what are the best RUNNING CLUBS in the country>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First, as a member of the Adidas Transports team, I would like to thank Joker for causing me to humbly accept my position as a wannabe. And I thought that for the rest of the wannabe's out there, those of you still struggling with this issue, I should lead you through the seven stages of acceptance I had to go through to get to that realization

1. Shock - Did he really say that? I can't believe it. Numbing paralysis ensued.

2. Denial - If I just ignore this, it will go away. It doesn't apply to me. I'm not a wannabe.

3. Anger - This was a tough one. Thankfully, it was also short-lived.

4. Guilt - According to the website I am pulling these off of, "Guilt it the price we pay for loving." I have no idea how this applies. Apparently this step went by very quickly.

5. Bargaining - Perhaps I am a bit of a wannabe, but I've raced well in the past.

6. Depression - Again, a short stage for me. I'm not going lie to you. It's hard for me to get depressed over a comment coming from someone on this message board.

7. Acceptance - I'll include the technical description of this stage, as it sums up my feelings well? "We come to true acceptance of loss when we realize that we are indeed powerless over that particular loss, but that in other areas of life we are still creative and valued. It is a rich, mature state. Sadness over the loss remains, but this is restrained by a wider joy at reconciliation to life."

So Joker, thank you for bringing me to the acceptance of the following issues. In these ways I am indeed a wannabe... (And not only that, but I also have come to find myself creative and valued. An added bonus.)

1. Do I wannabe able to live in a house paid for by my running club? Yes.

2. Do I wannabe able to not have to pay any of my bills? Yes.

3. Do I wannabe coached by someone other than myself? Yes.

4. Do I wannabe able to work 20 hours every week in a shoe store, rather than 40 hours a week as an engineer? Yes.

5. Do I wannabe be able to move to Palo Alto, Rochester, or Madison? Maybe.

6. Do I wannabe talented enough to be able to even hit the standards for the other three teams mentioned? Definitely yes.

7. Do I wannabe a little bit taller? Do I wannabe a baller? No. And maybe.

bill,

i agree with you about the farm team. they are not the typical running club, or even the typical "elite" running club. the others are also not the average running club, which opens its doors to all who love track/running, but they give post-collegiates a chance at getting somewhere with their running. some of those who run for the farm team might not be in such great need of a helping hand. they just aren't at the top yet.

farm team was the only web site that said nothing about other activities going on in the area. all the others, including yours seemed to be very interested in helping out runners of all kind, whether it is high school events or fun runs. all the sites seemed like they played a huge role in their communities running/track/xc scene.

Very Well stated BillCarr. I also think there is a big difference between Running Clubs and Elite Training Groups. I am pretty sure most of us would love to be part of the latter but have come to face reality that we are not going to the Olympics any time soon.

I have known some pretty good runners, who have ran the Olympic Trials and such, and most of them still had full time jobs. This is an honest question. Do most of the members of the Farm Team, Indiana Invaders, or Wisconsin Team, have full time jobs? I know Hansons have the stores the runners work at.

If I had to draw a line for it, I would say a running club would be open to the public with many different levels and generally helping the community. The Elite Training Groups would have more stringent standards and really just focus on the athletes. Both have their place I feel.

Any mention of NYC running clubs (i.e. Warren Street) is silly, aside from Clas, there is a dearth of talent on the island right now.

The NYAC shouldn't even be referred to as a team. Aside from Clas and McVeigh, sometimes Biersbach, they haven't had regular participants to my knowledge. Management tends to go out and acquire a big name on a one off basis for a big meet here or there. "Hey, wear this jersey so people still think the NYAC is a playah will you?" Or something like that.

With regard to ZAP: GREAT thing they have going on down there. Karl Savage is the most underrated runner in the country and they've been adding a nice mix of talented personalities. However, they can't compete as a club b/c some of their members have contractual-based allegiance elsewhere.

Has anyone found out yet where the West Valley actually is? It ain't on any maps.

"Yes indeed Miles WVTC combines history, roots and elite. Do I know you?"

It obviously combines great camaraderie and team building too!

Hey...does anybody know if Stephanie is going to make another run at the Trials 26.2 mark? She had a tough day of it at Chicago this year...and her 10K time equates to an easy qualifier, but of course as many know with the marathon, that is much easier said than done.

I think she is trying to find another marathon to take another shot at the trials qualifier. I would also have to say she is a great person. I assume she is still running for the Invaders and attracting most of the guys on her team.

disagree wrote:

ok, so they do not have the mid-distance, but then why did they only have 1 10k guy at Nationals? Farm Team had one also. Marathon: Farm Team, I believe, has 8 qualified for Trials. How many Hansons? (I really do not know?)

