Glad it worked out and glad you didn’t get all pissy about it. I definitely always check the start and finish but I don’t doubt in your situation of having done the race previously that I would not have checked.

Reminds me of something that happened to me last year during a trail 25k. Me and a group of 3 other guys were apparently running ahead of the course volunteers towards the end. We get to about 18-19k and miss a turn that was need to add a couple of k's to the end. A few k's later I'm getting this feeling that the finish line can't be too far away but my watch is off. I figure it's a trail race so who knows if the measurement is right or not. I'm on the lookout for the finish and end up being the first one to see it. I drop everyone except one who out kicks me at the end.

I'm stoked with my second place finish but turns out we missed that crucial turn. The race director is upset that he let us down by not having the volunteer out there sooner. All the while I'm not bothered at all. He ends up offering us a free registration for the next year but has to remove us from the results. I'm actually thrilled about it. Would much rather have the race entry.

Two years ago I trained hard for a local, very competitive 10k. It was the only race I didn't podium finish the prior year.

Well, a cop blocked the wrong Street and redirected runners the wrong way, cutting the race short by 0.20 miles.

The people who run the race every year knew to ignore the cop and go the correct route.

I didn't know till I finished. I went to the RD and DQ'd myself. Better to leave with integrity than a trophy, even though my pace would have given me a podium finish and they had me listed for awards.

I podium finished it this year ;)

The stories go on and on. For the old timers remember the two races in San Francisco that the courses crossed and some people finished in the wrong race? Oops.
I did a 10 k in NewOrleans that the first 3 runners and their motor escort took the turn to the finish. They were at just under 30 min pace. Racers 4 thru about 100 or so didn't see the turn as we were all a min to 3 min behind. We all went straight and when we got to the river and the wino was telling us to turn, we knew we were all screwed. Then it was a mad dash thru the French Qtr. to get back to the hotel finish. A block from the finish there were literally people running in all four directions. The 4th place finisher was something like 43 min. We were guessing who ran faster by their position in the protest line. The RD said sorry and we would all get a really nice sport bag, running jacket and free entry into next years event. 28 years ago and I know my bag should come in the mail next week. And the race didn't ever happen again. But when it does I get in free.
If you race long enough you will be a part of a crazy quirk. Great story though.

YIKE sorry to hear it


What race?

Everyone who didn’t listen to the cop - DQ! Not following race official instructions. Wasn’t that a rule, too?

Seriously stupidest rule in the sport. It’s a lose / lose. Race director condoning not listening to law enforcement? Horrible. What if there was an emergency and course needs to be altered?

Or if it was a HITS race, the course could have been changing between the start of the race and time the run starts... what to do then? Stop get on your phone and read an updated course map? You know, because it’s solely on you to know the course and follow all instructions. But you’re DQ’d for using yourphone.

Knowing the course had lost the “spirit” of the rule, I think, of preventing cheaters and shows poor race directing when it comes up now.

Asan athlete I do my course research but it’s clearly marked incorrectly (pr not marked at all) or I’m explicitly directed otherwise, that’s not on me.

I'm in Finland so it was the Kangasala super distance triathlon. 1.5 swim 50km and 11km run.
My Garmin said I did 47km and my 7 min lead into t2 was really 3-4 min. I still got run down so fortunately I didn't cross the line celebrating.