Wild Card Race of the Grand Pricks Series, #6
What Hell hath God wrought - PART ONE
(or: how to turn a perfectly good race into...TIHS)
AND
Open mouth, insert both feet – PART TWO
(or: how to piss off the very people you admire)
This is the Wild Card Race
installment in the twenty one race series. Most running mags who
report on these races center around who won and quick times. This blog
revolves around the seamy underbelly in each race; the also-rans: the
has-beens: the crippled: the infirm: the insane.
These are my people. Read on.
01/22/07
Derry New Hampshire, 01/21/07
Where to begin...this is sad.
I was asked more than once during the course of this event:
"So what are you training for"...
"This Race" I would growl.
It was like the majority of folks were out for a tempo run, not to race.
First of all the decision to eliminate the day-of, post registration sent up a huge red flag. "Real runners need not to apply".
By the definition of real runners, I mean folks who belong to running clubs across the region. Real runners who work with their clubs and contribute to the running community.
Photo Courtesy of Mike Tammaro. Tommy StraQ
When your race gains such popularity that you forsake your core group for the almighty buck...it's a sad day.
Photo Courtesy of Mike Tammaro. Ted Ridout and Manny Arruda
And I'm here to say that is what the Greater Derry Track Club has done.
Another good example of the is the Covered Bridges Half Marathon .
These races cater to the casual runner who thinks participating in these events gives them some level of status as a runner.
While I applaud these folks for getting off their arses, Americans in general consume the most food, the most energy, and the most resources of any other group of humans.
And now these nouveau runners hog these races to fulfill some vague promise of status within the running community. "yeah, I ran the Derry 16" or "yeah, I ran the Covered Bridges Half Marathon".
There's got to be a hook to get these folks to contribute, to give back.
This is typical. Generation "Y" or whatever this latest crop is called who want to start at the top, ignoring the work it takes to get there. Yeah, they trained some, and yeah, they finished the "race" but for what?
Uh-oh, the Coach is on a tear, where is he going with this?
What I want to say is running is more than paying 35 dollars to participate in an event.
Running is... a religion.
There I said it. I don't know how to frame it better.
I have been having conversations with John Goldrosen, ex-president of the Colonial Road Runners, , Jim DuPont, or Peter Buhl, of the Greater Brockton Striders, Pete Wallan, the RAT, and others who have been around the New England Running scene for a long time. SRRs Joe O'Leary, and Steve Burton, or NMCs Joe Dimucci, and Jeff Gould who helps put on the Fred Brown Winnipesaukee 65 mile relay. Or TVFRs Larry Olsen or MVSs Frenando Braz to name a few.
There is a very small group who volunteer to
keep the sport of running alive, who toil behind the scenes,
and unfortunately get little credit.
Running is a community, a religion.
Generation Y treat participation in this
running community (or society in general) like a health club membership: pay
the money and use it when it's convenient.
This is
the crux of the biscuit to borrow a phrase from a long dead
rocker...Frank Zappa.
People who use the resource and leave the mess
for some else to clean up. This use (or misuse) has arrived on the doorstep
in Derry.
What I propose is to give running club members
and runners who ran it in years previous preference in signing up for
races. These folks have a history in the running community. You want to
run Derry? Prove it. Prove it by presenting information you contributed.
Have
Day-of or Post registration
available to card carrying running club members,
Jim Ewell, Jim Peters, Dave Breeden
you listening? It doesn't have to be advertised, just a courtesy to
other clubs, that's all.
AMEN
1/26/07
The email exchange and rebuttal from the
GDTC's President Jim Ewell:
Subject:
Rebuttal to your Slander of the BP 16
Couldn't find a
direct link to the Peter and the HSR site to submit items directly so I
trust you'll comply should you have the guts.
Also we have not
received our January edition of the mag....what gives?
Greater Derry
Track Club Rebuttal
Well, well,
well……..how does one begin to respond to Coach Guido’s remarks on his HSR
blog regarding the latest edition of the Boston Prep 16.
Shall we stoop
to his level or just correct the errors in his assertions and supplement
them with some factual information. I think we shall take the high road and
choose the later.
Just curious why
he chose to post this on his blog and could not address us directly?
