Mary Wittenberg---Someone who understands the sport

Clowns of the Purple Sage wrote:

Yeah, I've seen her give credit quite frequently. Like always. Not sure what your problem is.

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time & place?

Sadly, the USATF is largely irrelevant these days and going from the hugely relevant NYRRC to the USATF would definitely amount to a step down. If she wanted to jump to say the USOC some day, they would probably rather have someone coming from the very successful NYRRC than from the USATF. When is the last time someone moved on from the USATF to a more significant national or international position in the sport (and Masback doesn't count, he jumped ship for more money and to desert a sinking ship)?

USATF should actually be dissolved. Let's start all over.

The Answer My Friend wrote:

USATF should actually be dissolved. Let's start all over.

Agreed.

The best minds in our sport (Wittenberg & Lananna) wouldn't touch the USATF job with a ten foot pole. The USATF job is one of the worst jobs in sports, easily. USATF does next to nothing for American road running, which is the bread and butter of the distance running movement (not T&F). Mary's pull in the road running community is 10000000 times larger than USATFs. It's funny, go to a road race expo (NYC, Chicago, Boston, Twin Cities, etc.) and ask people if they know what USATF is. I bet over 80% would say they've never heard of it. Ask them if they know the NYC Marathon and I bet 99% do. Comparing USATF to NYRR/NYC Marathon is comparing apples to oranges. They aren't the same.

If Wittenberg and other major US road races really wanted to, they could create a whole new USATF for road racing. USATF has no power in that realm, other than their insurance offerings, which can easily be picked up by a different organization if need be.

Also, to the NYC Marathon needs Nike comment...that is just plain dumb. Do you think Nike doesn't want to NYC Marathon? Of course they do. However, the NYC Marathon gets major bank from Asics year in and year out, along with their 15+ other sponsors. USATF's earning are small than NYRR's. NYRR actually does positive things in T&F (supports Icahn Stadium events and helps a lot in the Brutus Hamilton meet). USATF doesn't do anything productive in the road running community (name me one event they stage).

Wittenberg is one of the best sports business minds in the country, regardless of sport. No one in their right mind wants the USATF job. The fact that they had to go find Logan, who is a failed sports executive, to take over the position in the first place, shows how low on the sports business pyramid it is. USATF is the laughing stock of the sports business community, and until they start functioning like a for-profit, forward-thinking company, who stages their own events, becomes active in road racing, etc., the sport of track and field will continue to flounder.

Wake me up when USATF does something positive for the sport, because right now they are an utter embarrassment.

I think if one were to go back and read all the different letsrun threads over the past few years critiquing the work of USATF--he or she would be able to step up into the position, and do a better job of stabilizing and popularizing the sport. I don't think the goal should be to turn it into a major sport of any kind, but simply keeping those already involved and interested in what it has to offer to remain that way. Getting someone who cares about the sport in and of itself would be the first step, because from there it's mostly common sense. If you were a fan, what would you want to see be done to help make track more accessible?

That's right. NYRR & USATF don't need go getter type. Rather only a caretaker for an existing legacy organization which is what we have here. An NCAA DI Athletic Director would also fill the bill as USATF CEO. The job is to satisfy the existing power structure and ensure that USATF has good exposure.

GUS wrote:

Sadly, the USATF is largely irrelevant these days and going from the hugely relevant NYRRC to the USATF would definitely amount to a step down. If she wanted to jump to say the USOC some day, they would probably rather have someone coming from the very successful NYRRC than from the USATF. When is the last time someone moved on from the USATF to a more significant national or international position in the sport (and Masback doesn't count, he jumped ship for more money and to desert a sinking ship)?

Road racing clubs/promotion groups and USATF have existed in a strange quasisymbotic laissez-faire position since the pro break 30ish years ago.

Vince Chiapetta sat on AAU/TAC/USATF-RRC America-NYRRC positions for years.

Bob Hersh bridges the USAT&F-IAAF gap, board of directors and vice president respectively. But Bob has been co-involved for years and you could not say he went from one to the other-he has been the English Language announcer for the past 5? 6? Olympics and was a long time IAAF Tech Committee member before being elected VP.

Throw city or event marathoning into the mix and it becomes even more confusing. NYCMarathon and NYRRC also have a strange connection as NYCMarathon hires NYRRC to produce the event but certain functions and funding are separate while others are hand and hand. Like all private organizations many details are held in camera.

The good ole boys put in so much time and effort into our sport they rightfully deserve the free perks they receive. Elites and Pros should understand that there are thousands and thousands of unpaid media volunteers like Bob and Vince that have made our sport what it is today. Thanks Bob ! Thanks Vince !

You mean, just like a CEO?

I don't think her job requires her to greet runners after the elites are done at the finish line of some NYRR races. It may be corny, but she does it.

As long as people understand that the main benefactors of our major marathons and road races will be the old guard volunteers and their perk swapping junkets traded to each other's thons and rr's with commensurate symbolic volunteer race job, THEN the status can will continue without any disagreement.

so after we see a crazy good race tomorrow with top elite competition and 45k+ runners having an amazing experience, this will only be further validated.

