Interesting -- Tampa/St. Pete is the 18th biggest metro area in the country, but we're too spread out to have one of the 64 biggest cities.
Interesting -- Tampa/St. Pete is the 18th biggest metro area in the country, but we're too spread out to have one of the 64 biggest cities.
Raysism wrote:
Interesting -- Tampa/St. Pete is the 18th biggest metro area in the country, but we're too spread out to have one of the 64 biggest cities.
I definitely considered filling the field by metro area size, among other factors such as each state getting at least one auto bid, etc. I also love the st. Pete area (my sister is in the business community there). In future years I'm sure the selection committee will alter their criteria and st Pete or Clearwater could be in.
Day 8.
Just a few more days to close out the first round. First up today is #43 Irvine (CA) vs. #22 El Paso. First category drawn today is # of races within 50mi. Typically the larger city wins this, but being in a larger metro area, Irvine goes up 1-0. 2nd category, largest park. El Paso wins with Franklin Mountains State Park. All tied up 1-1. Next category, best men's college distance program. I have to give this to UTEP. El Paso takes the lead 2-1. Fourth category, biggest marathon they host. I couldn't find a marathon in Irvine, so El Paso takes the category and wins the overall match 3-1
Next is #27 Las Vegas vs. #38 Raleigh. First category, most runners at the atlanta marathon olympic trials. Raleigh had 2 that live in the city proper, and 1 that runs for the Raleigh based club but lives outside of Raleigh. Las Vegas only has 1 total. So Raleigh takes the category and is up 1-0. Second category, park area as a % of total area. Raleigh wins this easily. Raleigh 2-0. Third category, lower cost of living. Different sources give a different answer on this one, so I'm moving on to a fourth category, better January weather. Las Vegas takes this category by having less precipitation and being a little warmer. Raleigh still up 2-1. Next category, fastest runner in the 2019 NYC marathon. Raleigh wins this 2:50 to 2:58, and takes the matchup 3-1
Final matchup of the day is #59 Greenville vs. #6 Philadelphia. Greenville jumps out to a 1-0 lead by having better running weather in April. Philadelphia matches by having more runners in the Boston Marathon. All tied up 1-1. Philadelphia holds momentum by having the most races within 25 miles. Philadelphia up 2-1. Fourth category, largest park. Philadelphia wins with Fairmount Park. Philadelphia wins 3-1
El Paso will face yesterday's winner Santa Monica in the 2nd round and Philadelphia will face their 2nd Carolina city in a row, Raleigh.
Tomorrow we will see who wins between #7 San Antonio and #58 Flagstaff, #39 Miami and #26 Portland, and #23 Nashville and #42 Orlando.
Day 9:
First matchup of the day, #7 San Antonio vs. #58 Flagstaff. I'd think Flagstaff is the big favorite, but lest see how it shakes out... First category is lower violent crime rate. Flagstaff wins this easily and goes up 1-0. 2nd category, # of races. San Antonio isn't a racing paradise, but beats out Flagstaff in this category. All tied up 1-1. Better October running weather is category #3, and Flagstaff takes this - San Antonio is still damn hot in October. Flagstaff up 2-1. A little controversy on the 4th category, life expectancy, as different sources can give the win to either city. I'll hand the win to San Antonio as they seem to win from the most sources. So it comes down to category #5 which is... faster runners at the atlanta marathon olympic trials. Flagstaff wins this easily and takes the matchup 3-2.
Next matchup, #39 Miami vs. #26 Portland (OR). I'll cut to the chase, this is a sweep. Portland draws two big wins in the categories of faster runners at the atlanta marathon olympic trials and quality of elite training groups. The 3rd category isn't one they would win often, elevation, but one Miami is never going to win. Portland wins 3-0.
Final matchup, #23 Nashville vs. #42 Orlando. The first category drawn is most runners at the atlanta marathon olympic trials. Nashville wins and goes up 1-0. Second category, fastest runner at the LA marathon. Orlando had a surprising amount of runners in the race, but Nashville has the fastest, and goes up 2-0. 3rd category, higher gdp per capita. Nashville wins this easily and completes the sweep over Orlando 3-0.
