Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! This week’s topic – What was the worst thing that happened to you at a race?
Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
Somehow I’ve run over 100 races (still can’t believe that) so I’ve had my fair share of bad races, but here are a few that stick out vividly.
The one that started almost an hour late..
2015 Rock n Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon
This race started almost an hour late because they underestimated how long it would take to get through security. This was also an inaugural race so those always have glitches, but this was a really bad oversight. If you’re going to hold a race in New York, you MUST allow time for adequate security. Even worse, the event organizers were trying to take up the timing mat before we crossed the start line. Ummm…I think not! I was super pissed by the time I crossed the start line which actually worked in my favor since it ended up being my second fastest half marathon time, lol.
The one where I ran 13.1 miles in freezing cold temps AND rain..
2015 Rock n Roll DC Half Marathon
Another 2015 race lol. This was just a bad race from start to finish. The start was so congested and unorganized and then it took over 2 hours to get back to the hotel due to a lack of public transportation. Besides that, I don’t think I’ve ever run a race is such awful weather conditions. It didn’t just rain, it POURED the entire time and it was freezing, like below 20 degrees. I was a popsicle but the time I finished. Even if it wasn’t for the rain, I would never do this race again.
The one where my stomach completely turned on me..
2018 SoNo Half Marathon
I was thisclose to taking a DNF for this race. I had horrible stomach issues and I actually lost count how many times I stopped to use the bathroom. By mile 6 I was ready to walk back to the start line but I just kept moving forward. Eventually I crossed the finish line, with a personal worst time, but I was happy that I at least finished. Thankfully I’ve never had horrible stomach issues like that during another race (knock on wood).
The one where I trained for 20 weeks just to have an epically bad race..
2017 Chicago Marathon
I had a great 20 week training cycle and I felt totally prepared for the race, but on race day everything just blew up. I just felt off from the first mile – like I was exerting so much effort. I couldn’t get my breathing under control at all and I just felt miserable. I actually ended up having to walk more than half the race, and it was super hot, so yeah, just an awful experience. Although the 2017 race sucked, I did the race again last year and had a much better experience, and a huge course PR.
Tell me: What was the worst thing that happened to you at a race?!
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Topic for next week – What was your best or worst race? Feel free to write about any running related topic
Kimberly Hatting says
I wrote about tummy issues, too (#twinning again). I haven’t had it happen many times, but UGH it’s the worst feeling to think an accident is about to explode all over you and there’s no porta-potty in sight. Sorry…TMI, but just keeping it real LOL
kookyrunner says
I’ve definitely had that feeling before and it’s awful!!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
The only race I ever had stomach issues at — my only pitstop during a race ever! — is still my half PR — gotta love a downhill race.
My first half was my coldest — in Vegas! But I still had a great time (it started to rain after I finished, thankfully).
One thing I’ve definitely learned is that training doesn’t necessarily pay off at the race you trained for — but it does eventually!
kookyrunner says
That’s amazing that you still managed a half PR even with a potty break!
Wendy says
My whole post would have been about my GI issues and no one needs to read about that, lol! Seriously– you never know what you’re going to get from a race, do you?
kookyrunner says
Seriously! A race is such a crap shoot!
Catrina says
Oh, your list of worst races sounds REALLY bad! Such poor organization skills. How can a race start an hour late? How can organizers fail to get runners back to their hotels in time?
I think my worst one was when I fainted close to the finishing line. I had totally overdone it and was hyperventilating (and it was hot, too). So I simply collapsed by the roadside. Horribly embarrassing, too, when all the other runners pass by, haha!
kookyrunner says
When a race has poor organization it drives me bonkers considering how long they have had to prepare for the race.
Wow – that’s sounds scary! I’m glad that you were eventually okay. I’ve seen a few people faint or fall while on the course and it always makes my heart jump up into my throat!
Darlene says
I was at that Brooklyn race too. Horrible organization.
I’ve had so many cold rainy races to mention.
Stomach issues at one.
And a bloody nose at another.
I’ve fallen. Broke my foot.
Luckily I run a lot of races and most have been good experiences. Lol.
kookyrunner says
That RnR Brooklyn race was a nightmare but I heard that they got their act together the following year after that mishap.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
GI issues are always scary during a race! I’ve had some close calls too! The second time I ran RNR DC it was SO cold and I was absolutely miserable, but the year before in 2016 it was like 70 degrees and amazing! March is always an unpredictable time to run!
kookyrunner says
You never know what type of weather you’ll get in March!
Angie says
I’ve been pretty lucky to have had good races (the few I participate), but if I had to pick it would be a 10K Shamrock race when I lived in NC, and the course was marked incorrectly so we ended up running an extra mile! More than anything, I was mad that nobody checked it properly.
kookyrunner says
Oh wow, running an entire extra mile is pretty bad!
Deborah Brooks says
That DC RnR race was always kind of poorly executed. We had a hot chocolate race here once that started 2 hours late! I got lost once on a tri race and did an extra 5 miles on the bike! Who does that?
kookyrunner says
OMG 2 hours late? I would have been so annoyed!
Zenaida Arroyo says
Ugh that DC race sounds horrible. When I ran it, it rained just a little and it wasn’t bad at all. However, I do remember there were major problems with post race gear pick up. Luckily at that race I did not check anything. Oh and I do remember that Chicago race. 🙁
kookyrunner says
Yeah the DC one was such a disaster. I haven’t done another run there since.
Black Knight says
The DC half sounds a nightmare.
In more than 35 years of running career I had many bad experiences but 2 were the worst:
march, 17th, 1996: La Maddalena Naval Base (Italy). Cross Interforce (Navy, Army, Air and USA naval base). The race was 3 hours late and we began to run at lunch time under a rain storm. We were hungry, wet and, because of the storm, we had to run on an impossible path.
Feb. 27th, 2005. Edinburgh 10 miles. Before the start my son went to take some pictures of the landscape. He had the bag with my running clothes. He didin’t come back in time and I had to race with a light t-shirt in cotton and borrowed pants: both totally unappropriated in such cold weather.
kookyrunner says
OH wow, those experiences sound pretty bad 🙁 The good thing is that we have more good racing experiences than bad, that’s why we keep going back 🙂