I didn’t realize
that applications should inquire whether the participant was going to run
the race as a
training run or
race. Darn…how stupid of us to overlook this? I ask the Coach to provide
examples of applications
with this inquiry.
I guess we
didn’t recognize the obvious warning signs that races, without day-of post
registration, sent up a “huge” red flag. Actually we requested a “extra
huge” Blue flag but the guy screwed up the order. Any recommendations Coach
where we can get a more reliable flag maker?
It is a well
known fact that running clubs are made of anal runners by definition, but I
didn’t realize that “Real Runners” are also the worst procrastinators and
should be forgiven for their disability.
Hint: The race
has been held every third weekend in January forever and we even made it
“easier” by having on-line
registration for those disabled who don’t know where to buy stamps.
By the way Coach
should we also ask if they are in a running club on the application?
You next state
“When your race gains such popularity that you forsake your core group for
the almighty buck…it’s a sad day.” This is the most
offensive remark in your
accusations, which the entire club takes serious offense at and feels that
they are owed an apology.
Maybe you didn’t
notice but let me refresh your memory.
Did you or did
you not receive a high quality High Tech shirt for running the race? (Hint:
High tech shirts cost more than your normal one color cotton shirt).
Let’s see, more
participants hence more basic great food (hint: this cost more). Hmmmm.
A well known
race announcer and photographer doing their thing (hint: a new feature and
believe it or not, a new cost for this years race).
Hmmm. A better
quality finishing medal (byt the way, it costs more)
In addition :
More police = More $, More folks = More Port-o-potties = more $. Etc etc
etc.
Oh yea…. I
forgot to mention the price WAS LOWER
than the previous year. So Coach, enlighten me with this “new
math”. For the almighty buck? We don’t think so.
We disagree that
our race caters to the Casual runner………. I guess that’s why the HSR has it
on their Grand Prix schedule. I seem to recall the HSR rating in difficulty
points as one of the most challenging courses in New England, then throw in
the weather variable.
I sure that all
those “casual” runners out there are sitting at home, searching the web for
races such as our Boston Prep 16.
Your statement
“There’s got to be a hook to get these folks to contribute, to give back.”
You may find it
hard to believe but well run and well received races such as our race will
draw people into clubs. Maybe you have never heard of “actions speak louder
than words” or perhaps by observing the clubs enthusiasm in providing a
quality product they will want to be part of it. It works with the GDTC.
People actually want to join our club and seek us out and want to be part of
the family of running which your refer to.
Believe or not
all of the club members get so much appreciative comments it is
overwhelming. So I
presume those
generation XYZ folks realize a great product when they see it and state
same.
Your statement
Running is a religion, a fact that I don’t deny, but exactly how many
religions are their on the planet and I concede the fact that the running
religion has far less.
Our GDTC club
has a mission statement that is simple, and maybe even the coach can
understand and that is “to promote running.” It has shunned the “elitist”
classification system you suggest by presenting their respective “member
only“ card to gain acceptance to run a race because they can’t remember to
register.
We have shaved
cost (to make the almighty buck) by not issuing Membership Cards if you
belong to the GDTC. Maybe other clubs will come around one day.
Bottom line is
that there is not an intelligent response to this suggestion so I will offer
none.
As an aside we
had to limit the size of the race due to
silly things such as the Town of Derry, in
conjunction with
the Fire Department and the Police Department set the maximum number of
participants.
Perhaps Coach we
should have ignored this requirement. The outcome would have been obvious,
but
allow me to
explain………..This would have been the LAST edition.
This is a option
that the GDTC does not and
will not accept because we have
great pride in putting on a high quality and challenging race and will not
compromise it because there are those out there who can’t remember to
register.
Hey Coach mark
your calendar next year. The race will be occurring on the third weekend in
January….that’s
January 20, 2008 for you schedule impaired runners out there. Also check
Cool Running in case you forget.
Jim Ewell
President of the
GDTC
Proud Host of
the Boston Prep 16 Miler
PS (ie post
script)
For the record
Dave Breeden and I contacted Peter Whalen and the HSR warning them about a
potential sellout and offered to allow any rat (who just returned home from
Alloutacia) to enter the race because we knew it was part of the Grand Prix
series. Their decision was to place it into the wildcard category. Which is
fine with us.