Flagstaff and Portland will meet in a very strong Round 2 pairing, while Nashville will go up against the winner of the first match tomorrow, #55 Reno vs. #10 San Jose. Tomorrow we will also see #15 Charlotte vs. #50 Des Moines and a battle of the northwest, #47 Boise vs. #18 Seattle.
BOHICA wrote:
[quote]mayeroff wrote:
Reno Nevada!!!
All-weather tracks at high schools is such a '90s point of civic pride. So no racing scene to speak of, eh? Looks like a 2nd-rate Albuquerque.
BTW, hipsters suck.
It's too bad that you feel this way about my hometown. Reno is not a perfect place, but I probably wouldn't have been able to run as well as I did without the altitude, climate and environment here in Reno. There are only a few days each year (snow) during which you cannot have a productive training session outdoors here.
We're 2 hours drive away from low altitude racing in Sacramento, and only 4 hours away from the Bay Area.
list grandmaster wrote:
Tomorrow we will also see #15 Charlotte vs. #50 Des Moines
I’ve got the boys coming over to watch and a pantry full of Tostitos!
John Wesley Harding wrote:
list grandmaster wrote:
Tomorrow we will also see #15 Charlotte vs. #50 Des Moines
I’ve got the boys coming over to watch and a pantry full of Tostitos!
We’ve gone through a lot of Tostitos!
We're back from the weekend!
Day 10 features two fan favorites that got bumped in due to other cities entering covid protocol. The first of those two is #55 Reno going up against #10 San Jose. Reno gets hot on the draw out of the gate with the first category being bars per capita. Reno up 1-0. 2nd category, July training weather. This could be debatable, but San Jose picks up the win with their moderate CA climate. All tied up 1-1. 2rd category, lower unemployment. This is a squeaker, but San Jose takes this 3rd category and goes up 2-1. 4th category drawn is who had the faster runner in 2019 NYC marathon, and that is San Jose. San Jose takes down Reno 3-1.
Next up is our 2nd fan favorite $50 Des Moines going up against #15 Charlotte. Could they pull the upset that Reno couldn't. First category, elite running scene. With the Drake relays and a history of hosting usatf championships, Des Moines takes this category and jumps out to the lead 1-0. The second category, fastest runner in the Chicago marathon, which is Charlotte. All tied up 1-1. 3rd category is lower average humidity. Des Moines wins this despite being a sauna whenever I've visited. Des Moines up 2-1. 3rd category, July training weather. Once again, Des Moines not a great place to train in July, but its better than Charlotte. Des Moines takes down Charlotte 3-1.
And the 3rd matchup of the day is the battle for the northwest, #47 Boise vs. #18 Seattle. First category, races within 100 miles. Seattle wins this category easily. Seattle 1-0. 2nd category, number or runners in the Boston marathon per capita. I though Boise might have a good shot at winning this category, but Seattle wins and takes a commanding 2-0 lead. Could they get the sweep? Nope. 3rd category is lower violent crime rate, which Boise wins and gets on the board. Seattle up 2-1. 4th category, january training weather. Another debatable category, but Boise takes it despite being a little bit colder, its not raining all the time as it is in Seattle. All tied up 2-2. Final category, faster runner at the 2019 boston marathon. Both cities had a runner finish in the top 100, but Boise wins it in an upset. Boise comes back from being down 2-0 and wins 3-2.
San Jose will meet Day 9s winner Nashville in the next round while Des Moines and Boise will battle it out.
Tomorrow we will finish off the first round with #31 Tucson vs. #34 Atlanta a battle of southern california, #63 Big Bear vs. #2 Los Angeles.
also, excuse my grammar. I just type fast and post with no proof reading!
mayeroff wrote:
BOHICA wrote:
[quote]mayeroff wrote:
Reno Nevada!!!
