If you have a few minutes to spare, check out this “Running Voices” web feature the New York Times put together in the lead up to last year’s New York City Marathon. In it, 25 different runners talk (for about 90-seconds) about why they run and about their running life. It is obviously not new, but I just stumbled on it yesterday and found it compelling enough that I wanted to share. What would you say?
Don’t expect to see many reports on triathlons here, but Eppie’s Great Race is still the big daddy of local, community centered sporting events. For many locals, this may be the one organized race they compete in all year–either as an “ironman” or as part of a relay team. And the race raises a kayak-load of cash for Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services, to help provide provide “therapeutic recreation opportunities for individuals with mental, physical, developmental, sensory, emotional impairments or special needs residing in Sacramento County.”
As a triathlon, it is odd in that you don’t need to know how to swim. In lieu of a swim, this event includes a down-stream kayak (or evidently any other floating object) leg.
Once again, the winners of the Eppies Great Race Ironpersons divisions were 39-year old Nicole Young, who finished in 2:02:30, and 51-year old Vic Vicari who crushed the hopes and dreams of competitors half his age by finishing in an astonishing 1:44:24. Interestingly, the next fastest man was 46-year old Mark Barrett, who was only a minute behind in 1:45:23. Third and fourth place were 48-year old Jeff Schwing (1:48:21) and 40-year old Nikolas Rechtiene (1:51:48). Where are the fast young guys?
I’ve been traveling a lot to some beautiful parts of the United States, and I’ve had some really nice runs in some wonderful places. (e.g., This morning’s run next to the Vermillion River in Western Montana.) However, I have never seen anything as nice as what we have in Sacramento and the surrounding area. The American River Parkway is a treasure. The multi-use trails in the foothills spoil us. In our area, different user groups have banded together to advocate trail development, protection and maintenance. In other parts of the US, I find myself sharing the beauty with speeding cars and trucks.
Yesterday, the Bee’s Sam McManis had an excellent article and description of one of those local multi-use trails: The Olmstead Loop trail. His story includes an account of a somewhat tense interaction with horseback riders that brought back memories of several encounters of my own with horse people. One time stands out in my mind. While running with a friend near Cool we came across a horse and rider. The rider demanded that we get off the trail so she could pass. At that moment, we were surrounded by an ocean of poison oak. A testy conversation followed.
Most of my encounters with horsemen and women have been fine. Most of these horses are amazing animals. However, some riders give me the impression that their horses have no business being on a multi-use trail. Is it too much to ask for folks to only bring horses that are well trained (or at least well socialized) onto these trails?
Runner with beer being stopped by police.
Organizing and hosting a race is always challenging. As a race director, you have to plan for every contingency imaginable and then deal with the things that really happen on race day. Imagine the headaches created by binge drinking race participants!
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay to Breakers race organizers said “more than 30 participants had to be taken to hospitals via ambulance after this year’s race, most for alcohol-related reasons.” This is why they are announcing a strict “no-alcohol policy” for next year’s race. Are they going to start cracking down on the naked guys now?
Now that the Sacramento Bee has pulled the plug on the Run,Sacramento blog, you have no choice but to read this for important running news and gossip. I’ll try not to disappoint you.
