mmkk put it perfectly...we complain about running and its lack of status, and sure enough a bronze medalist, and American Record holder at pretty much every distance 5K and over can't get a comp'd entry. And as mentioned, she would bring a ton of publicity to the race, and Deena would have been more than happy to sign autographs, etc. (those of you who know Deena can attest to how genuine and gracious she is) Oh well.
Paso Robles is the loser here. I'm sure Deena would have foregone the meager local prize money. The Race Director is oblivious and nuts if he doesn't see the value of having her there.
She's not a prima donna and never has been one. Much the opposite...she's gracious and generous to a fault. This should be pretty obvious to any follower of the sport by now.
Diva Syndrome wrote:
rgtegfd wrote:Because most elite American runners are soooo wealthy?
That argument doesn't wash here. Deena is wealthy and she's showing her true colors.
You're a moron. Deena deserves and has earned the right to enter whatever race she desires WITHOUT charge. She's not showing her "true" colors - the state of American distance running is showing its true colors. There is NO SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN RUNNERS IN THIS COUNTRY!!! This is just a small example of a greater problem. Deena can obviously afford the cost of entry, but it's the principle. The country is ignorant. The race director probably doesn't even know who Deena Kastor is! That's how sad distance running is in this country. And if he does know who she is....he's misunderstanding Deena's worth as an athlete competing at his event: a worth far exceeding $25.
Who's cheap? Deena? or the race director! Something tells me she is more valuable to the race than the race is to her. Therefore the race f***ed up, not Deena.
Malmo, it's not about the $25. Can you see the greater issue here?
I love the comment by the race: "We're going back to our roots..."
What a joke. I'm sure, somehow, your roots could comp at an Olympic medalist.
Running in America is more and more an NON-Profession. It's for middle-aged Joe's looking to run their first marathon. Period.
Running in America is sliding backward very very fast.
Why is it when it comes to the prize money, it is not about the money, but that is not the case for the entry. If it is not about the money, pay the entry fee, race, and have a good time.
Deena got spanked at Worlds by fellow American Kara Goucher. The disappointment and humiliation as a result of another American medaling makes Deena want to reclaim her "rightful position" thus leading her to ask for comped entry and whatever else she asked for. She needs validation and didn't get it from the race director.
I agree with Malmo: she can afford to pay, so pay.
you are giving the elite runner too much credit. Its humbling to watch people such as ryan hall, sarah bei(hall) and ryan shay sit unnoticed and ignored at expos such as nyc because no one knows who they are. The average housewife isnt going to go run your mom and pop 10k because deena is.
I can't believe people are complaining about Deena on this one. If she runs this race they will get more press then they have ever dreamed of before and there entries next year will go up as will there sponsor numbers and the amount those sponsors are willing to pay. In short the race will make out like bandits. To refuse her a comp entry shows an absolute lack of understanding of our sport and a refusal to help yourself. She shouldn't be running races that don't pay her travel and normal appearance fee never mind one that doesn't comp her entry. Other professional athletes don't play for free, never mind pay to play. Some of you make it sound like deena should pay because you do, face facts we are not all equal and deena is worth way more to the race then you ever will be. Others seem to feel she owes this race something. What??? They have done nothing to help her career so why should she pay them so she can put them on the national map. If she actually ran a pr then then the international map. Flat out this is a case of a power hungry race director with small mans syndrome trying to make himself feel powerful by denying one of the biggest athletes in our sport. Its his kind of attitude that help build the jogger world out there that so many of us despise and complain about on these boards.
most race directors and races these days are about fundraising and not at all about the sport. look how piss poor most courses are marked, and athletes taken care of. there's nothing wrong with having a fundraising component, and even a push, but then don't call it a race. call it a fundraiser. going back to their roots is a load of crap. the roots of a race is to get fast people to run fast and see who's the fastest.
DK's website says the director wouldn't give her "complimentary entry". If that's all she wanted, then that's crazy. Also, she wasn't whining about it, she just said she isn't going to run it. Big deal.
...and if all she wanted was free entry, maybe she should just bandit? That would be funny.
"We want to go back to our roots" ...what does that mean, "we want to suck now?"
nate jenkins wrote:
If she runs this race they will get more press then they have ever dreamed of before and there entries next year will go up as will there sponsor numbers and the amount those sponsors are willing to pay. In short the race will make out like bandits.
Do you have an example to back this up?
To refuse her a comp entry shows an absolute lack of understanding of our sport and a refusal to help yourself. She shouldn't be running races that don't pay her travel and normal appearance fee never mind one that doesn't comp her entry.