All-weather tracks at high schools is such a '90s point of civic pride. So no racing scene to speak of, eh? Looks like a 2nd-rate Albuquerque.
BTW, hipsters suck.
It's too bad that you feel this way about my hometown. Reno is not a perfect place, but I probably wouldn't have been able to run as well as I did without the altitude, climate and environment here in Reno. There are only a few days each year (snow) during which you cannot have a productive training session outdoors here.
We're 2 hours drive away from low altitude racing in Sacramento, and only 4 hours away from the Bay Area.
Cool story, bro. Glad you ran as well as you did.
Daly 11:
Only 2 matchups today to close out round 1.
The first is Atlanta vs. Tucson. First category, most prominent peak within 75 mi. Tucson wins this with a peak nearby more prominent than any on the US east coast. 2nd category, is "biggest" marathon they host, and Atlanta gets this on the heels of hosting the olympic trials. All tied up 1-1. Most parks is the third category, which Atlanta wins easily, outnumbering Tucson parks three to one, and takes the lead 2-1. The fourth category is an easy win for Tucson, least precipitation per year. All tied up 2-2 and a decisive 5th draw which is... best running weather in October. This is a tough one. I do like the cool desert mornings, but I'm going with Atlanta on this one.. "The normal high temperature at the start of the month is in the upper 70s, and the normal low is in the upper 50s. ... The normal high temperature slips into the 60s by Halloween and the normal low drops into the 40s. October is normally a relatively dry month in Atlanta." Atlanta wins 3-2.
2nd matchup is Los Angeles vs. their little sibling, Big Bear. First category, number of sunny days per year. Big Bear wins this by 2 days, and takes the 1-0 lead. They also take the 2nd category, lower annual humidity. Big Bear up 2-0. Largest park is the third category, which goes to Los Angeles. Unemployment rate is the 4th category. Comparing unemployment for a city like Big Bear vs. Los Angeles seems kind of silly, but Big Bear wins and wins the match 3-1.
Atlanta and Big Bear will meet in Round 2, which we'll be kicking off with 3 matchups tomorrow:
Sacramento vs. New York
Indianapolis vs. San Francsico
Honolulu vs. Dallas
The rest of round 2 looks as follows:
Minneapolis vs. San Diego
Omaha vs. Phoenix
Boulder vs. Boston
Richmond vs. DC
Colorado Springs vs. Houston
Mammoth Lakes vs. Albuquerque
Columbus vs. Denver
Santa Monica vs. El Paso
Philadelphia vs. Raleigh
Flagstaff vs. Portland
Nashville vs. San Jose
Des Moines vs. Boise
Big Bear vs. Atlanta
Here's the updated bracket:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11p_h6WP44Am_cxzBJJhKcXaU6MOhP5bLyB_z6u-ZhzA/edit?usp=sharing
San Diego
Boulder
Columbus
Des Moines
Boulder bro. Boulder.
list grandmaster wrote:
Des Moines takes down Charlotte 3-1.
You should have seen the celebration in downtown Des Moines last night. The rowdy bacchanalia flooded the streets and poured into the river!—(two unfortunate teens were found drowned in the river). I still can’t get the chant “Charlotte’s a harlot, bloodied and scarlet” (dumb, I know) out of my head. We’re now recovering from our collective hangover in eager anticipation of our second round matchup with Boise.
[quote]list grandmaster wrote:
Boise comes back from being down 2-0 and wins 3-2. [quote]
Sam Tanner goes home devastated!
...
Flagstaff vs. Portland is a doozy of a second round contest. Both cities have Final Four potential, to be sure.
Thanks for that local coverage from Iowa John Wesley Harding!
On to Day 12 and ROUND 2!
First match of Round 2 is New York vs. Sacramento. In the first round NYC beat Blowing Rock, NC 3-2 and Sacramento swept Mesa, AZ 3-0. First category, bars per capita. If we are judging the bar scene, I'd go with New York on this one, but Sacramento wins for having objectively more bars per person. Sacramento up 1-0. 2nd category, July training weather. As someone who has run in both places during the summer, I can say NYC is way better. NYC ties it up 1-1. 3rd category, races within 25 mi. NYC wins this easily and takes the 2-1 lead. 4th category is life expectancy. New York wins this one as well and takes the round 2 match 3-1. NYC is the first sweet sixteen city in the tournament.
