quote:<HR>Originally posted by TD Runner:
I haven't posted here in a long time. But when I saw a "commercial" forum was added, I'm glad I've been away.
Why not have a "I love adidas" forum or "Nikes are great" forum?
Does Galloway own a share of this site? Is he paying cool running to put this drivel on here?
<HR>
Hay Todd;
I am glad you are not my CPA...do you recommend to your clients often Todd that they live on love alone:> )..how often do you suggest to your clients that they turn away legitimate related business aka drivel, just curious?? Perhaps, you are just a back room CPA taking orders and crunching numbers for someone else--cause you certainly do not show much in the form of a business accumen:> ) Just popped on again today hah Todd?
What do you think when you see the other commercial forums on this and other related websites such as the race calendar, race buttons, front page stories..do you think the RD's are being given gifts from heaven? Or is this commercial forum acceptable to you because it fits your idea of what a free to you running site should be--and the minute something pops up that doesn't fit your agenda becomes drivel..
As a race director who has a fairly large advertising budget and a fair bit of it with CoolRunning as well as many other local, national and international sports media....it is refreshing to see CoolRunning continue to be progressive in regards to seeking new related business in all endeavors of the sport not just Jeff Galloway, which allows it to keep the site fresh, current, affordable to its advertisers, free to the non-paying consumer of the information available and continuing:> )
If you took the time and as an intelligent CPA, I am sure you have, you will find that most running web sites are not and that most are struggling to continue on--yes money can be the huge factor just like everything else in life...unless of course you live on love and your business advice:> )
As a fairly successful race director in the Northeast who has always had a good mix of extremely dedicated runners to those that have running as part of their exercise regiment..I am happy to report to the average Jane & Joe, who has no goal of running 14:40 for 5Km or 2:35 in the marathon like you Todd but who does have a goal of living healthy and is comfortable just being a participant that there is plenty of space in the sport for you..the drivel that you read here is mostly from folks you will never run into..most likely wouldn't want to and I can safetly say DO NOT represent the mainstream of running & racing...99.99% of the runners including the extremely dedicated runners out there are supportive friendly folks who will only encourage you to "keep on going"...the drivel that you read here is not from ambassadors of the sport but from those who most likely in the real world are followers who happen to now have a forum where they can act as if they are leaders and perhaps even feel like one:> ).
Within the past two weeks I had the fortune of having Patti Dillon aka Patti Catalano and Bill Rodgers as special guests at one of my events..two of the greatest American Runners of all time..they both tip toed around the crowds for two days like the true ambassadors of the sport that they are wishing folks well, passing on tips, sharing in their many successes and failures and just mixing in like they were one of the crowd..never once could I imagine them at least now in their lives acting out or espousing the drivel that you read from some of others who seem to feel that the Running World revolves around their insular views of the sport.
The Sport is changing..it has been since the sacred 70's--I have only been involved since the mid 80's but I have seen the change...folks who love the sport can now make a living off of it after years of sacrifice--great runners and Jeff Galloway are some of them as are others..even us out of shape race directors....perhaps with more money pouring into it we may see more of our young talented women and men runners be allowed to continue on with their excellence and perhaps even put up a serious World Record challenge in the marathon so that you hardcore types who still have your very first pair of sneakers ever can stay on the more serious threads chatting it up about that and you can then leave the rest of us to the other threads that from my sitting present no threat to you or anyone else other than you have run out of things to chat about on the serious threads and need some sort of artficial pick me up until you do:> )
I remain...
------------------
Paulie
Somerville Striders Athletic Club
B.A. Event Promotions
P.O. Box 440103
West Somerville, MA 02144
