At IMLP this year I stayed to watch at the finish line to see the last official finishers come through.
After seeing the last of the “official” finishers I kept looking around the oval thinking that there may be more “unofficial” ones to follow but I didn’t see any.
What happens to folks who are still on the run course but don’t make the midnight cutoff?
Are they allowed to finish but without support?
This was my first time watching the finish and I was surprised at how many folks came in over those last few hours.
It was really moving and I’m sure there are some great stories out there.
Rob
The only IM I’ve done was Lake Placid '99, the first one. I finished pretty well and after showering and eating and putting the stuff away, I went back for the last few hours. At midnight, after the count down, the announcer came back on to tell everyone to stay, their was one more person out on the course and he wanted us to bring her home. We cheered, we yelled, and she finally made it across the line which was now closed. She got the biggest round of applause and although she didn’t get an official finisher’s medal, it was either the men’s or women’s winner who placed their medal around her neck.
Generally the RD knows who is left and where they are, and the announcer will often have people hang around if they are not far off, but they are not official finishers. The course closes, they have the option to continue on their own, and I am sure many volunteers would stay with them the final miles, but all aid stations would be closed. I’d guess that the sweep car offers them a ride back at midnight, but I can’t imagine too many people take it.
So officially, they have no support and step off the course. Unofficially, everyone wants them to come home on their own power and people stay around to support them.
I watch IMLP almost every year, and make sure to be at the finish for the last couple of hours, as it is incredibly inspiring to see the stragglers come in, and the cheers they get.
This year was the first one I can remember where there hasn’t been anyone come in within a couple of minutes after midnight. To be honest, I was relieved that there weren’t any of those, as I cringe every year when Mike Reilly says “You are an Ironman in our hearts” as someone struggles to cross the line just after the cutoff.
At IMCdA last year, I went to watch the last couple of hours at the 25 mile mark. About 11:40, some of the officials came on the course cheering and running with some of the last people. More so to tell them to get going in a nice way so they would finish in time. I really wanted to help these people run in and finish, but tired myself and it was cold. I really respect the late finisher.
This was posted on mile141.com, and I’m stealing it without permission. #506dave from toronto Subject: Graham is THE man…
ironmandave**@rogers.**com Monday, March 16, 2009 06:30 AM Host: CPE001cf0b7e9d4-CM001225430f26.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com Thought I’d share my favourite Graham story. It was August 2000 and getting close to midnight. I was approaching Lakeshore to do the last mile. Graham turns around to see me and then turns to look at the clock. I wish I had a camera with me because words can’t describe the look of horror on his face when he assessed my pace after seeing it was 5 minutes to midnight. Well, he summoned a posse (including Lori Bowden) and they did what they could but I finished at 17:00:53. I’ve always been proud of doing a 6 minute split at the end on an Ironman but mostly enormously thankful that Graham was hanging out on Lakeshore looking for someone like me. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As the midnight hour looms closer, you sense something special is happening. You feel the magic in the air. There’s a buzz in the crowd. Each finisher is like a drug, you crave more, and you dare not blink. I was there when Dave emerged from the darkness running with his “entourage” of new best friends. I’ve seen Cowman work the crowd, bringing tears to even the grumpiest curmudgeon. I’ve witnessed Sister Madonna Buder, nearly 80 years young, setting yet another world record. Twice I’ve seen the last official finisher lunge for the tape with just 1 second to spare. Were you one of the thousands at IM Wisconsin yelling “We want Frank”? The finish line ere midnight is a very special place. Those precious few moments are part of what keeps me inspired to keep training all year. It’s a grand party, all are welcome, come early if you’re able, but whatever you do… don’t be late!
Not sure if it was mentioned, but there are also cutoffs not only on the bike course (i.e. be out of transition by 5:30 PM), but also on the run. Not sure what they are, but I think on the run if you are not at a certain point (like Mile 16? or 18?) within 2 hours of 12:00 Midnight (i.e. 10 PM), the race officials won’t let you continue. That reduces the number of potential people out on the course after 12 Midnight. Of course, I’m such a speed demon, I don’t have to worry about cutoff times.
So far we don’t have a cutoff at Redman
Our latest finisher was 21hrs
One year at one of the aid stations on the run a young
high school girl (volunteer) was told by her dad that
after staying long after the station was to close she had
to go home because she had to get up early. She stayed
just long enough to write an inspiring note(on a paper plate)
to the only person left on the course. That plate is now framed
and an award is given each year in it’s honor.
Why is it that it’s considered inspiring and even heroic to finish an IM in seventeen hours but if someone takes 6 years to finish high school they are merely a dumb ass?
Why is it that it’s considered inspiring and even heroic to finish an IM in seventeen hours but if someone takes 6 years to finish high school they are merely a dumb ass?
Wow, after all these years, you are still feeling the sting of being called a dumb ass?
I often tell people that outside of a hot craps table (think gambling people) there is nothing more intoxicating and exciting than the late hours at the Ironman finish line…YouTube has the 17:00:00 finish at IMLP this year. Party on Garth!
Yes there are many that finish later but why do they bother. As eloquently and convincingly determined by many on this board, they aren’t real ironman if they finish after 14 hours. They are really just fat bastards who are only slightly better than all those sloth people who make health care go up. Actually they are worse because they make it hard for the real athletes to get into the good races. Those people make a mockery of everything that doing a race is about. I like to go back around 15 hours to laugh at them and tell people around me that those poor saps don’t even know its over: Heck, I finished four hours earlier. Maybe had they not even bothered training for the run they would be faster.
Monday, March 16, 2009 06:30 AM Host: 
Thought I’d share my favourite Graham story. It was August 2000 and getting close to midnight. I was approaching Lakeshore to do the last mile. Graham turns around to see me and then turns to look at the clock. I wish I had a camera with me because words can’t describe the look of horror on his face when he assessed my pace after seeing it was 5 minutes to midnight. Well, he summoned a posse (including Lori Bowden) and they did what they could but I finished at 17:00:53. I’ve always been proud of doing a 6 minute split at the end on an Ironman but mostly enormously thankful that Graham was hanging out on Lakeshore looking for someone like me. 