I also remember a mix up the start of Pen Y Ghent that year where half a dozen or so runners took a short cut that gained them about 20 sec. But as one or two have rightly stated, incidents like these shouldn't really be allowed to marr otherwise fantastic events. I guess that's down to the way they're handled, although ideally they shouldn't obviously happen in the first place.Originally Posted by Richard Head
Right, another thread topic perhaps here, should the other runners in that race have followed the flags like John did? Guess so if the marshall told them to, but what if the marshall hadn't done? This is always an unclear issue in my book. Question is: Are flags there to literally follow (as a must) or are they sometimes just put there as a guide in which case as long as you visit the correct checkpoints without crossing private land etc, then are you not free to choose the best line? (if you deem your line to be better than what the organisers 'suggest').
I tend to assume the latter for following flags can be quite a vague instruction (unless the whole route is taped off like in cross country or world trophy events and we don't want that do we!) there's nothing worse than sticking to the flags even though you know a better line only to be passed by runners taking that line and then nothing said to them. I just feel the rules could sometimes be a little clearer.
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