Finally Coach,
do races that you have to enter via a lottery system (Mt Washington and NYC
Marathon) classify as generation XYZ races?
And that is our
round one Rebuttal.
The Coaches email reply:
Good morning,
Hello Mr. Ewell,
Thank you for writing. With your
permission I would like to add your rebuttal to my blog.
First of all: I OWE YOU, and your
organization, A HUGE APOLOGY. And will do so on the blog as well.
This blog was a misguided attempt
to call out the casual runner and not in any way slander your fine race.
I have nothing but respect and
admiration for your club and their activities.
In the Part Two of the blog I
will detail my participation (what I usually write about) in the race
and reiterate many of the great features of your well-organized race thanks
to you and the many volunteers.
The Derry race is a textbook
example of how to organize a race.
There are 30 or so runners doing
the RAT series and I wanted them give their best effort at Derry and bet
dinner for anyone who could better their previous years time. All of us
have participated in the Derry for many years, me personally 7 seven times.
I will honor that bet after the
Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler and if your in the vicinity I like to apologize
in person and invite you to dinner with us.
Again: I apologize.
Edward Dowling aka Coach Guido
I will forward this to Peter
Wallan in regards to your missing January Issue.
And: an email from GDTC’s Dave Breedon:
Good Morning Ed,
Thank you for your
reply, I appreciate it more than you can know. I worked very hard on this
event starting back in September and had a lot of anxiety over the amount of
people that I was going to have on the roads.
I just have one
question at this point. Were any of the Rats closed out of this race because
of the 750 limit? I know from some emails that I have received that there
were a few people from HSR involved including one lady whose time was off
and needed it corrected because of your dinner bet. I will vouch for her
that you owe her a dinner.
Our timing splits
seem to have a 1 minute delay for some reason. The reason I know this is I
have the splits from John Mortimer who came in right behind Pat Moulton.
John was a gentleman and gave his watch to his fiancee, Jennifer, who set
the women's course record. He asked to use mine so I have the front runners'
splits for every mile.
Maybe we can meet up
at the 20 miler.
Regards,
Dave
Open mouth, insert both
feet
–
PART TWO
(or: how to piss off the
very people you admire)
True to form I have pissed off yet another
group of good people.
I wanted to rant about the “casual” runner and
end up insulting the very people I admire.
I could never run for public office. Hell, I
can’t even run!
The week before running Derry I was
anxious...this is not a race to be casual about.
Fending off this lousy cold, I put in some
quality miles, and took care of myself to get ready.
Race day, Sunday comes quickly and John
Goldrosen is at my doorstep in sunny ten-degree weather. We drive up an
over an hour early and find many volunteers already to direct us to
park. God love ‘em it takes a dedicated person to be out there directing us
fools in.
We enter the gym to find an army of friendly
volunteers already in position and maps on the walls of the course. We are
given our high-tech shirts, chips and swag with machine like efficiency.
With that we’re dressed and ready to go with an hour to relax before the
race. No sooner than I post the Series standings there begins a steady
stream of runners and soon the gym fills. My bet is the topic of conversation
and many folks are giving their orders to me already. Just try to keep your
steak orders less than 72 ounces.okay?
At the appointed time we all file out of the
gym and begin the procession to the start line a quarter of a mile away. I
can’t tell you how bad I had a case of pre-race jitters. I made a wager
that I would buy dinner to all RATS who bettered their last Derry time and
if I didn’t better my PR for this race. I had my work cut out for me. We
line up and…go. First mile uphill, a restrained 9:48, mile two winding
through neighborhoods 8:42, a walk through the water stop “manned” by an
group of cheerful volunteers, mile three in a perky 7:52. Miles four, 8:37
and five, 10:00 for 45:04 gives us a view of “antenna hill”. A walk through
a water stop at six, 9:06.
My PR is 2:29:46 and I bet I’d run this darn
race one minute faster so I was feeling relaxed and confident. Mile seven;
7:54 and eight; 8:30. Another walk through the water stop at nine, 9:33. I
need to run a 9:13 pace and I was under that. Mile ten, the fun begins,
10:33 or 1:31:42 up the hill, past mile 11, 10:44, I had a good shuffle
going on and make past the top of the hill feeling good, except the fact
that my ears and nose were numb.
