Well it's hard to say this but it's nice to have a cool day after the last few days as witnessed by the pic to the left. I took that Sunday night, the only way you get a show like that is when it has been warm and humid.Speaking about warm and humid, it was a warm one on Sunday for the Seafair Marathon and half. We had many run as well as paced the event and many of you were unhappy campers. Ok here's how it is. The only involvement I have with the event is pacing and the elite athletes. Beyond that I have no control.
Many of you have complained to me about how hilly it was, well I believe I told each and everyone of you it was. I think I may have laughed at a few who mentioned to me that they were going to run. You may have noticed that I have run the race the last couple of years and may have noticed I didn't this year. Good reason.
As far as the shuttles go I don't think you have to go to far down in my blogs and and I'm sure I've mentioned getting to the race an hour ahead of the start time, that means to the venue not travel there an hour before, be at the start. I wasn't running and I still got there an hour before. Trust me an hours goes by very quickly before a race and you don't have to worry about a lot of those things, waiting until the last minute is just inviting disaster. I was actually thinking about it that morning on my walk over from the hotel and how it was all going to work when the crush set in? I guess it didn't work very well.
The water situation, well I don't know about that one, I think that is tough because I'm sure they did what they could but I think on a warm day like that you can never have enough unless it's piped in. People see it and are hot and just go to town with it. The race officials where sending people to the store to buy it. I was standing with the race director and I heard him on the phone making arrangements for that. Again I'm not sure they could ever get enough.
The Mile markers being off, now there really is no excuse for that, can't get any simpler than that I think, measure, mark and put up signs.
You maybe thinking thinking he's working for the "Man" so he won't say anything negative. One of you mentioned that I should reconsider my involvement with this event. Hey the main reason I'm involved is for the pacing duties which those of you who participate benefit. If you as a group would rather not do that it would save me a major head ache. I do know that many of you do enjoy doing it so that's why we will continue as long as they want us to.
Did this race have some major problems, yes indeed and I will express my opinion to them about them and try to help fix them for the future. I will tell you one thing though I have run for about 30 years and I bet I have run more races that have had problems then ones that didn't, I can tell you story after story so I guess I'm more forgiving than some. That doesn't help those that trained all winter and spring so I do believe that they should offer a refund to those that weren't able to run though.
Ok enough of that, we're moving on to bigger and better things. The mid week workouts are posted We'll be doing the July TT. An important one for you that are runing a fall marathon. as well as for those just starting out. Those who ran the half or full on Sunday can take it easy tonight. Make sure to remember to post your time after here afterwards. Also remember to update the weekly workout log will be good to track your efforts over the summer.
I also have new t-shirts and as always they look great. I'll bring them tonight, the one problem there might be is hauling them over to the track with the parking issues so maybe we can get them from my car afterwards and I'll have them on Saturday and don't worry I have plenty. If you would like to make a $5 donation for the silkscreening fund that would be great. You can bring it or donate on line here.
3 comments:
I didn't run Seafair this past weekend and I'm really glad because it sounded pretty brutal.
For the benefit of any new members of Chuckit, allow me to translate what Chuck means when he writes something like this:
"...I think I may have laughed at a few who mentioned to me that they were going to run..."
Chuck laughing at you is his coaching method. Chuck laughs at me all the time. I've learned that this simply means "You're an idiot for wanting/trying to do what you just said; pick a different goal."
I'd prefer a more helpful method of communication, but Chuck is what he is. Love him or leave him.
:-)
When I paced this race two years ago with Chuckit, they also ran out of water and cups. It was also a very hot day. I think they do not anticipate the impact of the water stop that both the full and half marathons use. They defiantly need a lessons learned session after each event. It is a very tough race, I would never do the full event, just the pacing portion was enough with those hills. The Seattle Marathon is a far better event.
Wholeheartedly agree with Kristen Irene. Seafair organizers are not new to putting on events. There is no excuse running out of cups and water during a race - esp. a difficult course with warmer temps. The organizers can learn a thing or two from the Portland Marathon. Now that's a well run event.
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