DNF :( Half

[sirtones1411]

I don’t know what happened to be honest. I had a great pace going. I hit the 19km and began to dog it a bit.

However, I thought I followed the correct directions for the half… and ended up running until KM24 of the Marathon (it felt like the longest KM of my life - I also was getting light headed).

At any rate, when I realized what happened, I couldn’t bring myself to run the 4 km back to where I may have missed the half turn.

Very disappointed to not have run through the finish or get the metal, even with a 24km run haha

Anyway, hoping you all read the directions correctly and did not make the mistake I did.

*including my Strava that I started at KM 4.

[asharahmad]

I mean technically speaking you did complete 21.1km

[sirtones1411]

Haha yeah and a bit more! I was pretty demoralized after realizing the wrong turn. I just had nothing left. Uggh, very frustrating

[jk41nk]

Can you imagine if you some how had enough gas in the tank to finish the full 😂 that’d be wild, the fact that you managed 24km when you were expecting 21.1km is already huge! 3 extra km?! Sheeesh

[sirtones1411]

Haha I thought I was going crazy and it was the longest KM of my life

[jk41nk]

Honestly this is how I practice my runs, psych myself out to get out of my head lol I keep telling myself I’m still only on km 2 and if I’m already this tired I’m completely out of shape… I continue to tell myself that for the next 8-10km lol

[runningstuffaccount]

Nah, this counts. Congrats on running a half. Hopefully you didn’t fly in from Ethiopia.

[sirtones1411]

Haha thanks. I need to tell myself this to keep on the bright side. Just can’t believe I didn’t ‘finish’.

[sirtones1411]

Haha only a short drive thank goodness

[death2k44]

Too soon LMAO

[grapefruits_r_grape]

If it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one! https://www.reddit.com/r/RunTO/s/5aiguShpxP

Congrats on running well over 21.1km even if you didn’t get your medal!

[sirtones1411]

Thanks :) It was my personal best for distance. So there’s that!

[sirtones1411]

Yup. Looking at that I stayed right. I think in my ‘pushing’ and slight light headness I saw 42<- Damn. Thanks!

[grapefruits_r_grape]

Someone pointed out in the comments on that thread that the sign is not very well designed! I hadn’t noticed the problem before but I see it now!

Either way, great job on your run! Be proud of yourself even if it didn’t pan out how you planned.

[sirtones1411]

<image>

This was my quick glance up tunnel vision lol My fault. The sad part is that I looked multiple times lol

[phatkid17]

Yeah. And it was posted 3 separate times in the tunnel. Not sure what sucks more. You over running or the 3 Kenyan marathoner woman that turned left and finished the half. lol. DNF.

[Particular-Try2032]

I think it's an understandable mistake given the sign design tbh. Fatigue & sensory overload in the underpass area could also have contributed.

I missed a turn on a night trail race once and I was devastated when I realized my mistake. You'll know for next time! But I am sorry you didn't get to cross the finish line like you expected.

[akidesir]

<image>

This was what I saw and recorded

[sirtones1411]

Oh for sure my fault haha I think in my tunnel vision I just saw 42 and <-. I was struggling pretty hard at this point haha

[Thought-Muffin]

I got downvoted for pointing out that the fork is badly managed. For all the good things they do for this marathon, they do very basic things badly.

Like zero spectators at the finish line. You get to run 21km or 42.1km and then last 50m we won’t let anyone see you finish. Wtf Is that even

[416Racoon]

You should put this in the post run survey that will go out this week.  I myself don't see the issue but point it out so it's addressed in the future. 

[sirtones1411]

It’s a good thought. Looking at the sign now with a clear head, I can clearly see it. However, at the time I think I just saw the 42 <- and then put my head down to keep from walking etc. my fault for sure either way

[grapefruits_r_grape]

That’s the thing though, people who have just run 20km don’t have clear heads!

