Who is the top Running Club in Canada

Feel the Looooove.....

Ironically, those who don't like the "new" PIH have done the opposite of what they had hoped. We talk about PIH a lot here! :) And that's great! What is the PIH Mission Statement, someone?

Anyway, if someone points me to a "top club" that is "hi performance" only, and not inclusive, then I cannot deem it to be "tops" in my books. All ages, all abilities! The Pyramid Concept.

Of course I understand that University Clubs cannot be "all ages", but anyone who wants to run, should run. Team selection is another matter.

Mission statement (from what I can find on their web site):

A) to encourage, promote, foster, support and assist in the development of public participation in running for fitness and health;

B) to organize and promote mass participation running events and educational and public awareness programs for the purposes of meeting (A) above.

No kidding. Here we go again. ronb must this really surface again and again on these msg boards?! Really too bad in this case, this actually started out with the potential to be an interesting and informative thread, not only discussion of various clubs but also what defined clubs the quality of these clubs.

Hi gang,

Firstly, I count one person on this thread using 4-5 different aliases, which is a record, even for him....

What's really sad is he probably has even more disturbed

personalities going on in there, than he has names for them...I hope to you see at a Race very soon, so we can talk person-to-person about our differences...Don't worry,

I won't sneak up behind you .... face to face is good !!!

You should try it sometime, you back-stabbing loonie...

Secondly, go back to my initial post on page 1 of this thread, and search for anything mentioning PIH.

I was very positively looking forward to putting some time into developing a good Distance Running List for Canadians on the Road and over the Country this Fall, and I merely offered to do the Record-Keeping for the Island --- period.

Unfortunately, whenever I post, some few people jump in and get on their anti-PIH, anti-Ron rant, much to the detriment of good communication and discussion about Our Sport.

I even went to the length of posting an initial list with first names and times only, to try and get past the idiocy, but to no avail. Sad for people who really want to know who's running where, and how fast....

I hope to hear all the road and cross-country performances from everywhere across this great Country...

You can count on me to keep you informed about the Races on the Island.

Of course there is no one best Club in Canada, no matter what your definition is. But if each Club is doing their best to meet the needs of their members, from entry-level to Olympian, we will have a much stronger system.. We should be competing like hell off the start line, and co-operating like hell away from the competition, in order to make the good things happen...

Your 1st post was fine. 2nd post 99% fine but already already subtly starting to stir the pot. Then a few others jumped in stirring a bit more in response to your post. Then you fell for it hook line and sinker. Right to the last defensive and attacking post. Face it, you (and others) like to stir the pot. Finally I certainly hope I'm not included in that "4-5 different aliases" accusation (are the accusations and personal jabs really necessary? who the hell cares??).

Back on topic, I think "top club" can be broken down many ways. Certainly there are "top" high performance clubs, "top" city/community/running store affiliated clubs, top university/highschool clubs, "top" get off the couch and get active clubs, etc. There is a place for all of these clubs and more across this country, and there's no reason for them to be "competing" to be the better club. Then there are those clubs that attempt to be all things to all people, and in most cases I think the people then end up losing out ("Jack of all trades, master of none").

...mate...VFAC can't even win the haney to harrison ;-)

>>"Hi gang,

Firstly, I count one person on this thread using 4-5 different aliases, which is a record, even for him....

What's really sad is he probably has even more disturbed

personalities going on in there, than he has names for them...I hope to you see at a Race very soon, so we can talk person-to-person about our differences...Don't worry,

I won't sneak up behind you .... face to face is good !!!

You should try it sometime, you back-stabbing loonie..."<<

R. Bowker, are you "PIH Forever" I will say if you are, I really took exception to that public attack on me here on this message board a few months ago. The issue was about my being banned off the PIH message board. I have yet to receive a satisfactoriy answer from the club exec. why! As that stands I really don't care any more why except I'm still confident my behavior never warranted being banned.

R. Bowker;

A)I have nothing personal against you.

B)The Harriers are still a good club and if those who choose to run under their colours, well, all the best for them.

So,

Along the positive side of being involved in this Sport...

Here is what my week has been:

* sent out 3 different mailouts to a 90 person e-mail list, which includes virtually all of the top endurance athletes on Vancouver Island, and a half dozen from off-Island. Received several dozen responses back...

* spent about 25-30 hours on the phone, or replying on e-mail to the runners/coaches on the list...

* travelled up to Nanaimo last Saturday, Sept. 9th, for the Nanaimo 1/2 and 10 K. on the 10th.... Enjoyed a nice dinner in the company of such as JB, Oz, DJ, Mar., etc., etc., and some good chat with Jerry, Lucy, Kirsty, etc.

* coached at Cedar Hill Golf Course on Tuesday...

* attended and helped out and coached at the Tour de Roc

fund-raiser 3K/5K in central Saanich on Wednesday...

* coached at the Track on Saturday morning/the 16th, and

checked out the great Vikes group training in Beacon Hill later that morning...

* later on Saturday, checked out the guys who ran the 56 K. run at Lake Cowichan, including some good track guys..., and also got the scoop on a "Big Dawg" 20 K. tempo run around Elk/Beaver Lake.

* Sunday, today, sent off a wonderful group of Divas at Thetis Lake at 7:45, headed off to Elk-Beaver to meet and send off and cheer on several different wonderful runners, including a "Huge Dawg" 30 K. long run at a very fast pace. Followed by a great Social at Bob Reid's house with the PIH gang --- pardon my language...

So.....to the point, in the past 7 days....

