Outcry after organizers add accidentally 8km to Bangkok half marathon

[webfact]

Outcry after organizers add accidentally 8km to Bangkok half marathon
by Asian Correspondent

BANGKOK: -- THE Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon is portrayed as one of Thailand’s premier marathons. It’s a prestigious event which attracts over 33,000 local and international runners each year to the nation’s capital over the four race distances – 5km, 10km, 21.1km, and 42.2km.

However this year, runners are complaining on social media that the half marathon course was not the standard 21.1km but 29kms this year. The 10km run course was also short, measuring at only 9.7kms on many runners’ GPS watches.

This is not the first time the half marathon course has been inaccurate. In 2013 during the Bangkok street protests the half marathon course was changed at the last minute, making the total distance only 19.7km. Most runners accepted this due to the abnormal events playing out in Bangkok at the time.

Full story: http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/outcry-after-organizers-add-8km-to-bangkok-half-marathon/

-- ASIAN CORRESPONDENT 2015-11-16

[Laughing Gravy]

Oh dear. It isn't rocket science to measure the course. Someone seriously messed up. They will probably be moved to the TAT or other organization with a pay rise of course.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Laughing Gravy

[Pattaya28]

[doremifasol]

Next time the organizers should get help

from the winners of the Manila Maths Contest.

[ikke]

Accidentally ?? Stupidly might be the word.....

[MZurf]

Just when I thought I had heard it all in this country something like this comes along and proves me wrong....

[Laughing Gravy]

If you look it up they made mistakes in the last few half marathons. Signs the wrong way etc. you would hope that the organisers would learn from previous mistakes and get it right. Says a lot about many things here.

[Reigntax]

They are used to adding on an amount for commissions. Just normal.

[jacky54]

Not to worry it will not affect tourist numbers!

[kaiyaibob]

Pi** up and Brewery spring to mind

[DLang]

Piss up.

Brewery.

Couldn't organize one.

The day I leave something up to a Thai to organize is the day I've given up caring.

[DLang]

They tried to flee the scene, but it was too long for them.

[worgeordie]

The string must have been too long,when they get the

simple things right,then,maybe they can move on to

more technical stuff like Submarines,Hi Speed Trains,

and Nuclear power plants,that are on Thailand's wish list.

regards Worgeordie

[WhizBang]

If you look it up they made mistakes in the last few half marathons. Signs the wrong way etc. you would hope that the organisers would learn from previous mistakes and get it right. Says a lot about many things here.

Learning from their mistakes is not a Thai trait. To learn from their mistakes, they would have to admit they made a mistake first.

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure everything will perfect for the Tour de France, F1 and every other event they claim will be staged here.

Forget the international organisers have said No Way.

Edited November 16, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[Briggsy]

The response from the organisers, "Mai pen rai. Nit noy"

[skildpadden]

Honestly, how you can mess up such a simple thing as measuring 21.1 kilometers between point A and B? Luckily I am a couch potato and can only run the Midnight Run, but this is totally irresponsible for runners who have been practicing a long time for this event.

From the website: Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon is a world standard athletic sport of Thailand which is popular among Thai and foreign runners and tourists as much as the marathon in other famous cities in the world.

World standard? You are kidding right?

Next time e.g. run "La Procession" in Luang Prabang instead and support worthy causes (and they probably get the distance right).

[arunsakda]

Bizarre. No such variance is tolerable for a Internationally sanctioned event.

[BwindiBoy]

What a shambles...of a country Thailand is becoming.

[jaltsc]

"...the half marathon course was not the standard 21.1km but 29kms this year. The 10km run course was also short, measuring at only 9.7kms on many runners’ GPS watches."

The rest of the world does not understand Thai measurement, which should be the international standard. Just ask any Thai man how long 23 cm. is and he will point to his thumb (This is the PG rated response) .

Edited November 16, 2015 by jaltsc

[somo]

And the organisers claimed it was run in a record time as well!

Must have been a very fast pace.

[Thunder26]

I am not surprised because I've met many Thais that couldn't make a difference between inches and centimeters.

[FloridaExport]

Sounds like someone hired a taxi to measure the half marathon course.

[ParadiseLost]

Seems the doping problem is not limited to the athletes...

Edited November 16, 2015 by ParadiseLost

[stickylies]

21.1km? 29km? : same same but different

[Calach]

So it's not a half marathon it's a 29/42.2 marathon.

[HooHaa]

i fail to see the issue, it is not often you get more that you paid for.

[DLang]

Thai kilometers are different.

[SoilSpoil]

I am still waiting for the Tour de France and the F1 race in Bangkok.

[candide]

I guess it can be indicative of the way these guys have been appointed.