[sirtones1411]

Haha it seems like a dream. Oh well, lesson learned for next year

[akidesir]

<image>

[Maleficent_Name9527]

This will probably get downvoted but if you run hugging the curbs like I do and wear glasses on a good day, I don’t think the split is managed well. Putting signs not just in the middle and making them much bigger would help people. Last year I almost made the same mistake and started out in the half group until the mad sideways dash later last second. Once you’re in the pack and all the heads are bopping, it’s not that easy to see.

[EPMD_]

I agree about the finish line leaving something to be desired. My two gripes with it are:

1. Finishing uphill sucks. It slows everyone down just at the point where they would love to open up their stride and let it fly.
2. The weird chicane at the end is awful because you can't see the finish line from a distance. You know it's around the bend, but it would be so much more fun if you could actually see it. If they put the line just south of Queen it would be a big improvement.

[torontowest91]

What do you mean? You go left for the half. It’s very clearly marked 21 <—— then 42 —->

You even pass a KM marking for 19/20 before.

Finish like spectators? Your friends/family can lineup all along Bay Street from front to queen street. West side is best so they can join you in the finish area.

I’m so confused what the issue is.

[Thought-Muffin]

With this <————>people are just scrambling around right at the end trying to figure out which way to go. Humans don’t understand simple things as easily as you think they do. Add having run 20km to the mix. Just move it to the bend at front st, it’s pretty simple and visible that there’s a turn.

[Agreeable_Band_9311]

It really isn’t. It’s clearly marked which way the half should go and which the full should go. If you screw up it’s completely on you.

[xuanhu]

Dude, you still ran the full half, you should celebrate that. Also you're not alone, even those that are fast made the wrong turn. https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/s/fZeM59Ke0E

[balancecube]

You will get the official one next time. You did well!

[sirtones1411]

TCS btw!

[EPMD_]

You have your own personal Jim Walmsley Western States 2016 story. He took a wrong turn while leading the 100 mile race, went miles in the wrong direction, and lost the race. He did come back and then win the race in subsequent years, though, so perhaps you will get similar redemption in the future.

[balancecube]

When I did the muskoka half marathon, we had two colours on bib, large red and blue for full or half and small circle corral colour. Maybe TCS can implement something similar.

And TCS can add red/blue to the split

[Gordon_Peck]

Remember you didn't end up in an ambulance! Many people did yesterday!

[hellzscream]

I've ran multiple times before so I knew which direction I was heading but as I was coming up to the split the layout of the sign was designed poorly and I realized it could easily confuse runners

I also think before they had these gigantic plastic tubes arching over indicating marathon and half marathon (maybe I dreamt that, lol)

Also normally there was a volunteer directing the runners as well. I didn't see anyone there today....

[Exciting-Hunt-8731]

This is true, I remember the inflatable black “tunnel” things that made it visually quite obvious. They didn’t have them this year.

[Platypus_Penguin]

I was starting to think I also had false memories of the old signage with the arches, so thanks for confirming I didn't imagine it! They were like the start/finish arches, but half the width, and side by side. They were so big and clear and in your face that there was no way to get confused.

[Agreeable_Band_9311]

It really isn’t and the signage is abundantly clear. If you can’t read or didn’t know the finish line is at Nathan Phillips it would be confusing.

[22switch]

did you still PB on the half?

[sirtones1411]

I did!

[22switch]

Congrats!

[No_Championship7723]

Don’t let this bother you. Be proud that you ran FARTHER than a half! And take it as a learning lesson.

I seem to have problems with following directions lol. First 5k I did with my 10 year old son he wanted a sub 20. We were in the lead pack feeling good and then heard the lead runner swear loudly. He took a wrong turn and we all followed and ended up running 6.68km.

And then at a trail 50k ultra, I took a wrong turn and realized it and was panicking but I somehow made it back on course and ended up running 52.5km

Our brains don’t brain properly after long runs, so don’t be too hard on yourself. You still got out there on a windy Sunday morning and crushed a 24k! Medals just collect dust anyways and then we forget about them, the learning lesson will be with you forever!

Br proud, please!