If that is the case, pro runners should only be looking to run the big time road races. If you are planning on running a local road race should you really expect to be treated like you would at NYC or Chicago?
Like a poster mentioned earlier, I have seen avid runners have no clue as to who the top runners in the US are, and could care less.
I am a Deena fan, and not trying to bash her. But expectations should be kept in line with reality.
I think it's wishful thinking by those who think Deena is so valuable to this race. They probably would get more benefit from comping the Subway guy to walk it. Sorry to say, but it's true.
She comes out of this looking way worse than the RD. It is obviously not in keeping with the ethos of the event to give entries away, even the name is based on the entry fee system.
If it was a profit making race then that's different, but even then I think she just makes herself look foolish and arrogant by publicising the fact. She should either miss it and make her feelings known only directly to him, or pay it and show some humility. Pathetic.
Race directors should comp entries for anyone they would like to make sure to have at their race.
That includes
- elite athletes who will raise the profile and level of competition of the event (these guys can take their pick of races and have a lot of demands for their appearance; if you want them there, then you have to give them something extra to make your race the one that they choose; comping their entry and a little VIP treatment create a lot of goodwill)
- members of the media who will write about the race or the hosting organization (these guys can't afford to pay for every race entry they want to write about, but their coverage will really help the profile of the race)
- sponsors (those who donate generously to make the race happen should get some comps as a thank you; don't make them pay for an entry when they already paid the equivalent of a lot of entries)
- special people (someone who contributed much more to the race than even your average volunteer; could be someone on the race committee, the founder of the race from a long time ago, someone the race is designed to honor, like a survivor of the disease your organization is trying to help find a cure for)
A race director is in a position to spread around a lot of goodwill for just the cost of a few race entries here and there for people who probably would not enter otherwise but will help the race look good and inspire others to sign up. It's always a judgment call, but I would have thought comping Deena would be a no-brainer.
Hey, Deena, you can come run my race for free!
I don't complain about Runner's world other than a gratuitous joke. Joggers never hurt me or hindered my training or racing.
but, if Deena wants to manage her career with complete precision then she should probably be racing for a reason. A race at this stage is probably part of her plan.
If I were her I would not let a few bucks get in the way of sticking to my plan. And I would certainly not let ego get in the way of my career. (complaining on her blog is rather silly, and something she will most likely regret in time)
Deena is not that famous anyhow, I'll bet over half the entrants of that race don't know who she is. Running is not baseball, football, or basketball, we will never be famous, and for good reason.
Something my mom taught me long ago: "reserve righteous indignation for those that deserve it and can use it".
i think that there is a basic misunderstanding here. Deena mentions that this is where favorite wine comes from and then mentions that because she was not comped an entry, so she is not going. While the cynical masses with poor reading comprehension here might read this as many have been reading it-Deena is a diva and didn't go...- i think there is another way to read it that is more in line with who deena is and the tone of her writing. I think that she had hoped that she would get comped entry (hotel, etc.) and this basically meant a weekend away with her hubby in romantic wine country. the race was just a means to a greater end of getting a free getaway. obviously the lack of prize money, competition and prestige would never attract her on their own. When she didn't get comp entry, because the race has gone away from offering this due to a change to a community race, she was probably like, "Darn, at least i tried. would have been nice to have a free weekend away." i doubt she was ever indignant or mad she didn't get the comp entry (which would def include hotel in her mind, not just the 25 bucks you idiots)...i have done this, picked races on location and availability of accomodations. in fact, i got a sweet weekend in the mountains this summer from some race director of a race i never would have done otherwise. you are all infer and dreaming up malice that is just not there...
first of all, mitch is a huge fan of road running. if you knew the history of the race, and why it became a community race, you'd completely understand why he said no to deena's request. i think deena doesn't know the history, but she should have asked around first.
the first year of the race there was tons of prize money. it was a race on the pausatf circuit; very well received by the athletes. the second year mitch threw more money at pausatf runners and open non-pausatf prize money. he brought in good kenyans and invited top u.s. runners. it was fun winning less $$$ because the competition was so amazing. unfortunately, because of some runners in the p.a. feeling like the points structure of the race would hurt them, they complained and forced the race to be a lower level race on the pausatf circuit. mitch realized that some of the "powers that be" on the pa were the ones who didn't care about a quality race with the highest level of talent so he pulled the cash from the open runners and made it a masters national championship. after doing this for 2-3 years the race is not a masters championship (i do not know why it wasn't selected). now the race is strictly a community event to support charity.