The Claim. When is it Alright?
Winning a race can be a big moment. You’ve trained hard for months and managed niggles, tiredness and family commitments in order to get yourself into shape. Then the big day arrives and you nervously stand on the start line. As the kilometres disappear behind you and the finish draws near you start to realise that this is your moment. Your 15 seconds of fame where the spotlight shines on you. Approaching the tape you lose all sense of reality. The arms go up, a single finger raised on one hand. You shout “Woohooo” and proceed to jump beneath the finishing arch. Then reality comes crashing back and you look around to see but two people staring at you, mouths gaping. You’re officially a dick.
Claiming a win is a contentious issue. Yes, you’ve done something pretty cool in winning a race, but there are races, and there are runs. For example, you’re reasonably fit and experienced and find yourself at an event where there are several distances on offer. You go for the shorter event, the one aimed at kids, the elderly or simply the less fit. This is not exactly the pinnacle of the sporting elite….essentially, you’ve taken the soft option. In this case, claiming the win is just tragic.
Another example of a no go for claiming is when you’ve won by default. A victory achieved when a race leader goes the wrong way or drops out near the finish with an injury. It can be difficult in this scenario as there’s sometimes an expectation to show a form of excitement at winning. A simple fist pump or wave will suffice, there’s no need for cartwheeling down the finishing chute.
The training claim is another taboo. You’ve just done a great session with your squad and upon finishing the final rep you feel compelled to throw your arms in the sky. No, no, no! This is just wrong. The people behind you are your friends and all sharing the journey towards fitness. And guess what, this is not a race, it’s training.
When is it right to claim? Well, anytime you win a major race in positive circumstances, is fine. It’s expected of you. But don’t go too over the top as there are people behind you battling away and having their own personal victories as they go. Ironman triathletes are the masters of the overkill celebration. Taking 10 minutes to walk down the finish chute, high fiving everyone as you go is a little self-indulgent. Throw out a couple of fist pumps and maybe slap hands with your support crew. Then cross the line and grab a cold drink. Maybe pause for a few photos.
Can people other than the winner celebrate? Of course! The longer the race and the stronger the field, the further down the finishing order you can claim. For example, top ten at TNF100 is well worth a bit of a skip across the line. Also, there’s ‘Claiming’ and then there’s celebrating a personal achievement. This instance can blur the lines a little. For many, simply completing a marathon or longer event is a huge achievement. So there’s nothing wrong with showing your sense of pride in some way and sharing the moment with your friends and family that are watching. But don’t make a gesture that suggests you’re number one. Keep it brief and aimed at those that shared the journey with you.
Essentially, claiming and the level of the celebration should be directly proportional to the achievement. The bigger the victory, the larger the show, but have humility and respect for your fellow runners too.