Let’s face it, we all had bad races. I know, I’ve had my fair share.
But the variety of excuses is incredible. So I compiled a list of excuses my athletes have used, as well as those from Olympic and Elite athletes. In fact, I have used some of these myself… several of them.
So the drumroll please….
Worst Top 20 Excuses in Track and Field
- I got a cramp in my legs
- I didn’t hear the gun (though, I do accept this excuse for the 4x400m Lane 8 runners)
- I didn’t see the finish line (or confused with Mile start line 9 meters back!)
- I dipped too early
- I didn’t dip because I thought I won (Amantle Montsho?)
- I haven’t done speedwork all year
- I’m (still) recovering from an injury
- I was saving myself for the Finals. Don’t believe me? Read my story here.
- My spikes were too tight (or too loose)… or my laces got undone.
- The starting blocks didn’t feel right. Even Usain Bolt mentioned how the blocks gave him a hard time at Beijing 2015 WC.
- I had a bad lane (Lane 1 200m & Lane 8 400m)
- I didn’t have my usual 2 cans of RedBull before the race
- The sun was in my eyes
- I have a blister, and couldn’t push off properly
- I got spiked (800m and up)
- Someone stepped in my lane and cut me off (usually for 800m and up, though this happened in a 200m QF with VCB! See photo below…)
- Someone elbowed me and threw my rhythm off (800m and up)
- I’m really not supposed to compete on Sundays (Jonathan Edwards?)
- It’s that time of the month
- “I’m saving myself for Zurich” (SFH after her DNF at the 2000 Olympic Final)
Other honourable mentions
- It was raining, and I couldn’t push off (or, I was afraid of slipping)
- I slept on my belly last night and had a cramp on my side
- I gave blood last week
- I didn’t know the 600m start was “on-your-marks” then the gun, with no “set”
- Others?
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