sarahjayn1980
February 28th, 2009, 02:04 PM
So, last year I walked my first 5k in the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and this year I walked my first 15k. What a difference! The people were SO MEAN.
I went up to the counter to get my bib and shirt and the guy gave me a much smaller size than I wear. When I told him that I had registered for a larger size and need to switch out the shirt he went, "Look, we're out. Not many people your size walk this thing, okay?" He just thrust the bag back at me, and I saw he was helping other people with their D-Tags which were amazingly hard to figure out as it happens (the adhesive wasn't as adhesivey as one would have liked).
Then, I approach the start knowing I'm going to be way in the back because I don't want the runners to have to pass me. People were openly mocking me and this other group of ladies who were obviously just there to walk. It was very weird.
There were various other bumps along the road, but in the end I ended up being asked if I, "even wanted," my finisher's medal because it took me so long (2 hours 35 minutes). I didn't get one - they ran out - and they begrudgingly handed me a card to have it mailed to me. I would normally not give a flying flip about it, but I told my students I was going to get one and I'd bring it in for them to see.
Grrr. I'm just mad because even though I know for a non-heavy person 15k is probably nothing, but I worked really hard to be able to do this. I thought I was going to feel great at the end, but I'm more just disappointed with people. I tried to be courteous and I got crapped on. I even paid for the stranger behind me when getting into the parking garage for a little bit of good will before the race!
I went up to the counter to get my bib and shirt and the guy gave me a much smaller size than I wear. When I told him that I had registered for a larger size and need to switch out the shirt he went, "Look, we're out. Not many people your size walk this thing, okay?" He just thrust the bag back at me, and I saw he was helping other people with their D-Tags which were amazingly hard to figure out as it happens (the adhesive wasn't as adhesivey as one would have liked).
Then, I approach the start knowing I'm going to be way in the back because I don't want the runners to have to pass me. People were openly mocking me and this other group of ladies who were obviously just there to walk. It was very weird.
There were various other bumps along the road, but in the end I ended up being asked if I, "even wanted," my finisher's medal because it took me so long (2 hours 35 minutes). I didn't get one - they ran out - and they begrudgingly handed me a card to have it mailed to me. I would normally not give a flying flip about it, but I told my students I was going to get one and I'd bring it in for them to see.
Grrr. I'm just mad because even though I know for a non-heavy person 15k is probably nothing, but I worked really hard to be able to do this. I thought I was going to feel great at the end, but I'm more just disappointed with people. I tried to be courteous and I got crapped on. I even paid for the stranger behind me when getting into the parking garage for a little bit of good will before the race!