Track Championships mistake. If my shoe falls off, should i keep running?

Question

Im a 13 year old middle school runner who is very competitive at my races. My mile time is 5.09, my 800m 2.14, and my 400m 56sec. At my track championships yesterday, an unfair racer stepped on the back of my shoe and elbowed me so by the second turn on the first lap my shoe fell off. I kept running. By the end of my race i got a horrible seventh when i was goin for 1st and my foot was a bloody mess. I decided to run the 800m and i got first place and was the county champ of the year in da 800m. I even did the 4x400m and did very well. My question is should i have stopped running the race, or did what i did? Id like to know what u think of the whole thing.

Answer 1

well ask yourself the question: does the 100m hurdler get back up and finish even though the race is lost after he or she fell? usually, yes. Even though they've lost their momentium to 3step they still go over each and every hurlde. So even though its slightly different, i think you made the right choice to finish with your lost shoe

Answer 2

You have to keep going to go back and get the shoe would take to much time.

Answer 3

If you really want a chance to win the race - you have to keep running. If you want to preserve the health of your feet - you should stop running. Your choice.

Answer 4

Without being in your shoes (or shoe, as it were) during the race, it's too tough to tell what the best course of action to take would have been.

Despite losing a shoe, did you have a chance to win, place, or show?  If so, if you thought so, then go for it!

However, in losing the shoe, did you lose so much ground that you didn't think you could catch up?  That's an occasion to slow to a jog, finish the race (last is always far better psychologically than a DNF, if you can help it), and get ready for the next.

And truly, as others have said, getting stepped on, elbowed around, and even run over, is part of the sport.  If you haven't, well, it's time to get over it.

Regards,

Running_Dad

***I am personally still so competitive I am sure I would have gone for it.  Last year, an hour before the Chicago Marathon, I realized I left my running shoes at home - 45 miles away.  Not wanting to just watch, I kept my water sandals on, and started the race.  Blisters developed in the first few miles, and I did allow myself the possibility of dropping out if they got unbearable.

Despite the heat, I finished the entire 26.2.  The blisters were big and bleeding, but only took a week to heal.  I would not choose, now, to run in sandals over shoes.  But given the choice to not run at all, or to run in sandals, complete with blisters, well, I'd do the sandals route again.

Answer 5

Honestly losing a shoe is no big deal. I've had worst accidents in my meets.  I'm your age and shoe or no shoe doesn't matter.  Truly I run my meets with out any shoes, and I always get first.

Answer 6

ive seen that happen before. last year in the regular season dual meet the other team spiked (steped on with their spikes) our best runner and tore his shoe in the 800 (he still beat any of their kids with a partly bloody foot) and also tried to another kid but they just ended up pushing him down. you probably did the right thing trying to run...if you could have got it sliped on and got back in the race (it was the mile right-which may have been enough time) you coulda done taht if not you atleast made up for. those are really good times for a 13 year old.

Answer 7

Lots of runners have lost a shoe during a race.

In a crowd you can have someone step on your heel and cause your shoe to come off. The other runner is not trying to step  on your foot.

It is part of racing. You should have continued to run as long as it does not hurt you.

Lagat lost a shoe at the national championships and still ran over 2 laps without a shoe and won.

Treat this as a learning experience, and at  your age you will have lots more to learn, don't quit learning.

Answer 8

WOW! I'm really impressed with your track times for you age. Keep up the excellent work.

  The shoe thing happend to a friend of mine. As dedicated as you sound, YOU KEEP RUNNING! Never ever stop for anything no matter what happens. If one shoe falls off, then next forward step with the other foot, pull off that shoe from the heel to keep in stride and continue the race. Use this to drive up your adrenaline and anger to chase down or out run the cheater who did that to you.

Then next time you will double knot your laces so you shoes stay on nice and tight.

Answer 9

Wow, that reminds me of when we were playing crab soccer ball in 3rd grade ( walking while we were sitting; kicking ball with feet) that was really diffucult. In the middle of a pass the kickers shoe knocked off and bounced on the ball and headed straight for him! Ok, now back to the question. Just get your shoe and keep on going as if nothing happened.