run on chip time and even complain when they lose a minute or two. We are a different breed of runner here in SA, but we are a good breed for sure.
I have too been on both side of the Comrades gun, as well as numerous marathons’ guns. However the first Comrades year I only made it to Pietermaritzburg, I couldn’t call myself a Comrades runner, but I did run from Durban to Pmb! It made my revenge on that gun the following year so much sweeter.
But ‘cds’ mentions above, that missing the cut off meant thar all the ‘training was for nothing’. With that comment I completely disagree, months of training for one race, means that the focus needs to be shifted. Every run, whether a training run, or race, is for something. You just have to figure out for yourself why you are doing it.
The cut off in Comrades is tough and us back starters know it’s going to take at least ten minutes to the starting line, by that time the fast guys are already 3 kays down the road. We have to make allowance for that, and although it does sting if you miss it by minutes, or seconds, every race is a way to get to know our capabilities and strengths. Missing it my first year, meant I was doing something wrong, so like any sportsperson you have to go back to the drawing board and do something differently.
I agree with Bruce about the end being so dramatic.
Years before I ran, I would watch the tv with tears in my eyes, waiting for the poor soles that missed it by minutes. I never really understood what that meant, but it is what the indiviudal takes away from every race.
Do you admit defeat and stop running because of the cut-off or get out there and try again?
The beauty is, we have fantastic races in SA that are affordable, and runners here are a different breed from anywhere else in the world.
The cut off makes us unique and the fact that so many ‘ordinary’ elite runners manage to do marathons under 5 hours should make us proud!
I’m a back of the pack dude but feel that the cut-off is right:
I guess I have a couple of views on this this:
1. would extending the cut-off on a marathon draw more people into the sport – significantly so? I’m not sure that it would, and I’ve hardly felt – at the back of the pack – that its an elitist sport.
2. The whole nature of marathon running is that it is hard. So if a five hour cut-off is elitist, what is acceptable? Someone will always be complaining that 5H10 or 5H20 or 5H30 is too tough. I think the times are set right to make the activity an appropriate challenge. I also think if you don’t have a cut-off you’re devaluing the effort of those who achieved within that cut-off and who trained to make a 3h30 or a 4h00 or a 4h15 time
3. I think the appliation of the term ‘elitist’ to the cut-off is wrong. surely the point is that a line must be drawn in the sand at some point that makes the event a challenge and a goal for particpants? Half of the mythos of Comrades is the heartbreak and tragedy of the 12 hour gun. The other half is that its an enormously challenging event. I wonder whether allowing people to finish ad infinitum would not in fact devalue the event.
Mike, it’s totally a UK thing. A culture where everyone has to be included and no one offended/ disappointed.
There’s no right or wrong in terms of having cut-offs.
It comes down to the status an event wants to have. Events with challenging cut-offs will hold more respect among runners than non-cut off events.
Think of Comrades/Two Oceans/Ironman – all races held in high esteem.
I totally agree with having cut-off times for marathons and half marathons. I just ran my first two half marathons, Two Oceans and Safari, and a huge part of the feeling of achievement came from the fact that I made the cut-off time. That’s what I trained for – and after all, isn’t it a race? You can run long runs with clubs and friends if you just want to run long distances. Races are about being your best and beating the clock.
And quite frankly, that’s the way races work in South Africa. If you’re not happy with the system, don’t enter the races.
Adding an hour to the Comrades and Two Oceans finishing times gave my running a whole new lease of life. Now as a four times a week runner I can finish these races before the gun (hopefully again in 2011). But it’s still the distance and the time that makes it special, not just the distance.
I would never consider myself an ‘elite’ runner, but I could be considered ‘good’ (PB marathon 3:55).
For me there are 2 angles – the practical one for race organizers/road closurers etc, and the achievement issue for runners
Given the sheer number of marathons and halfs that we have in South Africa we have to accept the practicality of cut offs. The international marathons that are being discussed here cannot be compared to the Wally Haward or Surrender Hill marathon. So let’s accept this for 90% of our runs
So should we have a couple of ‘big’ marathons with open cutoff? When I ran my first Oceans I gave myself the mental cut off of 6 hours to respect the history of the race, and for me a finish over 6 hours would not have ‘counted’. Same with 11hours for Comrades.
