How many elites take the time to thank race directors?

I have had the same experience. It was an actual point of discusssion at the RRCA convention last year amongst a few RD. It is the same thing with Elites and Sub Elites coaching. Most of these guys are having a tough time making ends meet financially but a "thank-you" doesn't cost anything. I talked with several coaches of athletes that many of you have heard of that never get a thank-you from any of the athletes they work with.

Kids are selfish.

I always thank the RDs.

Not true here. In fact it is the exact opposite for me.

I am the elite coord for the 20k usatf championship.

I get many thank you cards every year.

I enjoy seeing all of them each year.

I'm not elite, but decent regionally and get comped in races from time to time. I try to make a point of thanking the RDs, at least by email, and then do my best to plug their races before and after the fact. Least I could do, I think.

This was a huge issue when I ran with the team. Our coach wanted us to thank everyone involved with the race. We very rarely did. We were trying to get better as runners, we are not there to make friends. If an RD needs someone to kiss their ass then I would rather go to another race.

I recently left a group over this exact reason.

Why do Houston and Boston and New York fight over hosting US Championship races? Because our presence is good for the race. The race should be thanking the runners and not the other way around. The runners should RUN.

I wonder if the difference is just that between the elite and sub-elite. I am also a sub elite and get comped entries and some small perks (but pay my own travel expenses) and I always thank the RD or coordinator after the race in person, and follow up with an email a week later.

Why do I do this? Because I am not a great enough runner to have this be a commonplace thing. If I am friendly and get my name out there as a good guy and decent runner, it will come back to help me out too.

Maybe (just guessing here) that elite runners get perks so often they forget about what goes into it?

I have moved to Boulder and train with a number of pros (on their easy days) and a few mentioned how they too thank the RD and one even goes as far as mailing the RD a sponsors tee shirt after the race as a thank you for the hospitality.

I think it goes a long way when athletes are nice and do that little bit extra. Sure you can be a douche and think the RDs need you and it is a privilege for them to invite you and set you up. But really, after a race when you are hanging out with your legs up in the air surfing letsrun or facebook while waiting to get on the van to the airport, how hard is it to shoot off a 5min email?

chris s wrote:

Having been a sub-elite for a decade (often getting free hotel rooms, meal stipend, and occasionally travel - I was wondering how many of the elites on this board take the time post race / meet to write the elite athlete recruiter / race director to thank them for the investment they made in you. I am now on the other side of it (working with a big race) and over the last 8 years I can count on one hand the # of runners we have paid for, taken care of etc. Who have said "thank you" or "what can I do for the race." - my perception is that many elites believe they are doing the race a favor by coming and racing . . . . Thoughts L.R. Nation?

I make sure the handful of runners I coach who get comp entry/hotel/travel take a few moments to send a note of thanks to the race directors. For me it's common courtesy.

And that kinda makes you a d-bag. You left a group because you had to write a quick thank you note or say a quick thanks for them GIVING you something? Wow.

Former Group Member wrote:

This was a huge issue when I ran with the team. Our coach wanted us to thank everyone involved with the race. We very rarely did. We were trying to get better as runners, we are not there to make friends. If an RD needs someone to kiss their ass then I would rather go to another race.

I recently left a group over this exact reason.

Why do Houston and Boston and New York fight over hosting US Championship races? Because our presence is good for the race. The race should be thanking the runners and not the other way around. The runners should RUN.

I'm just a hobbyjogger so take this with however much salt you like, but it's my understanding that RDs and the elite/sub-elites that they comp have a synergistic relationship whereupon each needs the other in order to reach their goals (read: make money, get exposure, etc.). So, assuming this is true, why wouldn't you thank each other for your mutually beneficial relationship? It never hurts to be nice and have good networking skills, especially in the infinitesimally small world of professional running.

It is probably the courteous thing for both sides to thank each other. It's nice if the athlete thanks the RD, but I wouldn't consider it to be a requirement and I wouldn't consider a runner to be rude if they did not (though quitting a group to protest sending a thank you note is probably going a bit far).

Just keep in mind that the RD is not giving things away in any sense. While you correctly point out that the athlete is not doing the race a favor by showing up, the race is not simply doing the athlete a favor by comping their entry fee and paying for a hotel room. Both sides agree to the contract because it is mutually beneficial (or at leas they believe that it will be). You only spend a given sum of money on an athlete if you think that the return on that investment will exceed the expense.

So, yeah, I think a thank you is polite, and both sides should be grateful for the other's contribution, but at the same time, I wouldn't expect the athlete to act as if the RD is giving them a gift.

We have stopped inviting elite athletes to our race for just this attitude. Our race has sold out every year since we stopped inviting athletes. I can not speak for every race but for us, ELITE RUNNERS ADDED NOTHING.

Elite Runners never came to our sponsor meet and greet.

Elite Runners never stuck around for the Awards once they received theirs.

Elite Runners never showed up to the expo.

Elite Runners never sent letters to our sponsors.

Our race once brought in as many as 25 runners and will never go back because of these runners thinking they added something o our race by finishing up front.

At my race, the athletes are great, but generally, the agents are pricks. I rarely get thank you's from athletes with agents.

I as a race director myself, I really don't care if the elites thank me or not. It is a business transaction. I pay for them to run a good time and increase exposure for my event. Why should they thank me?

Does your plumber thank you for calling him to come fix your toilet?

I agree that some niceties may be required - Thanking each other for the opportunity, but I am not really concerned about it.

I guess the only thing that bothers me about elites is when you make special arrangements for them and they think they are the most important thing in the world. ie, show up late to something they said they would be at or make someone wait forever when a pre-agreed time was already set.

Race Director 22 years wrote:

Elite Runners never came to our sponsor meet and greet.

Or worse, they come as a team and then just spend the evening talking with each other and never approach the sponsors. They usually find the food and beer though.

I have always received thank yous from athletes represented by Troy James' athletes and himself. This was the case when his athletes did well and years they didn't do so well. Having said that, he is the only one who takes the time to do so. Class act.

Well, I won a marathon last year and had to leave shortly after crossing the finish line (severe diarrhea). I am not "elite," but my time was sub 2:20.

Prize money was small - probably why I was able to win - but i still wanted the award, etc.

Before leaving, i tried to find the RD but could not. I emailed him from the car to tell him i was sorry, etc.

I sent a follow up email to explain the situation, thank him, spologize and offered to pay for the shipping of my award, check, etc.

No response to this day. It has been 4 months now.

LocalRoadRaceHero wrote:

I as a race director myself, I really don't care if the elites thank me or not. It is a business transaction. I pay for them to run a good time and increase exposure for my event. Why should they thank me?

Does your plumber thank you for calling him to come fix your toilet?

I agree with this 100%. Why is everyone so needy in this thread? Both sides get what they deserve (ie, what is agreed upon). Being pleasant is nice and all, but people are seriously bitching about this?

I live in NYC and I suppose the experience is different here. All of the elites thank the NYRR, copiously. They want to be invited back, of course.

Race Director 22 years wrote:

We have stopped inviting elite athletes to our race for just this attitude. Our race has sold out every year since we stopped inviting athletes. I can not speak for every race but for us, ELITE RUNNERS ADDED NOTHING.

Elite Runners never came to our sponsor meet and greet.

Elite Runners never stuck around for the Awards once they received theirs.

Elite Runners never showed up to the expo.

Elite Runners never sent letters to our sponsors.

Our race once brought in as many as 25 runners and will never go back because of these runners thinking they added something o our race by finishing up front.

This post says it all. Less thanks equals less events. Whether RD are being needy or not doesn't matter. If Pro's want more chance to make money they better jump through the hoops.