Runner Triathlete News [ return ] From Message drummer 8/06/2003 14:11:28 Subject: RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: Wally get a grip man, more than just the fastest catch up on the second lap, the water has never been easy to get to and the split callers are not on the right side of the road, I choose to hear my split I just don't choose to fight the back of the packers to hear it. Wally 8/06/2003 21:05:02 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: Drummer - cya! you won't be missed... why not volunteer some day and see how hard it is to put on a race?... or maybe you're afraid you won't be able to keep all of the people like you satisfied.... Steve   8/07/2003 08:29:39 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: Let's test Drummer's hypothesis here. The course closes in 2 1/2 hours, and essentially all runners have completed their first loop in 1 1/4 hours. There's about a mile to go after the second loop but let's been conservative here. The number of runners who finished in under 1 1/4 hours in 2002 and would have lapped the back of the pack was...15. Sean Wade on down to Bernie Weber. Michael S   8/07/2003 17:38:02 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: I'm interested. Some people like to run longer distances but don't run on Sundays. Glad to know there are a few options. Drummer 8/08/2003 07:17:15 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: Please steve, go back and take another stats course, as I finished around 60th and had to run amongest the crowd. Nice try though!! tgarr 8/08/2003 07:19:54 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: Steve I hope you put races on better than you do math. tgarr 8/08/2003 08:18:27 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: sorry Steve, my last e-mail sounded a little rude after I looked at it, my point is this: I know I have had a hard time getting through the crowds but I have been in the top ten the years I ran the race so that might support your point. However, I also know others who have finished at 8 min. pace that have complained about the walkers, which would seem to negate your point. In addition I typically start hitting them before I turn back to town for the second loop, which means more than 15 people would have time to hit them as well. In addition I know several very large groups which really don't pay that much attention to when the course closes anyway. I don't like the race because of the surface, which despite your earlier e-mail is not the same as all races in Houston or Huntsville. Having said all that, this has been beat to death. Some like your race and will run it, others don't like your race and won't run it. Both groups have a right to say what they feel. Rather than flatly deny negative comments consider them as you do the positive ones and move on. Ken Johnson   8/08/2003 10:40:07 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: As the race director for the 25th Annual Huntsville Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk, I appreciate all the discussion under the heading, "Huntsville half marathon." However, as I understand it, the criticism about crowded aid stations, split time callers being on the wrong side of the road and concrete road surface pertain to the 20K, which is scheduled for the next weekend. We have 13 aid stations for the Huntsville Half and I have never heard a complaint that they are crowded. We have one split timer (1 mile mark) on the correct side of the road and the course surface is all asphalt. The course has some tough hills, but it is interesting. It starts and finishes on the campus of SHSU, loops around the track at Bowers Stadium, goes out tree-lined Bearkat Blvd., passes Peckerwood Hill Inmate Cemetery, loops around the Walls Prison Unit and the historic Texas Prison Rodeo arena. There is plenty of parking at the starting point and showers are available in the finish area. All the positive comments about the Huntsville Half are appreciated and we always welcome constructive comments. Over the years, we have made many changes based on runner feedback. Entry forms are available at the Memorial Park Tennis Center, Downtown Y and at Fleet Feet and Run Sport. If you want one by return email, contact me at [email protected]. Or, you can register online at: http://www.signmeup.com/20411 photo girl   8/14/2003 09:12:27 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: And, the photos for the Huntsville 1/2 were really nice with the hills and all! And, the temperature last year was a very cool 50 degrees. As a long time member of the running community, I see both sides of the story here. When I ran, I ran a race every weekend, so it didn't matter if those races were back to back. I ran all of them I could. But, crowds of people are nice for those who like to run slow. I favored smaller venues such as Huntsville because of the less crowded streets. However, there can be problems at any race. So, for the folks who put on ANY race, I say HATS OFF TO YOU for the effort. I am sure no race director wants to hear that their race sucks. Until you put your own race on and spend the time that any of these people do to insure a quality event, you will not know what effort is put into them. The race starts long before the start and ends long after it ends. You run, your done. They direct, they do it all year. Good luck to both events. I will see ya at Huntsville! skankindoody 8/26/2003 14:53:42 RE: Huntsville half marathon IP: Logged Message: To Michael B - you obviously have not read this entire chat - Huntsville is on asphalt and has water stops at every mile. Since it only has 200-300 runners, there is NOT a lot of crowd support. However, I have ran the 20K and there was NO crowd support there either - only near the finish area. Are you running for applause or for running? I am not the race director, I have run Huntsville numerous times because it's a great little small town race and because it is challenging. Nothing challenging about the 20k - except figuring out how to not get hurt running on concrete the entire time. I have run the 20k and found plenty of water available most of the time. Run both races if you like. Find out for yourself which one suits you better. I think the race director Ken Johnson does a fantastic job for the 1/2 Marathon - he is a very nice fellow who has this race for a very special charity. I don't know the 20k's race director, but I have heard that they suck. Anyway, I hope the original chat writer got his answer about both races. <<Previous Page P 2 Next Page>>