Top 10 Back/Worst 10 Front Corral Marathon Performances
Based on the bib number explanation that I received from Carly Caulfield and Megan Mastel of the Chevron Houston Marathon staff, these ten (10) runners (with place, chip time, clock time, difference, name, age, hometown and bib #) had the best performances from the back corral on Sunday:
33. 2:40:01 - 2:40:47 (46 seconds) Francisco Galaviz, 42, Mexico, bib #9935 BQ
118. 3:06:01 - 3:06:14 (13 seconds) Felipe Tapia, 55, Houston, bib #9918 BQ
298. 3:15:14 - 3:16:55 (1:41) Celestino Lopez, 39, Houston, bib #9919 BQ
333. 3:17:39 - 3:19:02 (1:23) Bryan Arceneaux, 20, Lake Jackson, bib #9001
419. 3:23:26 - 3:24:28 (1:02) Gustavo Cabezas, 44, Aguacaliente de Cartego, bib #9930
440. 3:23:37 - 3:25:32 (1:55) Rodney Watts, 38, San Antonio, bib #7571
487. 3:25:57 - 3:28:01 (2:04) Jeff Barnett, 50, Ann Arbor, Michigan, bib #8106 BQ
(Barnett ran 4:44:44 in the 2005 Houston Marathon but during 2005, he ran 10 of 12 marathons in under 3:40.)
527. 3:27:59 - 3:29:49 (1:50) Edgar Sonnier, Jr., 33, Suplhur, Louisiana, bib #8386
571. 3:29:46 - 3:31:05 (1:19) Hans Stronck, 41, Houston, bib #7337
645. 3:31:55 - 3:33:47 (1:18) Joseph Jindra, 32, Houston, bib #9221
Removing the elite bib numbers from the equation and approximately 10-20 who had bib numbers for other races (yes, both the half marathon and the 5K), there were 5,368 marathoners who had a bib number from either 300 (Steve Boone)-3999 or 5200-9999 (5,201 was the Striders' Doug Spence). (Not surprising for an accountant to get in early on the best deal possible!)
Of the 2,377 runners with bib numbers that were slotted for the front corral, there was an average chip difference of 1:09. For the 2,991 runners with bib numbers that were in the back corral, the average chip difference, as expected, was 3:38.
In reverse, you might ask what were the slowest times for people that had front corral bib numbers? When you look at the list, the cynical person - which I'm not - would ask: How did these people get their front corral numbers?
Most had chip differences that are big enough that it appears that they went to the back corral regardless. But Pinto, Draper, Green, Sanchez and particularly Ang started in the front corral. Ang was on pace for a near 4-hour marathon with a front half time of 1:55:04, but faded. (Perhaps he was a Team In Training coach who ran with someone the front half and then assisted runners the rest of the time. Who knows?)
4992. 5:35:29 - 5:39:16 (3:47) Michael Grant, 53, Houston, bib #366 (2:38:22 at half)
(Ran 5:18:04 at Houston in 2005)
5006. 5:32:38 - 5:39:53 (7:15) Christopher Connolly, 43, Missouri City, bib #2961 (2:09:40)
(Ran 3:56:51 at Houston in 2005)
5029. 5:39:43 - 5:40:36 (0:53) Tony Pinto, 48, Richmond, bib #1684 (2:40:18)
5043. 5:38:25 - 5:41:48 (3:23) Tim Cockerham, 33, Bryan, bib #1879 (2:16:57)
5134. 5:45:39 - 5:46:26 (0:47) Rusty Draper, 44, Pearland, bib #558 (2:32:10)
5137. 5:41:06 - 5:46:34 (5:28) Cassie Dimmick, 29, Pearland, bib #1187 (2:39:44)
(Ran 3:40:09 at White Rock last month, but paced Theresa Willis from Manvel)
5167. 5:46:51 - 5:48:01 (1:10) Laura Green, 35, The Woodlands, bib #2148 (2:31:15)
5216. 5:49:16 - 5:50:48 (1:32) Juan Sanchez, 32, Houston, bib #363 (2:08:36)
(Ran 4:10:38 at Houston in 2005; 5:21:08 at Freescale and 5:30:57 at Seabrook Lucky Trails)
5346. 5:59:37 - 6:00:00 (23 seconds) Dimitri Ang, 26, Houston, bib #3003 (1:55:04)
5361. 5:58:13 - 6:01:42 (3:29) Allan Prejusa, 37, Houston, bib #3022 (2:03:43 at half)
More analysis in the coming days!
