Does the Geist Half Marathon include a loop around Reggie Miller's house?
Does the Geist Half Marathon include a loop around Reggie Miller's house?
So what would you guys put as odds that this is going to happen without some huge crisis?
I give it a 20% chance of this event happening in a somewhat normal fashion, a 30% chance that it happens, but is a complete disaster, and a 50% chance that it never happens at all.
These percentages might be too optimistic, though.
I did some looking at the Marathon's Permit Application. You can find the info online. It appears a permit was taken out to have the event on October 6 originally. At that time the permit said they were expecting 75,000 people - I think this includes spectators.
http://www2.indygov.org/SEPERMITprod/servlet/FullFinal?typdex=
!NOO!7979!vas!!!!
A new permit was taken out with the new date. They now expect 40,000 total.
http://www2.indygov.org/SEPERMITprod/servlet/FullFinal?typdex=
!NOO!8306!vas!!!!
The contact info for the person putting on the race is as follows, which I got from the permit:
Cliff Redden Address:
Organization Indy Classic Marathon, Inc.,
President 12145 Bearsdale
Phone (317) 557-5224 Indianapolis IN 46235
Fax (317) 826-9697 Email
indyclasicmarathon@sbcglobal.net
Event Name INDY CLASSIC MARATHON
Does anyone know who CLIFF REDDEN is?
He may be associated with a construction company in Indy: National Builders Construction Mgmt.
http://www.fedvendor.com/contractor/CRR00000000000078324/profile.htm
http://www.openfos.com/supply/NATIONAL-BUILDERS-CONSTRUCTION-1932971/
The above site claims the company is "veteran" owned, which lines up with the race being to benefit vets.
A search on marathonguide.com does not reveal any results for a Cliff Redden, so it appears he is not a marathon runner. One certainly does not need to be a marathon runner to put on a marathon, but often the people that put them on do so because they have an interest in the activity.
This may well be a case where people are putting the run on to make money, there is NOTHING wrong with that.
Another "contact" name in the application is Jeanne Johnson. A search for her does not reveal any results from a marathon, at least none for a Jeanne Johnson from Indiana, there were some for ones in Ohio and MN and CA.
A few people on here and the newspaper's website imply this thing is a scam. I do NOT think that is the case and would caution people against concluding that. I think the marathon is legit.
Do the names Reddin and Johnson mean anything to Indiana runners or those in the Race Directing communities?
D and B wrote:
Do the names Reddin and Johnson mean anything to Indiana runners or those in the Race Directing communities?
I think we went through this earlier in the thread, but no one I know has ever heard of these people.
If you call the Hotels listed as sponsors on their website to find out who arranged the hotel accomodation most of the hotels will tell you this was done by a guy named Clayton Wilkins. This is the guy they claim is their spokesperson. I did a search on him and came up with information that he may work for Westport. What a spokesman.
Observations:
1) Most of the running/jogging public doesn't plan for a marathon or half-marathon a year in advance. You could easily train to complete a marathon in 8-12 weeks provided you've been doing some amount of running or running/walking mix.
2) The Geist will give those who don't want to register for a half-marathon 6 months in advance an opportunity to run a half-marathon in the spring. Most runners/joggers/walkers don't plan to run a race 6 months in advance. I'm sure there have been countless thousands of everyday runners in the Indy area wonder why they can't register during the month before the race. Happens with EVERY big race. Most people simply don't know these things close so early.
3) Most races don't set out to be the biggest or the fastest. They exist simply to exist. This new Indy Classic Marathon is simply a new race in town. Nothing more, nothing less. Chances are there will be runners who run BOTH the Indy Classic Marathon and the Indianapolis Marathon, which are 6 weeks ago.
4) A running/racing scene can NEVER be too crowded. The more opportunities out there the better. Did you know there is yet ANOTHER 1/2 in Indy? The Sam Costa Half in Carmel is in March. Just on the Runningtimes Calendar there are 9 half-marathons in Indiana and I know off hand of a couple they've left off. I wish there were more long race across the country instead of these Holly Jolly 5ks.
Alan
Is the city sponsoring the race? Why on earth would the city know how many people have registered so far? From everything I've read in string of emails, I really expect this event is a total scam.
OldGal wrote:
Is the city sponsoring the race? Why on earth would the city know how many people have registered so far? From everything I've read in string of emails, I really expect this event is a total scam.
"Pete Grime's" claim that he called the city does not make sense to me either. How/why would the city know how many a registered?
I do not think it is a scam, but I wonder about the race.
Nick Wyler wrote:
If you call the Hotels listed as sponsors on their website to find out who arranged the hotel accomodation most of the hotels will tell you this was done by a guy named Clayton Wilkins. This is the guy they claim is their spokesperson. I did a search on him and came up with information that he may work for Westport. What a spokesman.