I think society is getting soft and does not like the concept of failure. This is permeating our school systems, work, etc. If we don’t fail, how can we learn? And so should keep reasonable running pace cutoffs in running.
I made Comrades in 2000 without being able to do 5 hour marathon. Qualifier was 5:30 in 2000. Comrades then dropped cutoff to 11 hours and lost huge numbers. I think 5:30 for marathon is reasonable. Not everybody wants to do Comrades but want the chance to do a marathon. If you want cutoffs because you can make it with a bit off training make it 4:30 and see what happens
Ek is ‘n “slow runner”. Ek kan die heel dag hardloop maar nie altyd in die tyd nie. Vir my maak dit nie saak of ek Comrades maak of nie maak nie, ek wil net daar wees. Daarom sal ek bly wees as die kwalifiserende tyd 5:30 kan wees. Ek werk hard om onder 5 ure dit te maak. As jy ‘n marathon in 5 ure wil maak, moet jy ten minste 6:30-6:45 hardloop. Ek het drie keer Comrades gedoen:
1ste keer – 5 min laat
2de keer – in tyd klaar gemaak
3de kaar – laaste cut off nie gemaak nie.
Maar ek is terug hierdie jaar! Ek wil net deel wees van hierdie awesome dag!!
I agree with cut-offs, probably because I have been fortunate to make them. However, I do object strongly to this ridiculous new, gross profiteering practice of the CMA to sucker people into entering Comrades loooonnnnngggg before the event and then not refunding their entry fees if they fail to qualify. The CMS should go back to the old system whereby you enter once you have qualified and the entry cut-off is much closer to race date. Stop this obscene profiteering practice, CMA!
I completely agree with cut offs.
5 hours for a marathon is completely doable. I dont care who you are, or what physical condition you are in, with work, it is possible. Its not a genetic thing, or a matter of ability. Humans are built to run, but with years of bad habits, eating badly, lounging in front of the TV, we destroy that ability.
If someone has truly wrecked their body through their lifestyle choices, then they need to make the choice to correct the damage that they have done over the years. Something is only an accomplishment if you have to work for it… whether that be in the form of training and losing huge amounts of weight, or in the form of a healthy lifestyle for years, meaning that you have less work to do when you do decide to run the distance.
This is what has caused me to lose over 20 kilograms, drastically increase my speed, and complete a number of marathons and longer. I sympathise hugely with someone that is the position of wanting to run a marathon but not being able to within 5 hours (largely because thats how I started too). At the same time, if that person wants it badly enough, they will make sure it happens. Those that do choose to make the commitment to ready themselves for a marathon will not only have all of my support, but also go a truly life changing experience.
Apologies to those offended. We can chat about it over a run.
This is a very very interesting topic. The UK would never settle for finishing guns. Generally, they are not that competitive when it comes to running marathons, compared to SA runners. Running marathons is seen more of a social event and an opportunity to put in some hard work for good cause. In most UK marathons, I would guess that more than 70% of the runners do so for charitable causes, which invariably makes that the primary focus of their achievement. I believe that the personal satisfaction then becomes secondary.
Once that happens – personal records are not important. So why not dress up in a big 20kg Rhino outfit to raise awareness about poaching? Who wants to grudge them that achievement by firing a gun on the 5hr mark? There are those who do ‘run’, so to speak, but it is not like they are inconvenienced. In the Brighton marathon, the runners are asked to put in their estimated time and then they were grouped accordingly, so that everyone could enjoy the race.
In my honest opinion though, I believe that the finishing gun in Comrades is there to stay purely because it makes good TV. The heart rendering images of those being shunted back when the guys run across the line to signal the end of the ‘race’ is great drama.
I concur!! Cut-offs makes it exiting. I was on the wrong end of the gun last year Comrades, I will be on the right side this year.
It makes me think of a Stephen King short story where the last runner gets shot….