I had been holding back with the plan to pull
the trigger at 12 and run some consistent 9 flat miles to finish this
thing. That was my plan last year and I was able to pull it off. I look at
my watch for mile twelve and was shocked to see I ran it in 10:19; I wanted
a 9:19! Uh-oh, I started to get a little worried, time to step it up. At
mile thirteen, 9:59, not good. I look out at the road ahead and see the is
a little rise in mile 14 and try to run it faster, 9:29, at this point I had
a sinking feeling and really tried to run hard, mile fifteen 9:43, not my
day, I roll into the finish with a 10:09 for the last mile and know the
Martha’s Vineyard Race is going to be very expensive. Needed to do a
2:28:46 and ran a 2:32:09
For the record I personally thanked every
volunteer out there along that frigid course. I admire those volunteers
sense of duty. I do this in every race.
Oh yeah, post race food; I finished well back
of all the runners so I was rewarded with a long line to the chow. Giving
up I went back to the car to change and wait for John to amble in. He’s got
a brand new Subaru and the heated seats thawed out these tired bones. We
change and go in for chow. By now the mass of runners had abated. Well
over an hour after the last runner had finished and there was still plenty
of excellent chili, vegetable soup, pizza and everything else they put out
for the first runner that came through the door
I don’t know how to repair the unintentional
damage from earlier words except to say that that these people really know
what they’re doing…and I don’t.
But you already knew that!
There is a very small group who volunteer to keep the sport of running alive, who toil behind the scenes, and unfortunately get little credit.
Running is a community, a religion.
Generation Y treat participation in this running community (or society in general) like a health club membership: pay the money and use it when it's convenient.
This is the crux of the biscuit to borrow a phrase from a long dead rocker...Frank Zappa.
People who use the resource and leave the mess for some else to clean up. This use (or misuse) has arrived on the doorstep in Derry.
What I propose is to give running club members and runners who ran it in years previous preference in signing up for races. These folks have a history in the running community. You want to run Derry? Prove it. Prove it by presenting information you contributed.
Have Day-of or Post registration available to card carrying running club members, Jim Ewell, Jim Peters, Dave Breeden you listening? It doesn't have to be advertised, just a courtesy to other clubs, that's all.
AMEN
1/26/07
The email exchange and rebuttal from the GDTC's President Jim Ewell:
Subject: Rebuttal to your Slander of the BP 16
Couldn't find a direct link to the Peter and the HSR site to submit items directly so I trust you'll comply should you have the guts.
Also we have not received our January edition of the mag....what gives?
Greater Derry Track Club Rebuttal
Well, well, well……..how does one begin to respond to Coach Guido’s remarks on his HSR blog regarding the latest edition of the Boston Prep 16.
Shall we stoop to his level or just correct the errors in his assertions and supplement them with some factual information. I think we shall take the high road and choose the later.
Just curious why he chose to post this on his blog and could not address us directly?
I didn’t realize that applications should inquire whether the participant was going to run the race as a
training run or race. Darn…how stupid of us to overlook this? I ask the Coach to provide examples of applications with this inquiry.
I guess we didn’t recognize the obvious warning signs that races, without day-of post registration, sent up a “huge” red flag. Actually we requested a “extra huge” Blue flag but the guy screwed up the order. Any recommendations Coach where we can get a more reliable flag maker?
It is a well known fact that running clubs are made of anal runners by definition, but I didn’t realize that “Real Runners” are also the worst procrastinators and should be forgiven for their disability.
Hint: The race has been held every third weekend in January forever and we even made it “easier” by having on-line registration for those disabled who don’t know where to buy stamps.
By the way Coach should we also ask if they are in a running club on the application?
You next state “When your race gains such popularity that you forsake your core group for the almighty buck…it’s a sad day.” This is the most offensive remark in your accusations, which the entire club takes serious offense at and feels that they are owed an apology.
Maybe you didn’t notice but let me refresh your memory.
Did you or did you not receive a high quality High Tech shirt for running the race? (Hint: High tech shirts cost more than your normal one color cotton shirt).