33. 2:40:01 - 2:40:47 (46 seconds) Francisco Galaviz, 42, Mexico, bib #9935 BQ
118. 3:06:01 - 3:06:14 (13 seconds) Felipe Tapia, 55, Houston, bib #9918 BQ
298. 3:15:14 - 3:16:55 (1:41) Celestino Lopez, 39, Houston, bib #9919 BQ
333. 3:17:39 - 3:19:02 (1:23) Bryan Arceneaux, 20, Lake Jackson, bib #9001
419. 3:23:26 - 3:24:28 (1:02) Gustavo Cabezas, 44, Aguacaliente de Cartego, bib #9930
440. 3:23:37 - 3:25:32 (1:55) Rodney Watts, 38, San Antonio, bib #7571
487. 3:25:57 - 3:28:01 (2:04) Jeff Barnett, 50, Ann Arbor, Michigan, bib #8106 BQ
(Barnett ran 4:44:44 in the 2005 Houston Marathon but during 2005, he ran 10 of 12 marathons in under 3:40.)
527. 3:27:59 - 3:29:49 (1:50) Edgar Sonnier, Jr., 33, Suplhur, Louisiana, bib #8386
571. 3:29:46 - 3:31:05 (1:19) Hans Stronck, 41, Houston, bib #7337
645. 3:31:55 - 3:33:47 (1:18) Joseph Jindra, 32, Houston, bib #9221
Removing the elite bib numbers from the equation and approximately 10-20 who had bib numbers for other races (yes, both the half marathon and the 5K), there were 5,368 marathoners who had a bib number from either 300 (Steve Boone)-3999 or 5200-9999 (5,201 was the Striders' Doug Spence). (Not surprising for an accountant to get in early on the best deal possible!)
Of the 2,377 runners with bib numbers that were slotted for the front corral, there was an average chip difference of 1:09. For the 2,991 runners with bib numbers that were in the back corral, the average chip difference, as expected, was 3:38.
In reverse, you might ask what were the slowest times for people that had front corral bib numbers? When you look at the list, the cynical person - which I'm not - would ask: How did these people get their front corral numbers?
Most had chip differences that are big enough that it appears that they went to the back corral regardless. But Pinto, Draper, Green, Sanchez and particularly Ang started in the front corral. Ang was on pace for a near 4-hour marathon with a front half time of 1:55:04, but faded. (Perhaps he was a Team In Training coach who ran with someone the front half and then assisted runners the rest of the time. Who knows?)
4992. 5:35:29 - 5:39:16 (3:47) Michael Grant, 53, Houston, bib #366 (2:38:22 at half)
(Ran 5:18:04 at Houston in 2005)
5006. 5:32:38 - 5:39:53 (7:15) Christopher Connolly, 43, Missouri City, bib #2961 (2:09:40)
(Ran 3:56:51 at Houston in 2005)
5029. 5:39:43 - 5:40:36 (0:53) Tony Pinto, 48, Richmond, bib #1684 (2:40:18)
5043. 5:38:25 - 5:41:48 (3:23) Tim Cockerham, 33, Bryan, bib #1879 (2:16:57)
5134. 5:45:39 - 5:46:26 (0:47) Rusty Draper, 44, Pearland, bib #558 (2:32:10)
5137. 5:41:06 - 5:46:34 (5:28) Cassie Dimmick, 29, Pearland, bib #1187 (2:39:44)
(Ran 3:40:09 at White Rock last month, but paced Theresa Willis from Manvel)
5167. 5:46:51 - 5:48:01 (1:10) Laura Green, 35, The Woodlands, bib #2148 (2:31:15)
5216. 5:49:16 - 5:50:48 (1:32) Juan Sanchez, 32, Houston, bib #363 (2:08:36)
(Ran 4:10:38 at Houston in 2005; 5:21:08 at Freescale and 5:30:57 at Seabrook Lucky Trails)
5346. 5:59:37 - 6:00:00 (23 seconds) Dimitri Ang, 26, Houston, bib #3003 (1:55:04)
5361. 5:58:13 - 6:01:42 (3:29) Allan Prejusa, 37, Houston, bib #3022 (2:03:43 at half)
More analysis in the coming days!
posted by WalkSports.com | 7:13 AM
5 Comments:
No TNT coaches in the bunch.
