Well, if the blame of the invited runners is to be put on anyone, I guess you can throw it all my way, because I was the person to invite most all of them. However, to correct something mentioned above, there was NO money taken from the charities, nor did the prize money come from the entry fee's. In fact, all of the prize money, was additional money set forth by sponsors that Kyle went out and got, in an aptempt to make this years Macon Labor Day Road Race a bigger, better and faster event. I've been running road races for about 12 years now, and I can speak from experience when I say that one of the biggest things that draws me to a race is the possibility of running a fast time. Therefore, when the results from this years LDRR are published, and people around the state and the southeast see just how fast the times on this course are, it's only going to draw a larger crowd for next year. It's sort of like a chain reaction, and more people in the LDRR means more people paying an entry fee, which in return means more money to go into Macon and our loacl charties. On top of that, I heard a lot of people buzzing about how fast the times were yesterday and excited they were to have witnessed those times. There are not many races where you can see 6 guys break 15 minutes in the 5k, and a new course record (14:18). Or do you remember all the talk when Alan won both races, well we had a female do the same thing yesterday. We also had a past olympian win the 5k and 10k in the mens masters division. How can this be looked at as a bad thing? They are also very humble people, as I hope some of you guys got a chance to talk with them. They were all very pleased with the race, the course, the town and the local people, and were all very thankful for the chance to come down and run a fast time. On top of that, these guys are not professional runners and they do not do this for a living. They do not have multi-million dollar shoe contracts. In fact, they support their local running stores in Atlanta, just like you guys do here in Macon. Sure, they might get a discount for being on a racing team or something, but everyone in the Macon Tracks get a discount at Run Fit Sports, so I don't see a really big difference. In fact, I'm pretty good friends with a few of our elite runners who came down yesterday, being that I now live in Atlanta to finish school, I do a little training with some of these guys from time to time. I was very happy to have them in Macon yesterday and I was proud to hear all the great things they said about Macon and our Labor Day Road Race. If there are any other questions or concerns, please feel free to post them here, and I will try my best to address them. Thanks to everyone who helped make this years Macon Labor Day Road Race a great event, and I hope it only gets bigger and better next year.

Josh Myers

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I am dissapointed that I didn't get to run on Monday. I went to pick up my packet on Saturday and apparently I had never sent in a form to register. But considering I ended up working 14 and 1/2 hours on Monday....I think I am glad that it turned out the way it did. I had to work everyday of my supposed 4 day weekend because we started deploying folks to Mississippi and Louisiana to help in the relief effort and I was right in the middle of it all trying to coordinate it all. I guess I will have to run my new PR some other time. I don't think I would have walked with a trphy anyway considering all that went on....and that would have been dissapointing.
Spencer

Well, this still cuts a bit deep to me because it was my idea to invite these people and I am the one who invited the people. If it is really memebers of the committee, they have no one but themselves to blame, because I brought this up at the committee meeting, and no one said one thing about it, so I look at it like it's one of those put up or shut up situtations.

Plus, I have been a volunteer at a race before, actually at many of them. On top of that, I've also been a race director. So I know all about being the first one there and the last one to leave. Heck, at our race, in Dec. of 02 and 03, the temp NEVER got about freezing, so I do know and understand both sides of the story.

And I also have a wide view of both sides of the running scene, not just the elite point of view. Reguardless of if you believe it or not, I didn't start out in running, running the times I'm able to run today. It's taken years and years of training to get to where I'm at. Trust me, I remember my very first race, in which I finished dead last and for the 5k I didn't even break 26 minutes, so I do see a wide picture there, and I do understand both sides of the coin. But running isn't about who wins and loses, it's about beating and accomplishing you own goals and standards. This topic shouldn't even involve elite vs. non-elite, because it's just like apples and oranges, it's jsut two things you can't compair.

Josh

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None of this came from the committee. I declined being on it this year because I've just been way too busy to do it justice. As I said, I wasn't speaking for anyone but me.

And Josh, the olive branch is still out there for you and anyone else who might have been irritated when I spoke my mind. Except for this, every post I made on the subject has been deleted, if that counts for anything. I really hate that I upset you.

http://This message has been edited by runawaygirl (edited Sep-10-2005).

More on the elite,

Wow...this is the most activity I have seen in this area in a long time. There really is no reason to post my opinion here, but I will anyway. I think that whatever the race decides to do is their decision. Having said that...it still sucks for the "slower" people because some of them might have expected to do good and then it didn't happen. I finished 2nd in my age group last year in the 5k and I ran a 18:54. Even with the 18 min 5k I expected to run this year I wouldn't have even come close to finsihing in the top ten and that would have been a blow......but I completely agree with what Josh said about running being a competion with yourself. That is why I like runnning so much. Everything that goes on is almost 100% up to you. Everything depends on how hard you want to train and how hard you want to push yourself. It is a constant fight with yourself...to not only run enough to improve but also to just keep going when it starts to hurt. It is me against the pavement when I go out there and a trophy at a race only gives me some pride to where. As a matter of fact I think that not winning a trophy would push me to work harder for the next time. Everyone has to start somewhere and i have to work to get fast just like all those other guys. Maybe one day I can get on that level!

Having said all of that.....I still need suggestions on how to get faster. I have been running 30 plus miles a week and lifiting weights, but I don't lose any weight and I certainly haven't seen a huge improvement in my time. I feel like I am running faster but then i go to a race and I realize that I am still at virtually the same level. Anyway....I am gonna come to run fit sports this weekend to get some new shoes...I certainly cannot afford them right now but I will put them on my credit card and worry about that all later!!!!!!!!
Spencer

Miles,

I have looked at some books and read a whole lot of articles but everyone seems to have different opinions. So far nothing has worked. I prefer to get suggestions from someone that has proven methods......although if you know of a book that would be great too. I think if I could drop 20 lbs of bulk then I could be a whole lot faster.....but that is easier said then done.
Spencer

I am headed up to Ohio to run in the Air Force Half Marathon. Hopefully three months of training will pay off. All I know is that I am running more miles per week then I ever have before....about 35 to 40. I am hoping to run about a 1:25 which would best my old time by about 6 minutes. I have been doing everything that has been suggested to me. Long runs, easy days, hills, speed workouts and tempo runs. I got up to 45 mintues at 6:22 pace so I am thinking that I am good to go for about a 6:35 race day pace. After this is all done I will rest a couple of weeks and then try to build myself up to 50 miles per week. If I want to do something with running I figure I need to run more. I am tired of just maintaining the same "alright" times.
Spencer