Let’s see, more participants hence more basic great food (hint: this cost more). Hmmmm.
A well known race announcer and photographer doing their thing (hint: a new feature and believe it or not, a new cost for this years race).
Hmmm. A better quality finishing medal (byt the way, it costs more)
In addition : More police = More $, More folks = More Port-o-potties = more $. Etc etc etc.
Oh yea…. I forgot to mention the price WAS LOWER than the previous year. So Coach, enlighten me with this “new math”. For the almighty buck? We don’t think so.
We disagree that our race caters to the Casual runner………. I guess that’s why the HSR has it on their Grand Prix schedule. I seem to recall the HSR rating in difficulty points as one of the most challenging courses in New England, then throw in the weather variable.
I sure that all those “casual” runners out there are sitting at home, searching the web for races such as our Boston Prep 16.
Your statement “There’s got to be a hook to get these folks to contribute, to give back.”
You may find it hard to believe but well run and well received races such as our race will draw people into clubs. Maybe you have never heard of “actions speak louder than words” or perhaps by observing the clubs enthusiasm in providing a quality product they will want to be part of it. It works with the GDTC. People actually want to join our club and seek us out and want to be part of the family of running which your refer to.
Believe or not all of the club members get so much appreciative comments it is overwhelming. So I
presume those generation XYZ folks realize a great product when they see it and state same.
Your statement Running is a religion, a fact that I don’t deny, but exactly how many religions are their on the planet and I concede the fact that the running religion has far less.
Our GDTC club has a mission statement that is simple, and maybe even the coach can understand and that is “to promote running.” It has shunned the “elitist” classification system you suggest by presenting their respective “member only“ card to gain acceptance to run a race because they can’t remember to register.
We have shaved cost (to make the almighty buck) by not issuing Membership Cards if you belong to the GDTC. Maybe other clubs will come around one day.
Bottom line is that there is not an intelligent response to this suggestion so I will offer none.
As an aside we had to limit the size of the race due to silly things such as the Town of Derry, in
conjunction with the Fire Department and the Police Department set the maximum number of participants.
Perhaps Coach we should have ignored this requirement. The outcome would have been obvious, but
allow me to explain………..This would have been the LAST edition.
This is a option that the GDTC does not and will not accept because we have great pride in putting on a high quality and challenging race and will not compromise it because there are those out there who can’t remember to register.
Hey Coach mark your calendar next year. The race will be occurring on the third weekend in
January….that’s January 20, 2008 for you schedule impaired runners out there. Also check Cool Running in case you forget.
Jim Ewell
President of the GDTC
Proud Host of the Boston Prep 16 Miler
PS (ie post script)
For the record Dave Breeden and I contacted Peter Whalen and the HSR warning them about a potential sellout and offered to allow any rat (who just returned home from Alloutacia) to enter the race because we knew it was part of the Grand Prix series. Their decision was to place it into the wildcard category. Which is fine with us.
Finally Coach, do races that you have to enter via a lottery system (Mt Washington and NYC Marathon) classify as generation XYZ races?
And that is our round one Rebuttal.
The Coaches email reply:
Good morning,
Hello Mr. Ewell,
Thank you for writing. With your permission I would like to add your rebuttal to my blog.
First of all: I OWE YOU, and your organization, A HUGE APOLOGY. And will do so on the blog as well.
This blog was a misguided attempt to call out the casual runner and not in any way slander your fine race.
I have nothing but respect and admiration for your club and their activities.
In the Part Two of the blog I will detail my participation (what I usually write about) in the race and reiterate many of the great features of your well-organized race thanks to you and the many volunteers.
The Derry race is a textbook example of how to organize a race.
There are 30 or so runners doing the RAT series and I wanted them give their best effort at Derry and bet dinner for anyone who could better their previous years time. All of us have participated in the Derry for many years, me personally 7 seven times.
I will honor that bet after the Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler and if your in the vicinity I like to apologize in person and invite you to dinner with us.
Again: I apologize.
Edward Dowling aka Coach Guido
I will forward this to Peter Wallan in regards to your missing January Issue.
And: an email from GDTC’s Dave Breedon:
Good Morning Ed,
Thank you for your
reply, I appreciate it more than you can know. I worked very hard on this
event starting back in September and had a lot of anxiety over the amount of
people that I was going to have on the roads.