JoeGarland wrote:

I don't think her job requires her to greet runners after the elites are done at the finish line of some NYRR races. It may be corny, but she does it.

Saint Fred stayed out until dark clapping the masses home, soon to be Saint, Mary does the same. I believe it is part of the job description.

JoeGarland wrote:

I don't think her job requires her to greet runners after the elites are done at the finish line of some NYRR races.

The hell it doesn't.

Mary and her organization have helped assemble one of the best elite fields ever, and have ALSO promoted the so-called "freak-show." Chances are the neighbors you speak of would not know who Ritz, Meb, Shalane, Geb...were anyway. If they see something about the Chilean miner and Jared and decide to tune in maybe they will learn something about the elite field also. Those of us who are more interested in the elite field are probably relatively small in numbers, unfortunately, but I believe it's smart to promote both the human interest and the elite stories to generate interest.

Quote: Ok Mary, or whoever you say you are today!

But, those of us who REALLY know what she is like, know that she is all about perception. She wants to be perceived as a runners friend. She has other people do the work, come up with ideas, and make all the marketing pitches to sponsors, on behalf of NYRR, and then takes all the credit.

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So you "REALLY" know her? I ran on a team with her (NY Harriers) when she was running 2:44 for the marathon, and I see her at least weekly now. She is nothing like you say. She constantly thanks her NYRR team. Friends of mine work there and get grateful nad congratulatory e-mails from her all the time--as well as a lot of benefits (many of them spontaneous, like free lunches for the whole building or extra days off after a big event). She's the kind of boss that stops by your desk and has a real conversation with you. And as for her "posting" on here--have you ever read anything that she's written? She only has one writing style, and it's unmistakable, and it isn't in this thread. [quote]NYRR realist wrote:

Pat Greene wrote:

NYC Runner-- wrote:

Thank You! Once again, I can't believe this field that she has assembled for another NYRR race. Glad to know someone high up in our sport has an understanding of what it takes to make people care about running and bring some excitement to races. Why isn't she the CEO of USATF?

Why take a demotion.

They gave Logan a raise for work that got him fired... so $$$$

freak.of.the.run wrote:

Pat Greene wrote:

Why take a demotion.

They gave Logan a raise for work that got him fired... so $$$$

MW gets a bunch of money now and loves her job.

The NYRRC Board picked her and is 100% behind her. She has produced beyond their dreams. Oh plus no Hightower President-For-Life type pissants are in position to give her grief.

I am told she is fair and decisive in her interaction with the staff both paid and volunteer.

MW walks to work in Manhattan, 10128 is nicer than 46204 Troof!!

Mary Wittenburg was so arrogant that she thought that USATF would pay all the expenses over $500,000 for NYC to host the 2012 Olympic Trials. Mary is out of touch with the sport in reality and despite all the atletes on the selection committee, Boulet and Torres stating clearly that the NYC Trials Course and Traditional Courses suck for Championship races (the trials) for the athletes, she proceeded to change her bid and try to buy it anyways! Why, she has never found an event she could not purchase or an athlete she could not pay for in whole or in part!

Mary Wittenburg has never earned a Fu..ing thing in running that she did not pay for, ie, buying Shalane's debut from Chicago and Boston, buying Dathan's debut and his last year of collegiate elegibility (which he will never get back, ask Mark Wetmore at CU), and buying Halie G for his retirement race, which anyone in the sport's marathon(insiders) knew was this NYC marathon! He would have never seriouly ran such a ridiculous course, why, he runs for time and records!

! Mary pays huge fees to Rosa, Hermans, and De Madona's athletes, yet she has a drug free race. WHAT THE F..K EVER! She simply declines to ask athletes from foreign countries competing in her event to be out of competition tested and does no blood test like London. Why do most NYC Marathon winner like Dos Santos run like crap in London after winning NYC?

If Mary wanted to be the CEO of USATF, she would just buy it. She would just give say $1.5 mil to the Road Racing group for the next 5 years and then pressure the USATF board to hire her, again she would just BUY IT! She could pay of Wikens and Hightower and be suprisingly chosen, etc!

To say Mary Wittenburg has done Jack Shit in this sport without buying it, well, again, a HUGE F...ing error! She buys publicity form David Willey, she buys friendships with the Paula Radcliffe's of the world, and she buys her reputation as hands on, how, she pays everyone she knows to come to New York City every single year!

On the topic of USATF, Really? Hightower and Wickens fired Logan to fight for the CEO position in 2 yeasr anyways and USATF's athletes should ban anyone on the 2010 Board Of Directors who fired Logan, cleary without CAUSE from ever being the CEO, then Wickens and Hightower would have to keep the next CEO instead of paying out an additional $1.5 million of funds that could have went to support athletes!

Really...? As kissing on this thread was even most likley pay for with a Continental Mileage ticket from Mary or her Dark Vader - David Monte!