Matchup 2 is Indianapolis vs. San Francisco. Indianapolis edged out SLC 3-2 in the first round while SF beat Providence 3-1. First category, fastest time in the 2019 boston marathon. I was ready to pencil in SF for this point, but turns out Indianapolis wins it. Indy up 1-0. 2nd category, July training weather. Obviously SF. All tied up 1-1. Third category is US news score for their access to health care. San Francisco wins this for the 2-1 lead. Fourth category, sunny days per year. With the famous fog over part of san francisco, i though Indy might have a chance on this one, but SF takes this category by a wide margin. San Francisco wins the round 3-1.
New York and San Francisco will meet in the sweet sixteen.
Final match of the day, Dallas vs. Honolulu. Dallas defeated Duluth 3-1 in the first round while Honolulu beat Detroit 3-2. First category, most parks. Dallas wins. Dallas also takes the 2nd category in a landslide, lower cost of living. Dallas out to the 2-0 lead. Honolulu gets some redemption by winning the 3rd category, park area as a % of total area. Dallas maintaining a 2-1 lead. Fourth category, number of runners in the marathon olympic trials. Honolulu had zero while Dallas had quite a few. Dallas wins the round 3-1 to advance to the sweet 16. You had a nice run Honolulu.
Dallas makes it to the sweet 16 of best running cities in the US somehow. Perhaps some favorable category draws and being matched up against Duluth and Honolulu. Dallas will await the winner of the first match tomorrow, Minneapolis vs. San Diego. The other matches tomorrow will be Phoenix vs. Omaha and Boston vs. Boulder.
Day 13, zipping through Round 2:
First match, Minneapolis vs. San Diego. Minneapolis took down OKC 3-1 in the first round while San Diego swept St. George, UT. First category selected is October training weather. San Diego will almost never lose a weather category, and takes a 1-0 lead here as well. Second category, lower unemployment. Minneapolis wins and ties it up 1-1. 3rd category is another economic metric that Minneapolis picks up a point for, lower cost of living. Minneapolis up 2-1. Fourth category, bars per person - San Diego wins and we're tied again 2-2. Fifth and decisive category - access to heath care. Minneapolis win and upsets San Diego!
Minneapolis will be facing Dallas in the sweet sixteen round.
2nd matchup of the day is Phoenix vs. Omaha. Phoenix swept Burlington VT in the first round while Omaha beat Memphis 3-1. First category - violent crime rate. I wouldn't call either city as one of the safer US cities, but Omaha wins this category and takes the 1-0 lead. 2nd category, better women's college distance program. Phoenix win this and ties it up 1-1. Best race they host is category number 3, and I hand this to Phoenix as well. Phoenix is up 2-1. Fourth category, lower annual percipitation. Easy category win for Phoenix and they take the matchup 3-1.
3rd matchup is a competitive one, Boston vs. Boulder. They both completed easy sweeps in the first round, Boston over Toledo and Boulder over Jacksonville. First category, January training weather. This isn't a category Boulder will win over many of the cities, but they do over Boston. Boulder takes the lead 1-0. 2nd round, elite training scene. This one Boston won't lose often, but they do against Boulder. Boulder up 2-0. Will Boston be swept? Third category, the fastest time at the 19 Boston Marathon. Boston actually wins this and avoids the sweep. Boulder up 2-1. Fourth category, faster time at the 19 NYC marathon. Boston had some quick sub elites finish the race, but slower than the top time from Boulder. Boulder wins the round 3-1.
Phoenix and Boulder will be matched up in the sweet 16.
Tomorrow we will continue round 2 with Richmond vs. DC, Colorado Springs vs. Houston, and Mammoth Lakes vs. Albuquerque.