I'm not bashing the Hansons, by any means, just want to discuss.

One at a time. Yes, there was "only" one Hanson's guy in the 10k last year, but like you say, there was "only" one from the Farm Team as well.

As far as the marathon, there are currently 11 (soon to be 12 after Cal International) Hanson-Brooks runners in the Olympic Trials Marathon(s). I love it when people get on here and try and create tension between Hansons-Brooks people and Farm Team people. I don't even know any Farm Teamers, but from what I understand from the Hanson-Brooks runners is that they have NO grudges against Farm Teamers, and that there is only respect for thier team and what they do out there.

As far as which club is the best? It's just like a pair of shoes: You have to find the one that fits YOU the best. Obviously, if you are a 100 Hurdler, Hansons-Brooks will not fit. If you are a 10k type who does not want to run more than 60 miles a week, ditto. So learn more about which program is what and what it has to offer, and match that up to what you are and what you have to offer. Best of luck to everyone running clubs, including the Farm Team. To the Hansons-Brooks runners (guys and gals), continue to make us proud.

Most of the members of the elite running teams do have full time jobs. I run for one of them. as far as i know, there are a few teams that employ athletes at shops - like hansons - but for the most part you need a way to pay the bills.

when i started this thread, i was actually wondering what the most competitive running clubs in the country were. the way i phrased it, left it open to all different interpretations of what the word "best" means. i guess people divide clubs into two categories: elite clubs, and recreational (not meant in a bad way) clubs.

i actually asked because i think it is awesome when watching a televised road race or track meet you can spot a running club jersey amongst the boring nike or adidas singlets. i always wonder what track clubs they represent because those athletes usually don't get much attention from the announcers. a few of the summer meets were kind of hard to watch because everyone in the race was wearing the same uniform. hard to tell people apart that way. just seems kind of boring. it adds so much more personality to a race when you can see that people from different areas and clubs are competing. its really great when you see an athlete from a small club beating the nike and adidas sponsored athletes.

hard to come up with a list of the top clubs though

What we don't have great camaraderie and team building because we can't identify each other through our annonomous posting names? Are we supposed to all be holding handing sitting around the computer posting to Letsrun together as a team? Weird.

Anyways I am Chad Worthen, who was the WVTC that moved to S.Cal 2 years ago?

For those that don't know West Valley Track Club has hundreds of members spread from Oregon to Bakersfield and all over (I am in Sacramento), so it is possible to not know another team member.

West Valley is actually located in Saratoga, CA. Where is Excellsior, or Transports, or Farm Team, or Golden Valley, or River City, or Aggie, or Hanson, etc? Just wondering why we are singled out for a location when not too many clubs actually have their location printed on their uniform? ha.

i know hansons is located in michigan (ann arbor?)

farm team is at stanford

some like wis runner and greater boston aren't so tough to pinpoint

The Reebok Aggies are mostly in the Bay Area and NoCal, although there are members across the country. There isn't a club hq per se, 'cept maybe Milano's in the city :), or Rubio's Venuesport store. Plow plow plow!

The Excelsior is a neighborhood in San Francisco.

the Farm of the Farm team is a colloquialism for the Stanford Campus which used to be Leland Stanford's crib.

Transports is a store in Oakland.

River City is another colloquialism for your fine home town of Excremento.

Golden Valley is in Davis CA.

An Aggie is a thing not a place, as is a Hanson.

Good luck Sunday!

I know what they all refer to. That was a response to the smart ass that asked where West Valley is. Everyone around these parts know we are based out of the Bay Area. Thanks to all the smarties that had to tell me where each one is located, ha.

Miles and Miles

As you may be aware, "Transports" is a running specialty store in North Oakland (College Ave). adidas does help support the Transports Retail racing team (as well as about 10 other teams around the country).

Note that we encourage the teams to race on a local level. For adidas Transports, this means we like to see the team compete at PA/USA grand prix series events. Nationals events are great too, but we want the teams to support the local scene.

The idea here is to help give Transports, and adidas regional exposure. This probably differs somewhat from clubs such as The Farm Team, Hansons, etc. Still, adidas transports has done a terrific job of supporting the local club scene, and also participating at various national races.

Mike

I don't disagree. I know about Transports, they seem to be a good club and have an excellent team at all the PA races and dominate the series. They need to get with it and have a Sacramento division though. Don't they know this is the running Capitol (as well as state capitol) of CA. Kidding. The depth of the Bay Area kills anything Sacto has to offer, heck I am considered a good runner here, ha.

stanford is the bbbbbest ever