His name does not show up as a finisher in any marathons from 2000 to the present.
"Pam" wrote:
a interest
So this level of illiteracy is pretty common in Indianapolis? That's not so hard to buy, actually.
S Bannwart wrote:
Are you guys crazy.You posted this site in the Indianapolis Star, yes I think you would see supporters of the New Marathon coming here to defend a race we would love to have in town. Yes I am registered for the Indy Classic.
It's not a marathon, Bri-Bri, and the organizers probably don't have illusions of attracting a field of runners from across the nation and the globe.
Brian D wrote:
Many people will not feel comfortable running a marathon in Geist. The name will not attract people from around the country. It is much smarter to use the name Indianapolis in your race if your trying to attract people in from other parts of the country. Only big cities can be successful putting on a marathon. Geist organizers did not do their homework.
OldGal wrote:
From everything I've read in string of emails, I really expect this event is a total scam.
Not that it isn't a scam or under suspect leadership, but where are these "emails"? I'd like to look at them.
I found their phone number on their website under the contact page. Although 40,000 is a very high goal to set for yourself, I don't think that it would be a cause to think the race is a scam. I think the race is going to happen, but I don't think they will hit 40,000. They could hit 15,000 though and I would say that would be successful. I can't see the city approving the course and the event if the organizers were as incapable as many on this board seem to think.
The phone number to call is 317-361-6731.
I have a few concerns about the race as well and have emailed sent the ICM folks a few emails. To their credit they responded quickly but I will still probably avoid this one. Posted below are the emails:
Hello,
It was unclear from the web page when the start time is for the 5k and half marathon. Will they be starting with the marathon at 6?
Thanks,
Hello Chris
The half will start 30 min. later after the full and the 5k start time will be 15 minutes after the half due to the amount of runners entered.
Thank You
Sherry Matthews
Sherry,
Thanks for the quick reply. I have only run a few very large (>20,000 people) races, and that seems like an awfully close overlap for those race times. If large numbers are there, the first folks in the half marathon
would be running over the walkers in the last corral of the marathon, not to mention not having much time to line up before the race. I am considering running the half-marathon, but am frankly a bit worried about the logistics of the race since it is the first time. Are there plans to have seed times and corrals for the race?
Thanks,
We are very confident that all will be fine. Our security will be handled
by the Indianapolis Police Dept. We will constantly review our logistics
and adjust accordingly. If at any time there become a need to alter things
for reasons of security or for the runners best interest we wll not
hesitate to do so.
Thank You
Sherry Matthews
ICM
Interesting facts about the number of marathons/half marathons in similar size cities. and I had forgotten about Sam Costa...I don't doubt that there is some additional room on the calendar for a few of these new ones. May the strongest survive....
I did enjoy the IndyStar forum regulars making a quick stop over here to our corner of the internet. There was definitely some entertaining (and oh so obvious) shilling going on over there and I'm glad they brought a taste of it over here for everyone to enjoy. :)
Good research on the "players" involved. Cliff, Clayton & Jeanne....who are these guys? Has anyone tried to look up Sherry Matthews? Her responses to the very legetimate questions were interesting...IMPD is handling "security?" What does that have to do with the timing of starting the races? :)
I would be interested to know more about the mention of Dean Reinke and his potential involvement...anyone know if he is really involved?
Starting a Marathon and a Half at different times on the same course is always a BAD idea. It must be an Indiana thing...they do the same for the Sunburst Races in South Bend but you have a Marathon, Half, 10k and 5k to contend with. It was silly when I ran it a few years ago.
Alan
"Interesting" I see The Indy Classic Marathon is now a Boston Qualifier. They lists the Qualifier's Name on their website. Finally someone who is connected to the running world.
Since any marathon run on a certified course under guidance published by USATF is a Boston qualifier, that doesn't mean much except that the course really will be 26.2 miles.
That's got to be the worst course map I've ever seen.
I was going to run the Lawrence Marathon this year but may be leaning on doing the Indy Classic instead (Just Marketing) tell me why you think the Indy's course is so bad? I have asked several people and have been told the course is actually a pretty good course. I'm being told that the Lawrence race have failed to produce ample interest and seem to be stymied in numbers. This would be my first full marathon and I intend to use the event to stay in shape. I have nothing against the Lawrence Marathon just going by what I'm hearing please help me to decide?
Just marketing hype wrote:
Since any marathon run on a certified course under guidance published by USATF is a Boston qualifier, that doesn't mean much except that the course really will be 26.2 miles.
That's got to be the worst course map I've ever seen.