Day 14:
First matchup, Mid atlantic battle of Richmond vs. DC. Richmond beat Forth Worth 3-2 in the first round while DC beat Madison 3-2. First category for Richmond-DC: gdp per capita. DC is way beyond Richmond in this category and takes the lead 1-0. 2nd category, fastest runner in NYC marathon. DC wins again and goes up 2-0. 3rd category, best race either city hosts. DC wins this and completes the quick sweep.
Second matchup, Colorado Springs vs. Houston. Both cities swept their opponents in the first round, Colorado Springs over Milwaukee and Houston over Long Branch, NJ. First category, running clubs per category. Colorado Springs wins this category and jumps out to a 1-0 lead. 2nd category, # of runners in the Boston Marathon. Houston wins to tie up 1-1. 3rd category, lower violent crime rate. Colorado Springs takes back the lead, up 2-1. GDP per capita is the 4th category, and is an easy win for Houston. Tied 2-2. The 5th category for Colorado Springs vs. Houston is... # of races within 25 miles. Houston wins and takes down Colorado Springs! Whoa, Houston in the sweet sixteen of best cities for runners in the US.
DC and Houston will meet in the 3rd round in a battle of a couple of the country's largest metro areas.
3rd matchup, Mammoth Lakes CA vs. Albuquerque. Mammoth Lakes beat Chicago 3-2 in the first round and Albuquerque beat Kansas City 3-1. First category, number of races. Albuquerque wins and goes up 1-0. 2nd category is fastest runner in the atlanta marathon olympic trials. Mammoth Lakes wins and ties 1-1. July training weather is the third category and another point for Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes up 2-1. Running clubs per capita is the fourth category and Mammoth Lakes wins 3-1.
In round 3 Mammoth Lakes will face the winner of the first match tomorrow, Denver vs. Columbus. The other 2 matches tomorrow are Santa Monica vs. El Paso and Raeligh vs. Philadelphia.
Day 15:
First of today's three matches is Denver vs. Columbus. Denver beat Norfolk 3-2 in the first round while Columbus upset Eugene 3-1. First category, # or races within 25 miles. Columbus won this category in the first round, but Denver wins it here in the 2nd round. Denver up 1-0. Second category is lower annual precipitation. Easy point for Denver. Denver up 2-0. Third category is the elite training scene. Denver isn't the hotbed of elite training in Colorado, but it's certainly more of a hub than Columbus OH. Denver sweeps Columbus 3-0 and moves on to face Mammoth Lakes in the sweet sixteen.
2nd matchup is Santa Monica vs. El Paso. Santa Monica took down the other Texas city, Austin in the first round, 3-2, while El Paso took down another So. CA coastal city, Irvine, in the first round, 3-1. First category, July training weather. Its about 100 degrees in El Paso in July, so Santa Monica jumps out to the 1-0 lead. 2nd category, days below freezing per year. Another training weather category that Santa Monica wins. Santa Monica up 2-0. El Paso finally responds by winning the third category, most parks. Santa Monica still up. 2-1. Fourth category, best women's college distance running program. El Paso ties it up 2-2. 5th category for all the marbles - lower average humidity. El Paso finally takes a running weather category over Santa Monica and wins the round 3-2.
Third matchup of the day, Raleigh vs. Philadelphia. Raleigh beat Las Vegas 3-1 in the first round while Philadelphia beat Greenville 3-1. First category, high school running scene. Raleigh hosts national meets, but the Penn Relays and the competitiveness in the Philadelphia metro gives Philly the 1-0 lead. Access to health care is the 2nd category, and another point for Philadelphia based on US News reports. Third category, July training weather. Neither is great, but Philadelphia is more bearable than Raleigh. Philadelphia sweeps Raleigh 3-0
El Paso and Philadelphia will meet in the sweet sixteen round.
Tomorrow we will have the much anticipated 2nd round matchup between Flagstaff and Portland. Nashville vs. San Jose is the other matchup on tomorrow's schedule.
Bump?
Bump again