[Last Place Jason]

<p>This is the first time I watched a 50 miler finish come down to a sprint at the end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0k7l-u45bA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0k7l-u45bA</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was pulling for Jesse Scott (runner on the left) to win, but they gave it to Brad Hinton... both runners did an amazing job and were super-cool afterward.  Great sportsmanship, gentlemen!  Fortunately I DNFed after the first 25 mile loop and was able to witness it first-hand.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cool to see Buzzie and a bunch of my Michigan ultrarunner friends, again!</p>

 

[Buzzie]

<p>Pretty cool - I saw it from afar (aka, the beer tent!).</p>
<p>Is it true that the winner got caught in the "detour" and the second-place runner did not?</p>
<p>I can't imagine that could be true, considering that it seemed most all but the slowest 50-milers would have done the bonus miles.</p>

 

[Last Place Jason]

<p>Buzzie- yes, which led to some controversy.  I don't want to get into the details because I'm obviously biased (Jesse paced me at Burning River), but one individual immediately started yelling at the RD to give it to Brad because he went off course (cough* cough* <em>head to toe white unitard</em>* cough).  They made their decision right after that.  The same individual also got in Jesse's face and told him he had to concede because Brad went off course.  Not to take anything away from Brad as it was an absolutely awesome performance AND he was a class act, but I don't agree with the decision.  Again, I'm biased.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A TON of us 50 milers missed a turn because someone pulled a stake the night before.  Jesse was in the first group that actually made the turn before they re-marked it.  I went off course and ran an extra 2 miles (obviously a fruitless effort on my part). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The idea that one runner should be given an advantage because they miss a turn rubs me the wrong way.  Needless to say, I think the person that confronted the RD and Jesse was a douche.  Confronting the RD... I guess I could see that in the heat of the moment... but confronting Jesse was a bush league move.  The guy was a tool.  My opinion is a bit tainted as this particular runner was also yelling at volunteers and his crew in another race Buzzie and I recently ran.</p>

 

[RichardC]

<p>What the heck was unitard guy thinking by wearing that... WTF...</p>

 

[Buzzie]

<p>Wow! I had NO idea there'd been so much drama. I can understand the controversy over on-course v. off, if it truly was a photo finish.</p>
<p>Glad to hear the actual runners were such good sports! <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/love5.gif" title=""></p>
<p> </p>
<p>But the unitard guy - amazing! And, somehow, I'm not surprised. I remember him from Burning River. <sigh!></p>
<p>Yelling at VOLUNTEERS? Without them, there is no race for your fancy-pants, techno-immersed self to run... get over yourself! (And this goes to all of the other spoiled, self-centered brats out there. <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/mad.gif" title="">)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(BTW - it's not a unitard but a Two-piece Glamour Don't. Noticed that in a BR photo of him flashing his belly-button coming into Boston Store.)</p>

 

[HasherRick]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Buzzie</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69781/photo-finish-at-2010-north-country-trail-50-miler-in-michigan-very-dramatic#post_1939653"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Pretty cool - I saw it from afar (aka, the beer tent!).</p>
<p>Is it true that the winner got caught in the "detour" and the second-place runner did not?</p>
<p>I can't imagine that could be true, considering that it seemed most all but the slowest 50-milers would have done the bonus miles.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
Did the "detour" add miles or subtract?</p>

 

[shellerz]

<p>awesome finish. unitard needs to lose the unitard and the axe body spray. not feeling it. and not feeling people getting in the RD's face. good for jesse and the first place guy!</p>

 

[Buzzie]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>HasherRick</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69781/photo-finish-at-2010-north-country-trail-50-miler-in-michigan-very-dramatic#post_1939889"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><br><br><p><br>
Did the "detour" add miles or subtract?</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
The detour added miles. Not sure how many extra miles or how folks found their way back to the course. Jason might know - he got caught up in it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One of the things that kept things interesting is that only the turns were marked. There were no confidence flags. So, you could run for miles without a clue whether you were right or wrong.</p>

 

[Blaine Moore]

<p>I don't get where the unitard guy was coming from...if somebody ran off course and went farther as a result, that just means that they needed some better navigation. I haven't gone off course in an ultra before, but in shorter trail races that I've done it doesn't matter how well marked the course is, people will still miss a marker and it's their responsibility to return to the point they went off course and continue on from there. No bonus points unless you like to brag about getting lost and running extra.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That said, watching the video I think they made the right call. Admittedly, I wasn't there and the only angle I get to see is what the camera had, but it did look like Brad (barely) crossed first. Either way, it was an awesome finish and wish I'd been there to see it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Was the stake pulled by accident or did somebody maliciously try to mess up the course? Or did somebody forget to even put it out there?</p>

 

[SportiGrl]

<p>how did runners know where the turn was if it wasn't marked?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and.... I saw unitard guy somewhere this summer ... but wasn't at the race for burning river, so maybe the BT50K?  he looks quite 'special'  *yikes*</p>

 

[Just Jim]

<p>Watched it three times now - each time I watch, I see it as a tie. Shame the RD 'had' to pick a winner - also a shame that someone tried to influence his decision.</p>

 

[Last Place Jason]

<p>I ran about two extra miles... the leaders that missed the turn ran between three and four. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Supposedly the stakes marking the turn were pulled the night before, which I believe.  Every other turn was clearly marked.  I don't blame the RD or volunteers for that. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sporti- some runners knew the course from previous years.  Others actually stopped to read the map.  There were trail system maps placed sporadically throughout the course.  The route most of us took was part of the actual North Country Trail... the trail system that ends somewhere like Ohio. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jesse and Brad were both very cool.  My problem was the dude in the unitard (word chosen for maximum degradation).  It just wasn't a cool thing to do given the situation.</p>

 

[Hoernigsm]

<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">how did runners know where the turn was if it wasn't marked?</div>
</div>
<p><br>
As far as I know, there were also some mountain bikers who knew where we were supposed to be (or not be as the case may be).  I got lucky and got to that turn just as the tail end of the line of front runners came back.</p>

 

[roots]

<p>Heh.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Took me all of two seconds reading this thread and I knew who you were talking about. I have had more than one experience with the guy in the white suit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Apparently he's like that all the time? Incredible.</p>

 

[Last Place Jason]

<p>Hoernigsm- yes, I forgot to mention this.  A single mountain biker saved the day.  He redirected the entire field, rode back to the missed turn, and waited there until the turn was re-marked for the marathon.  Kudos to him!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Roots- I was hoping someone from the area would comment- I was a little worried my two experiences with this individual were not an accurate representation of his personality.  It's sad. </p>

 

[mutthound]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>roots</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69781/photo-finish-at-2010-north-country-trail-50-miler-in-michigan-very-dramatic#post_1940258"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Apparently he's like that all the time? Incredible.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
I thought trail/ultra runners were "happy runners".  Somebody needs to send ****** a memo. </p>

 

[Hoernigsm]

<p>I just added my RR for the NCTR (my first attempt at a RR).  This was just my take on the day. <a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/thread/69910/north-country-trail-run-rr#post_1942018">http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/thread/69910/north-country-trail-run-rr#post_1942018</a></p>