I just have one
question at this point. Were any of the Rats closed out of this race because
of the 750 limit? I know from some emails that I have received that there
were a few people from HSR involved including one lady whose time was off
and needed it corrected because of your dinner bet. I will vouch for her
that you owe her a dinner.
Our timing splits
seem to have a 1 minute delay for some reason. The reason I know this is I
have the splits from John Mortimer who came in right behind Pat Moulton.
John was a gentleman and gave his watch to his fiancee, Jennifer, who set
the women's course record. He asked to use mine so I have the front runners'
splits for every mile.
Maybe we can meet up
at the 20 miler.
Regards,
Dave
Open mouth, insert both feet – PART TWO
(or: how to piss off the very people you admire)
True to form I have pissed off yet another group of good people.
I wanted to rant about the “casual” runner and end up insulting the very people I admire.
I could never run for public office. Hell, I can’t even run!
The week before running Derry I was anxious...this is not a race to be casual about.
Fending off this lousy cold, I put in some quality miles, and took care of myself to get ready.
Race day, Sunday comes quickly and John Goldrosen is at my doorstep in sunny ten-degree weather. We drive up an over an hour early and find many volunteers already to direct us to park. God love ‘em it takes a dedicated person to be out there directing us fools in.
We enter the gym to find an army of friendly volunteers already in position and maps on the walls of the course. We are given our high-tech shirts, chips and swag with machine like efficiency. With that we’re dressed and ready to go with an hour to relax before the race. No sooner than I post the Series standings there begins a steady stream of runners and soon the gym fills. My bet is the topic of conversation and many folks are giving their orders to me already. Just try to keep your steak orders less than 72 ounces.okay?
At the appointed time we all file out of the gym and begin the procession to the start line a quarter of a mile away. I can’t tell you how bad I had a case of pre-race jitters. I made a wager that I would buy dinner to all RATS who bettered their last Derry time and if I didn’t better my PR for this race. I had my work cut out for me. We line up and…go. First mile uphill, a restrained 9:48, mile two winding through neighborhoods 8:42, a walk through the water stop “manned” by an group of cheerful volunteers, mile three in a perky 7:52. Miles four, 8:37 and five, 10:00 for 45:04 gives us a view of “antenna hill”. A walk through a water stop at six, 9:06.
My PR is 2:29:46 and I bet I’d run this darn race one minute faster so I was feeling relaxed and confident. Mile seven; 7:54 and eight; 8:30. Another walk through the water stop at nine, 9:33. I need to run a 9:13 pace and I was under that. Mile ten, the fun begins, 10:33 or 1:31:42 up the hill, past mile 11, 10:44, I had a good shuffle going on and make past the top of the hill feeling good, except the fact that my ears and nose were numb.
I had been holding back with the plan to pull the trigger at 12 and run some consistent 9 flat miles to finish this thing. That was my plan last year and I was able to pull it off. I look at my watch for mile twelve and was shocked to see I ran it in 10:19; I wanted a 9:19! Uh-oh, I started to get a little worried, time to step it up. At mile thirteen, 9:59, not good. I look out at the road ahead and see the is a little rise in mile 14 and try to run it faster, 9:29, at this point I had a sinking feeling and really tried to run hard, mile fifteen 9:43, not my day, I roll into the finish with a 10:09 for the last mile and know the Martha’s Vineyard Race is going to be very expensive. Needed to do a 2:28:46 and ran a 2:32:09
For the record I personally thanked every volunteer out there along that frigid course. I admire those volunteers sense of duty. I do this in every race.
Oh yeah, post race food; I finished well back of all the runners so I was rewarded with a long line to the chow. Giving up I went back to the car to change and wait for John to amble in. He’s got a brand new Subaru and the heated seats thawed out these tired bones. We change and go in for chow. By now the mass of runners had abated. Well over an hour after the last runner had finished and there was still plenty of excellent chili, vegetable soup, pizza and everything else they put out for the first runner that came through the door
I don’t know how to repair the unintentional damage from earlier words except to say that that these people really know what they’re doing…and I don’t.
But you already knew that!