First point - it doesn't matter. Such concerns are orders of magnitude smaller then the loss of the four lives there. Records are things we create in our heads. People's lives are real.
But if we are going to discuss this that "any records set will be considered the course records" concept - I got the double positive declaration for that: Yeah - right.
If Anton, or whoever breaks the record by 1 second, think anyone is not going to put an asterisk next to that, including the breaker? Think anyone is going to say a mile shorter record is the true record on the course? If anything such a change means the record needs to be CRUSHED. Anything less than a 20 minute break and there will be speculation as to WHICH record is better. 10 minutes will drive people batty. And even if it is crushed - it will sit out there in question until the regular course record is beat beneath either standard.
If Anton, or whoever breaks the record by 1 second, think anyone is not going to put an asterisk next to that, including the breaker? Think anyone is going to say a mile shorter record is the true record on the course? If anything such a change means the record needs to be CRUSHED. Anything less than a 20 minute break and there will be speculation as to WHICH record is better. 10 minutes will drive people batty. And even if it is crushed - it will sit out there in question until the regular course record is beat beneath either standard.
Other stuff ... good article on how we went from a culture of competition to completion. Ju'stin Y's post from worlds is pretty entertaining ...
Luckily in this case the point is probably moot. Because MC hinted he may go back if the record is broken - legit or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Tony, but from what I see and read he seems like such a nice, non-running-politics guy...its not fair to him. So lets hope if he breaks the record that he does it by at least 10 minutes.
He is due for a little karma after the WS fire cancellation, injury the next year, and so on. Hell, he still isn't even on the entrants list for LT right now.
Why don't they just add a little out and back 1mile loop to at least get the distance right. That would take away much of the problem then.
ReplyDeleteKudos for Matt if he takes that stance.
ReplyDeleteYeah - bummer for Tony.
Not on the entry list?
Derrick - not sure that matters either. Even if the distance is the same - the course is different. The same "purity" principles apply.
Totally agree that the different course would open up some discussion on the strength of the record, but at least if the distance is correct then I think it's much easier to claim that it is a record.
ReplyDeleteWould be great to see MC and Krupicka go head to head there, although it sounds like if Anton gets the record, he might not be interested in returning. This could be total speculation, but was the impression I got from the irunfar.com interview.