I'd be into this race if it was properly hyped and set up. It needs to a weekend race if you want anybody to show up. There were good athletes running, they deserved some sort of crowd.
Next time, I'd like to see Ritz's OAC in there, Reebok Boston, and let Puma put in a team with Seidel added. BTC were allowed to walk it this year
High hopes wrote:
I'd be into this race if it was properly hyped and set up. It needs to a weekend race if you want anybody to show up. There were good athletes running, they deserved some sort of crowd.
Next time, I'd like to see Ritz's OAC in there, Reebok Boston, and let Puma put in a team with Seidel added. BTC were allowed to walk it this year
Do you mean another Ekiden that is not USATF Clubs? Or do you mean ignoring the USATF rules and allowing international athletes into USATF championships?
I’m not at all into adding international athletes into any US Road Championship. I like the HM—10 mile—20k the way it currently is. However, if you are talking about another event that would be fun too.
For those of us lucky enough to attend in person the Michigan Pro Ekiden was awesome to watch! The six mile loop course allowed spectators to see team runners pass by four times (and drive to the finish line and watch the finish). Greatly appreciated that the teams stuck around after the race to mingle, talk, and take pics with fans (Thank you BTC and Shalane Flanagan!) Havent been to any other running event that affords this open interaction with so many Olympic athletes! Will be great to see this event grow over the next few years, maybe an open race prior to bring fans out and then have the pros race? Thanks to Keith and Kevin Hanson for their promotion of this Ekiden U.S. race!
growing on trees wrote:
High hopes wrote:
I'd be into this race if it was properly hyped and set up. It needs to a weekend race if you want anybody to show up. There were good athletes running, they deserved some sort of crowd.
Next time, I'd like to see Ritz's OAC in there, Reebok Boston, and let Puma put in a team with Seidel added. BTC were allowed to walk it this year
Do you mean another Ekiden that is not USATF Clubs? Or do you mean ignoring the USATF rules and allowing international athletes into USATF championships?
I’m not at all into adding international athletes into any US Road Championship. I like the HM—10 mile—20k the way it currently is. However, if you are talking about another event that would be fun too.
Totally agree with high hopes. I don't care if it was a US championship. I would rather see a battle, with OAC, Reebok, etc. than have BTC show-up for a glorified tempo run to take money away from teams that need it way more than they do.
Currently the US Pro Ekiden only allows US athletes. Reebok and OAC would have a tough time putting together a team. I would like to see this change , as the overall quality would be improved greatly.
And I don't care at all about those brands, their groups, or the foreigners training with them. And the vast majority of would-be spectators don't care, either. It's only a handful of running nerds on a message board that think it would be right to include them. Go start a separate event if it means that much to you and would be that easy to do. I doubt even the Jobros could afford to pull that off.
ebvehjbgbrbtnt wrote:
growing on trees wrote:
Do you mean another Ekiden that is not USATF Clubs? Or do you mean ignoring the USATF rules and allowing international athletes into USATF championships?
I’m not at all into adding international athletes into any US Road Championship. I like the HM—10 mile—20k the way it currently is. However, if you are talking about another event that would be fun too.
Totally agree with high hopes. I don't care if it was a US championship. I would rather see a battle, with OAC, Reebok, etc. than have BTC show-up for a glorified tempo run to take money away from teams that need it way more than they do.
Sorry for posting this info after the fact, but I thought it might still be of interest.
The marathon course (42.195km) is USATF certified, but the individual leg distances are not (although they are accurate), since they are not record-eligible anyway (first leg because it is not a record distance, and the others because they have a running start). Below is a link to the certification map.
https://www.certifiedroadraces.com/certificate/?type=m&id=635
The course was certified in 2020, and the order of the legs was different for 2021. Below is a map link with the 2021 exchange locations and mile splits.
https://www.dukerdog.com/Michigan_Pro_Ekiden.png
Below is a link to the elevation profile. Some legs gained elevation and some lost, but none of them was flat.
https://www.dukerdog.com/elevation_profile.png
Finally, the park trail was not closed to the public during the race. If the race were held on the weekend there would be a large number of walkers, runners, and bikers on the path during the race. The park is not likely to close the path for 2+ hours on the weekend for an event that 95% of park goers don't care about.
ebvehjbgbrbtnt wrote:
growing on trees wrote:
Do you mean another Ekiden that is not USATF Clubs? Or do you mean ignoring the USATF rules and allowing international athletes into USATF championships?
I’m not at all into adding international athletes into any US Road Championship. I like the HM—10 mile—20k the way it currently is. However, if you are talking about another event that would be fun too.
Totally agree with high hopes. I don't care if it was a US championship. I would rather see a battle, with OAC, Reebok, etc. than have BTC show-up for a glorified tempo run to take money away from teams that need it way more than they do.
Oh, stop. You’d be the same person complaining if BTC didn’t show up. I think you’re probably just a whiner.
growing on trees wrote:
High hopes wrote:
I'd be into this race if it was properly hyped and set up. It needs to a weekend race if you want anybody to show up. There were good athletes running, they deserved some sort of crowd.
Next time, I'd like to see Ritz's OAC in there, Reebok Boston, and let Puma put in a team with Seidel added. BTC were allowed to walk it this year
Do you mean another Ekiden that is not USATF Clubs? Or do you mean ignoring the USATF rules and allowing international athletes into USATF championships?
I’m not at all into adding international athletes into any US Road Championship. I like the HM—10 mile—20k the way it currently is. However, if you are talking about another event that would be fun too.
I hadn't realised this race was only for US athletes. Why not open it up to all athletes training with US clubs? It's not a US championship, it's just a fun event. I thought the aim was to have something different, a genuine team competition. If that's the aim, then they need to acknowledge that those teams are international in nature. If they're worried about team bringing in ringers, they could put limits on international athletes. But really, tell me how this event would not be improved by adding some of BTCs international runners, or OAC - people like Oli Hoare and Morgan Macdonald are products of the US system, living and working in the US. I don't know, if you want a substandard competition then keep things as they are, if you want something that makes sense - US-based teams competing against each other - and results in a more competitive race, then think more dynamically.
Oh yeah, and don't hold the event so close to major marathons. It rules out someone like Kellyn Taylor who would have helped NAZ be more competitive.
Your event sounds like fun. I can’t wait to watch it next year.
Can you tell me when and where it will be held?
Who is footing the bill for your extravaganza?
Do you have the contacts to get all of the athletes and coaches and agents on board with your event?
Hopefully it doesn’t go head to head with the current one but that’s your call as well.
I heard that BTC didn’t take the team $. If so, that’s a laudable gesture by a nice group of athletes out supporting the event and the sport.
@hansonsrun just posted on Twitter that Bowerman Track Club donated their $20k back to the event. Very impressive.