As sad as I feel watching the runners run towards the finish line and hearing the gun go off I agree with cut offs it just makes the run more challenging. I would love to run a marathon but am not ready so I will stick to 21km until I am ready. I ran my first two oceans 21 this year in 2:08 and would probably finish the 56 before cut off but taking part in the 21 meant as much to me as the 56 would. Maybe these runners should stick to shorter distances and work their way up ,why the obsession with running the big one? Not everyone can be long distance runners ,there great heros amongst the middle distance runners ,such as Rene Kalmer and Irvette De Klerk and especially as we get older these distances give you the fitness and all the benefits without the long recovery afterwards.Maybe they can introduce a certificate for those who finish after cut off but there neds to be a time line they cannot stop traffic and keep marshalls out on the road all day because of pity. I also agree that extending the masters and grandmasters cut off time would be a good idea I take my hat off to these runners you inspire us.
Cut-offs make our runs what they are. I’ve missed Comrades twice…by a few mintues – 2009 by 6 minutes, 2010 by 2 minutes. And both times, as i crossed the finish line i said to myself – i have to come back. If i’m not injured, i will be back. And my logic…i’m improving my time…if i shave off 4 minutes (like i did last year) I WILL MAKE IT! (Bear in mind, i have run 89kms…but i want to run 89kms in less than 12 hours)!!!
PS. Because of the big hype made of the last minute of a race (the cameras etc) last year Comrades, my family got to see me on TV!!! hehehe. I went home a celebrity. No medal, but a celebrity :). Hopefully though this year, i’ll be a celebrity because i’ll be bringing home the medal :)
Tradition
Race Runner
Practicalities vs Practicalities
Inclusivity
As a back-of-pack runner from the UK, I’d say, keep the cut-off gun for Comrades – it’s one of the things that makes it special. Have some sympathy for the overseas runners though – it’s not so much that you go home without a medal even if you covered the course, more that it will cost about ten thousand Rand to come back next year and give it another go!
But equally London could not have a hard cut-off – closing roads in the capital is only tolerated because the marathon is (as well as an elite and regular road race) a major charity fundraising carnival. On average each runner raises over a thousand pounds for charity and on top of that a lot of the best “stories” that the TV coverage loves are of people who do not and could not finish in under five hours – the woman with terminal cancer, the 95-year-old runner, even Olympic stars from other disciplines. Without that goodwill the race would just not be able to continue where it is now.
Here in the UK and other bits of Europe it’s not uncommon for smaller-size marathons to have cutoffs but they are usually “soft”, i.e. their purpose is to stop people from entering in the first place when really they should not. Both my home-town marathon and (on the other side of Europe) the Malta marathon have five-hour cutoffs, but in both cases the stragglers who totter in after then still get a medal and (usually) a slot on the results page.
And that, I think, deserves at least a Silver for fence-sitting! :)
Although I’m not a fast runner, I love the target of the cut-off. This year I ran the Two Oceans 21 with two of my twenty-something daughters, and, truth be told, none of us was adequately prepared, due to various commitments and injuries. However, my eldest daughter (who had just flown in from San Francisco) and I were confident we could help my youngest daughter, who had never run that far before, over the line. So we planned accordingly, and at 14k’s we were about 4 min ahead of target. The realisation that she still had another 7 k’s to do at the same pace as the previous 14 didn’t cheer her up, and at 19k’s there were tears with the sweat on her face. But we finished – in line abreast – up the finishing straight, being personally welcomed by the commentator, and were 6 odd minutes in front of the gun.
The experience would have been fantastic in itself, especially running with my daughters, but crossing the line on target made it all that much more worthwhile.
Keep the gun – running for a target vastly increases the fun factor.
By the way, I’m a 52 year old male, I started running just over 2 years ago, and have dropped from huffing and puffing my +122kg bulk around 2km of local streets to an 88kg runner (I still walk as well), who is planning to run his first marathon in August this year, and hopefully the 2 Oceans 56 in 2013, with Comrades jointly with my daughter in 2014.
A marathon without a cut-off is completely senseless. It’s like writing an exam without a minimum passing grade. All runners know that any distance can be completed, given enough time. Slowly but surely the standards are being lowered to accomodate anyone that can put on a pair of running shoes and claim to be an athlete.
