Tuesday Recreational Yogging: A Tale of Three Races

I do not even have to pretend to write about the training runs anymore, do I? (Let me know and I can attempt something, but it is such a diverse group with diverse training needs that official guidance seems pointless.)

On last weeks post from csnphilly.com - http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/700-level/message-runners-everywhere-shutttttt-uppppppp Sure, it was cheesy and it was not even historically accurate (thanks Mark for pointing that out!), but I did feel it was illuminating in that it COULD BE how non-runners truly feel about what we love to do - run! And to talk about it before and after and any other time that someone will listen. (The running in place at street crossings IS darn ridiculous looking so at least one point of the article was spot on!) Just keep in mind that not everyone wants to run, or talk about running, or even overhear people talk about running. Know your audience and, at times, you maybe should keep your obsession to yourself? It's a shame, but will be appreciated by some people. (It brought back a memory for me of the first year of TRY - when someone named Ally, who will not be named here to protect the innocent, had a sister that HATED hanging out with some of us because she felt like and and noted multiple times - "that all we ever talked about was that stupid running group".) Oops.

I went to one of Fleet Feet Sports race directors meetings this winter and was surprised to hear them emphasize reduction in the number of races and combination of races where we could. 2014 was the first year in memory where race participation had gone done. (I don't quite believe that "fact" but supposedly the race timing services had come up with it - that across all of their races, total races run had gone down compared to the year before.) The meeting I was at was for "experienced" race directors - and longer term events, but they warned us that continued growth is by no means a guarantee and that getting smarter, working harder, and getting the 20-something crowd were going to be keys for any race looking to the future.

I found it "interesting" that the Tipp Hill run - which seemingly could do no wrong with how quickly it had grown and become Syracuse's largest race (from what I know of) had it's lowest turnout (based on number of finishers) in the last three years - 2790 this year, after 3508 and 2994 the previous two years.

Now my tale of three races --

All ones I'm connected with that were 8 days apart this year. (With 2 at the exact same time.)

How exactly did I end up at an experienced race directors meeting? Through helping out with the Paint Westvale Purple 5K. For several years I've wanted to help out with a race and now that I have, it was illuminating on just how much work goes into a "simple" 5K race. I was the 6th most important person on a 6 person race committee and I think I did as little of work as anyone - definitely a lot less than the main 4 and it still really took up a lot of my time from time to time. I mostly did their website their informal graphic designs needs (simple logos). I also made it to some of their meetings and was involved on their hundreds and hundreds of email exchanges. In three years now they've gone from 200 participants, to 400, to almost 500 and from raising a few thousand dollars, to several thousand, to this year breaking the $10,000 threshold. They've grown because they care, they put in a TON of effort, they have a "hook" - the purple thing - that's fun. They provide a lot of value to their volunteers - purple PWP cowbells and shopping bags this year and they try to promote the race everywhere. From a billboard, to the paper, to going on 93Q. They certainly could be more efficient with the money - it's hard to say how much the "expensive" advertising actually helped and while it's nice to reward your volunteers, who is to say that it actually pays for itself?

Their growth is nearing its end - if for no other reason than they are close to maxing out their location and because it's so closely tied into the location, they cannot really move it like Paige's did without losing its identity. They do seem content with that though - to limit having to spend any more time on it, but to also keep the quality of it high - they would rather put on a great/fun race for 600 then attempt to do something for a thousand runners. This year was the first year it was timed, they cranked up the on course entertainment, and they added a bake-sale, more vendor tables, and had what could be considered a small expo component to their packet pick-up night and race morning. I'm not sure there is anywhere to go from here? I think the next step is just to be more efficient while keeping the quality the same.

My takeaway from my insiders view this year - it is great to be a part of a fun and successful race, but with sponsor and weather uncertainty and with the procrastinating nature of runner sign-ups, it's a bit nerve wracking and almost cannot be worth the amount of time put into it? If they told me I was being replaced by someone better on the committee for next year I would be sad but relieved at the same time.

The Making Tracks For Celiacs event was sadly on the exact same day (and time) as PWP this year. So I had to pull my support of MTFC and fulfill my vows to PWP. My first wife and her family did go to it so I did hear plenty about it. It is important to note that the run is actually an afterthought at that event and it often shows. Plus, with me pulling out and no LM support to speak of this year I heard it took a noticeable step back with quality of runners an on course support. This year they had 55 finishers which was actually up from last years 42 (might be a mistake there though as that does not include walking times?), but way down from 2 years ago when over 100 people finished. They hurt themselves by always moving the day of the event, by always changing the course, by even changing the timing company this year... but all of that is probably irrelevant to the organizers? They focus on the very well done basket raffles, the best in its class goodie bags (all sorts of gluten free stuff) and fun, gluten free vendors. So, the event overall is stagnating, the race portion is an afterthought, but it is still an educational and fundraising success, so it may be all good? The uniqueness of it's location - Jamesville Beach also limits its growth potential. It's awesome on a nice weather day, but on a year like this year, catching a cold and windy day really took the fun out of it.

The last of the three is the venerable Mountain Goat Run. It's the race that made me the runner I am (perhaps the runner I am not?) these days as I feel my running matured from a hack into a decent (if always below average) distance runner on all those training runs I did over the years. I am saddened that I abandoned the race the last few years, but that's at least partially due to the major changes to the training run program. A victim of its own success - something had to give - but the result is the best part of the event has been neutered. I still love the views (despite them taking two of the most scenic spots out of it when making the "new" course 10 or so years ago. The variety of the course is top notch and I like being able to run through so much of the city that we call home. So, that's why I drag myself out there to cheer every year that I do not run it. I feel I owe it to the event that gave so much to my running.

I looked up the number of finishers and kept going back to see when the last year was that had as few as this year. Turns out I had to go all the way back to 2010! Coincidence? The bad weather late winter and spring? Or an event that has outgrown itself? Hard to say...but definitely a bit damning that it had already flat-lined for the past three years.

2015 - 2109
2014 - 2464
2013 - 2517
2012 - 2525
2011 - 2243
2010 - 2062

Note: I'm ignoring the shorter race - so that may be growing?

All my blabbing has come to an end and your reward for reading this far (or knowing to skip ahead) is "a tradition like so many others"...our Mountain Goat race photo shaming section! Actually, I attempt to maximize a decent looking picture when I can. Trust me, I avoided some duds this year...so hopefully nobody minds how they look in these glamour shots. Remember - it's hard to look good while running - but apparently it's easy for some people to always find and wave to the cameras!

We had a ton of TRYers (core and fringe and once-upon-a-timers) complete the race this year! Nice job making my job of compiling the photos a tough one. And a special congratulations to our first time finishers. :-) Hopefully I'm not leaving anyone out? (Undoubtedly I am - so just holler if you know someone I missed.)

Katie - 23rd overall female!

Our MG poster girl. Two lessons here - 1) If you keep your maiden name as a middle name, I will find you. 2) These modern jog bras with their "cloaking technology" really suck. Something beautiful is no more. :-(