thndrmatt
Real Life Mickey Wannabe!
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2005
Reporting on the WaD sample certainly generated some animated discussion...
A couple personal additions, I DNF'd Ironman China in 2009, and then completed Ironman Wisconsin later that year. The failure, inability to bring home the finisher's medal due to that failure, and general disappointment is what charged me to try again, and motivated me until I succeeded. I tell everyone that the success I eventually had was made infinitely sweeter by knowing how the failure felt. I wouldn't even wear my Ironman China clothing (which I'd purchased prerace) until after I finally finished one...
The underlying issue is how welcoming RunDisney has made these long endurance races. There is a reason why less than 1% of people are marathoners, and it is that it requires a level of skill earned through training and practice that is not attainable for everyone. But in order to maximize participation, RunDisney has done what they can to encourage anyone to at least come to Orlando that weekend and give it a go, whether it be to increase the runners cap via wave or corral starts (and therefore increase crowding), or hand out medals to all who attempt. Discouraging participants from trying (and signing up for additional races) would not help them as an entity.
I would compare this situation with longer races, such as a 100 mile trail race such as Western States or Leadville, or a half or full Ironman. Can you imagine if people were bussed from the 20 mile point of Leadville to the end and given a finisher's buckle? Or if they didn't finish the swim of an Ironman they were bussed to the finish, skipping the bike and run altogether, and allowed to cross to the announcer's phrase "You are an Ironman" and handed a medal? Even an athlete who trained perfectly could have a mechanical incident on the bike (or even a crash) that ends their day prematurely, and none of them expect to be treated like a finisher. Sometimes bad luck plays a part, but there's always another race in the future somewhere.
It's true that of the ~20 DNF'rs I saw that were bussed from somewhere early in the race that some of them might have had catastrophic injuries or extenuating circumstances end their race. They might have trained longer and harder than most of us. Failure is a part of life as much as success is, and their eventual success when they complete a race of that distance would have been made sweeter if they didn't already have the same prize for the failure.
What I love most about WISH is the way I describe us to people who ask (like several times on Saturday). I say it's a group of people of all shapes, sizes, speeds, and abilities, who encourage each other to lead healthier lives and reach their exercise goals. While a marathon (or half) is certainly a "popular" goal these days, it's not for everyone... I would be just as encouraging to those striving to complete something within their ability level at the time, regardless of distance.
I do find it interesting that they organized the separate finishing area well away from the actual finish in a separate lot. That obviously required additional resources vs just taking them to the actual finish. I get the feeling they were trying to avoid this exact conversation? It certainly seems like one of those controversial topics where everyone has an opinion and is ever convinced to change theirs...
A couple personal additions, I DNF'd Ironman China in 2009, and then completed Ironman Wisconsin later that year. The failure, inability to bring home the finisher's medal due to that failure, and general disappointment is what charged me to try again, and motivated me until I succeeded. I tell everyone that the success I eventually had was made infinitely sweeter by knowing how the failure felt. I wouldn't even wear my Ironman China clothing (which I'd purchased prerace) until after I finally finished one...
The underlying issue is how welcoming RunDisney has made these long endurance races. There is a reason why less than 1% of people are marathoners, and it is that it requires a level of skill earned through training and practice that is not attainable for everyone. But in order to maximize participation, RunDisney has done what they can to encourage anyone to at least come to Orlando that weekend and give it a go, whether it be to increase the runners cap via wave or corral starts (and therefore increase crowding), or hand out medals to all who attempt. Discouraging participants from trying (and signing up for additional races) would not help them as an entity.
I would compare this situation with longer races, such as a 100 mile trail race such as Western States or Leadville, or a half or full Ironman. Can you imagine if people were bussed from the 20 mile point of Leadville to the end and given a finisher's buckle? Or if they didn't finish the swim of an Ironman they were bussed to the finish, skipping the bike and run altogether, and allowed to cross to the announcer's phrase "You are an Ironman" and handed a medal? Even an athlete who trained perfectly could have a mechanical incident on the bike (or even a crash) that ends their day prematurely, and none of them expect to be treated like a finisher. Sometimes bad luck plays a part, but there's always another race in the future somewhere.
It's true that of the ~20 DNF'rs I saw that were bussed from somewhere early in the race that some of them might have had catastrophic injuries or extenuating circumstances end their race. They might have trained longer and harder than most of us. Failure is a part of life as much as success is, and their eventual success when they complete a race of that distance would have been made sweeter if they didn't already have the same prize for the failure.
What I love most about WISH is the way I describe us to people who ask (like several times on Saturday). I say it's a group of people of all shapes, sizes, speeds, and abilities, who encourage each other to lead healthier lives and reach their exercise goals. While a marathon (or half) is certainly a "popular" goal these days, it's not for everyone... I would be just as encouraging to those striving to complete something within their ability level at the time, regardless of distance.
I do find it interesting that they organized the separate finishing area well away from the actual finish in a separate lot. That obviously required additional resources vs just taking them to the actual finish. I get the feeling they were trying to avoid this exact conversation? It certainly seems like one of those controversial topics where everyone has an opinion and is ever convinced to change theirs...