Age is beginning to catch up with me, but I can still finish within the cut-off time. The 1st time I fail to finish, I will stop with the marathon distance. You need to aknowledge that marathon running is a serious business and needs to be treated with respect.
It’s so much better from a race organizer point of view to have a cut off. Traffic officials and marshals are only available for a limited time. Races that extend into the late morning and afternoon on weekends in bigger towns and cities experience traffic problems, and it’s hard to justify blocking off or restricting major routes for extended periods of time. Sure in many international marathons, there are not cut off times. But consider that SA has a lot more marathon events than most countries. To me cut off times make sense.
I’ve been on both sides of the “Cut Off Gun” at Two Oceans. I still agree 100% that there needs to be a cut-off at all races. (I also marshall at my club’s annual marathon – and get very frustrated at having to still be out there in the sun 6 hours after the race has started – waiting for the stagglers who comment “I paid my entry fee, and am treating this as a training run with water points”). Bronwynne – well done on your Half Marathon at Oceans. You did it – and that’s what counts.
I run because I can. I run because I want to. Sometimes I walk….
Every run, every walk is valuable for me because it means I am out there and doing something. Why should it not count because I was too slow for some arbitary time someone randomly decided on?
For all the 4hour marathoners out there, how would you feel if the cut off was 3:30. Too bad if you physically cant make it, work harder and maybe you can get there. What about making it 2:30 so it becomes a truly entertainment sport where only the best can actually compete, Like Rugby, Cricket and Boxing.
Running/Walking is something most of us can do. Why should the mere fact we can do something have to be evaluated against a time?
I choose to do Adventure Racing as my key sport, mostly because we dont really have elitist athletes thinking they are better than everyone else. Adventure Racing has cutoff dur to scheduled prixe giving – but anyone finishing after that time is still considered a finisher and congratulated on the achievement.
William (PB Marathon: 3:58; Expedition Africa Adventure Race – 500km in 103hours)
Hi everyone.
It just seems that the cut-off time is a mean way of saying to some runners that you’re just not good enough……
If it is about the sport, why deprive someone of the feeling of accomplishment? If you are a “serious” runner, your personal time should be your goal! You compete with yourself!
Running and exercising is a great thing for all to do. So if have a longer cut-off time, lets say 8 hours, encourages more people to run, to exercise, to improve their lifestyle, why not give them that chance and opportunity?
Fine, I agree there are practical issues, and that’s why there has to be a time limit, but it should be reachable for the average runner that is not a professional.
Being from a medical background, there is definitely people with different anatomies, different “heart sizes” if you will, that just makes them able to run fast, or not. This is genetic. NO amount of training will increase your heart size! It will run efficiently, fine, but just as fast as it can.
To professionals….if you are concerned about the hype that the last people that crosses the line gets, then you’re not in the race for the right reasons anyway.
Also, if you are raising money doing a race, why deprive the charity by having a cut-off?
The question is why you are running?
Every person’s reason is just as real and important to them than any other’s.
Well, seeing that I am a sub 4hr marathoner and a cut-off of 3hr would mean that I would not be a marathon finisher, I think that race organisers should grade marathons based on cut-off times. In this way we would have 3hr, 3h30, 4hr, 4h30…..rated marathons.
With these grading times one would enter marathons that were both within their times and also challenge their bodies to enter tougher times. This will however mean less entries and race organisers want the numbers. As a sub 4hr finisher I would challenge myself on the sub 3h30 rated marathons and live with that DNF on my running profile if I don’t make it. If I would think that I can shave off 25mins on a marathon when I strugled for a year to shave off 5mins to be a sub 4hr marathoner is another question.
Ok, you were right this is a controversial topic.
I ran my first marathon in 5h32 at the age of 50yrs, it was a wonderful achievements but did not quality for Two Oceans ultra, that meant that I had to train harder… I did not have a coach so it was by hard work and perseverance that I reached my goal at Winelands marathon, finishing 4h45, that got me very excited. the cut off gun made me more determined. I also completed Two Oceans in 6h32 and comrades in 11h50…
I suggest that the gun go off at the suggested sub 5hours for qualifying races as set out in the rules…why not then at sub 6hours then at sub 7hours and a medal to all who finnish the race. at least you have a medal as a participant… food for thought…