I have either talked to, or e-mailed with, or had direct contact of some kind with:

adam, craig, david, dave, eric, eric, gary, graham,

nick, mark, jon, paul, jasper, jim, mark, ian, steve, todd, trevor....

and,

nancy, tiffany, marilyn, lucy, tina, kate, cheryl,

meghan, claire, judith, kirsty, and nancy...

and,

many others are on the list, and I love to hear from them, but not this past week....

bruce, steve, scott, kyle, nik, matt, simon, steve..

and a whole bunch of others too.....

Of the 27 males mentioned, the 10 K. pb's range from

27-something through 33- something, and if there was a big 10 K with money in the next 20 days in Victoria, you would have to run sub 32:00 to finish in the top 16.

Of the 12 females mentioned, the 10 K. pb's range from

32-something through 38-something, and if there was a big

10 K with money in the next 20 days in Victoria, you would have to run sub 37:30 to finish in the top 8.

I coach only a few of these athletes, I advise some more, and I care about how all the rest are doing, and will give them all the support that I can...

They have different clubs and coaches and approaches,

but the group environment is strong and growing...

It is happening out here.....too bad that Brooks and Hugh Cameron don't move their location a bit West...:) or

maybe have a Western Hub in their program...

Or another sponsor(s) will step up and support the stuff that is happening out here...feel the luv, Skuj..

Let's try and stay positive...

Why has this turned into the ronb self-promotion thread?

ronb wrote:I was very positively looking forward to putting some time into developing a good Distance Running List for Canadians on the Road and over the Country this Fall, and I merely offered to do the Record-Keeping for the Island --- period.

Alex Coffin already does a pretty decent job of this:

CGP,

I am not PIH forever, I know who it is, but not me.....

I am RonB.....that's my name, I stand by what I post..

Again, I have no idea of why you were banned by the

PIH chatline, I have no impact in that area, I just post there..... I have no influence on the PIH executive, I just help out some of their athletes....

Just Asking......I thought I made it abundantly clear that I only coach and/or advise a few of these great athletes...

I think anyone who assessed the thread would come to the conclusion that I am very happy that so many great athletes in our Sport call Victoria, or the Island, or BC home, and I feel lucky to be a part of the best on-going distance/endurance environment in Canada...

And I love the fact that so many of these great runners are going for it, and perhaps I can help a bit, as I do have 40 years of knowledge and experience and love in this area.....

May I suggest that if this suggests shameless self-promotion to you, as opposed to passion for the people and the activity, maybe it is you that has the problem ....Just maybe, is this possible or discussable ??

What was your name again ??

Coffin does a great job of the Marathon Rankings...

Who is keeping the up to date 5 K to the 1/2 Marathon

Rankings for Fall Road Races ??

Maybe CGP will take this on ....

Just Asking wrote:

Why has this turned into the ronb self-promotion thread?

that was the intention all along. get used to it.

Ron,

Ignore the negatives. Ignore them, they go away when you ignore them.

The people you coach, advise, mix with and influence know how much time you spend on the Malahat and at various locations.

The converted are good to go...you are having a debate in a silo with a dud rocket.

no other coach in letsrun history has ever been this self centered:

Soup wrote:

Ron,

Ignore the negatives. Ignore them, they go away when you ignore them.

The people you coach, advise, mix with and influence know how much time you spend on the Malahat and at various locations.

The converted are good to go...you are having a debate in a silo with a dud rocket.

a lot of other coaches here put in similar amounts of energy and love but they don't come onto here every week and report it for self grandification.

ronb wrote:Coffin does a great job of the Marathon Rankings...

Who is keeping the up to date 5 K to the 1/2 Marathon

Rankings for Fall Road Races ??

Ron, have a closer look at that site. He's got thorough half marathon, 5k and 10k rankings there too. All including "open," age group and regional rankings. Pretty thorough if you ask me. The only "criticism" I can think of is it sometimes takes a while for recent races to get in there, but they all seem to ultimately get included. I'm pretty sure he does it more or less for free, though, so one could hardly complain.

Oh fack me! Feel the looooove......

Let's start a new thread. "Who loves the sport of running the most?" :)

Ron, you know I love you Man, in spite of all the arguments we have had....but as Soupsall says, why bother responding to negatives, or publishing your weekly coaching schedule? As JB famously told Finn, "just get on with it for fack's sake". I want to hear from Ron The 40 Year Coaching Master. Cut through the BS, Man! :) (I'm slowly learning this one myself. Letsrun requires not only thick skin, but very slippery skin....as slippery as 2 eels in a bucket of snot.)

Cheers

Darren Skuja

CVRR Coach Since 1995

CVC Coach Since 1986

Runner Since 1974

Letsrunner Since 2004 (Gee thanks, Graham Hood)

Knower Of Ron Bowker Since Terry Fox Run 1982

Drinker Of Too Much Wine Since About 1hr Ago

The "grandification", if that's a word, is about the quality of the athletes around here. No matter how many times I point out how few of them I actually coach or advise, someone, somewhere takes offense. I guess I could give up trying to beat the drum for the wonderful athletes training/racing in this area, but I won't. I

continually refer to the numbers of coaches and advisors and clubs who are part of the action, but that also seems to go unheard or unread. I can only assume that when your mind is made up ahead of time, there is no changing it.

The week's coaching schedule was only to point out yet again how many great athletes show up at races and runs

and sessions around Victoria and the Island, and are part of a very positive group dynamic for distance running.

I didn't realize that Alex' list includes the other events as well. I have tried to bring it up several times, but my painfully slow comp. just sputters away --- no cable out here, or even high speed phone lines yet.

Back to bed, with visions of detractors dancing in my head.