We don't wear our chips when we support a race. We don't want someone running across the same timing mat more than once...best insurance is no chips.
Looking forward to the 28th....we're going to have a great time.
Jon: I understand that the front/back corral assignments were made on self-reported times. After the cut off date (early January, I believe), the registrations were sorted by completion times. Those with completion times of 2 hours or less were assigned sequential bib numbers and relegated to the front corral. The remainder (and all subsequent registrations) were relegated to the back corral. If a runner mis-entered their estimated completion time, it is very understandable that they would improperly be assigned to the front corral. Just thought the report needed more clarity on the issue. Thanks. AJ Bird (Sugar Land, Texas)
AJ,
Thanks, I appreciate the additional insight. I made the post before I went to work and knew that there was an explanation for the 99xx series bib numbers.
When you sort the file of finishers by bib #, there is a steady stream of bib numbers from 5200 to 9450. And they aren't necessarily sequential because many runners registered but decided not to run. The range of bib #'s 9901-9999 show a total of 82 finishers which would seem to indicate that those that registered after that time that you referenced were given those numbers. Therefore if they sign up that late, they're most likely to run it.
Again, I don't have any gripes on the issue because it doesn't effect me; however, I would suggest that some runners didn't simply mis-enter their estimated time. More than likely there was a certain population that might not have provided an accurate picture.
How does Michael Grant get a low bib number? He ran 5:18:04 last year and he goes 2:38:22 at the half and finishes in 5:35:29. Certainly he didn't think that he would finish in 4 hours or less unless he was severely injured both last year and this year.
And how does a guy like Barnett get a back corral assignment if he's run 10 sub-3:40 marathons this year?
If the Marathon Committee checked times from last year, I could see where Barnett got a back corral assignment. He ran 4:44:44.
The bottom line, though, is the averages went as expected though. 1:09 chip difference for those with front corral positions and 3:38 for those with back corral.
Jon: Yeah, it looks like this front corral/back corral issue needs some refinement. I spoke with several runners, after the fact, who did not realize (or did not read) that their self-reported finish time would be used to make the corral assignments. While some said they were being optimistic and reported their target time, others were conservative and unfortunately were assigned to the back corral. Keep in mind, that those in the front corral could self correct by going to the back but the same privilege did not extend to those with back corral bibs. I think we all learned a little this year and will be just a bit smarter with race strategy for 2007. I'm sure we will hear more on this issue in subsequent Marathon eNews Letters. Perhaps it would be a good idea to publish the self-reported times so we can see who reported what. What do you think? Thanks. AJ Bird (Sugar Land, Texas)
AJ,
I wouldn't favor "outing" someone on what they reported vs. how they finished. Actually you couldn't even publish it without attaching a name to the numbers because you could still "identify" a person by their finishing time.
If I had a chance to crunch the data that the Marathon Committee has (or should have), I would be looking at self-reported times vs. the actual finishing times, establishing what an outlier should be (10-15% off of projected time) and seeing how much fell outside of that.
I'd like to think that, especially at the marathon distance, there is enough data out there via marathonguide.com results search that when the registration comes in you compare that projected to their last marathon finish. If the projection is unreasonable, contact the runner.
I think what we'll see is further segmentation of the corrals or a potential wave start in the future.
I just think that when a new course is put out there when the Elysian Street Bridge is torn down that a course will be decided on that can hold / stage more people - and to compete with Disney and PF Chang's.
Plus if you have more numbers of runners in all events, you can come closer to shelling out the bigger dollars to get the runners who demand appearance fees and who can break the 2:10 barrier here.
And I think that this all means that you'll see the start/finish be at Reliant in the future as opposed to the GRB.
Jon
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