Deena dissed at Paso Robles 10k

On further review this is so ridiculous that her definition of complimentary must include Race Entry + Lodging (for two, most likely?) + Airfare + Meals...

She was trying to get a free vacation out to Wine Country and the RD said no dice -- probably because he just didn't have the budget for it, not because he didn't want to. As such this seems like fine practice on both parts (although it was a tad petty for DK to essentially call out the RD on her site).

We raised money for Richard Kiplagat's sister. Lets start a Diva Kaster Fund and raise the money so she'll be treated in the manner in which she's become accustomed to.

this is spot on - the rest of you losers need to keep your jealous traps shuti doubt it is about the $50 that deena would have to pay... you idiots are calling her selfish... hello, she is trying to enter a race where first prize takes home $50... are you kidding me?it is probably more about the principal... i would imagine her presence would bring tons of money in for the race and the race director... if he wants to be greedy and not grant her a comped entry then why should she runwhatever her reasons she has earned the benefit of the doubtshe has worked tirelessly for many good causes, in fact i think she is even trying to build a track for her community at the momentshe represented the country in the marathon and plans to do it again - missing possibly higher paying marathons in the processyou people need to get a life

She may not be ultra-wealthy but $25 is chump change. It seems odd to me that a miniscule amount like $25 would make anyone (even an Olympic medalist) change their mind about whether or not to run a race. If she is so hard up for the $25 I'm sure she could have charged $1 per autograph to some kids at the race to make up for this terrible slight against her.

Sometimes running should be about the running and not about the money or about someone kissing your ass because you're good at running. It would have been classy for her to show up at a small race and pay the tiny entrance fee (which her sponsor probably would cover). For her to skip the race over the entry fee is wack, but to put it on her website like it was some major offense by the race director is elitist in the ugly sense.

anEconomist wrote:

she has worked tirelessly for many good causes,

Herself. That's it.

i would be curious to hear what your great contributions have been in this world...

Charity case wrote:

anEconomist wrote:

she has worked tirelessly for many good causes,

Herself. That's it.

The Olympic Trials are charging the men's field 10 bucks for entry (not sure about the women). Would she not run the Olympic trials if they didn't comp her entry.

This must have been a mixup in terms because it doesn't make sense. My thoughts are that she wanted travel and hotel, which in her mind means comped or the race was no longer accepting entries and the AD was the only way in.

whatever dud.....she should of been quite about it!.....putting it in print makes her look like a idiot!

"dude" "she should HAVE been" "quiet""AN idiot"hmmm, who looks like an idiot?

runnerInChc wrote:

whatever dud.....she should of been quite about it!.....putting it in print makes her look like a idiot!

The truth is that the Race Director of the Paso Robles has no clue to who Deena Kastor is, and thus the denial. Not a fan of the sport, but a fan of making money. His name is Mitch Massey, and he's not exactly a runner. $$$

I'm not sure there's a bad guy on either side here -- the RD may have made a philosophical decision.

According to the race website:

"Rather than attracting the world's top 10K runners for this event, we have decided to turn our 50 Buck 10K into a community run. The reason for this change is simple: we want to go back to the roots of what this event was built on."

Not sure if this written was after the conversation with DK. Anyway, if they have this focus, and the spornsor Heritage Oaks Bank wants this focus, then having one of the world's top 10k runners at all (paid or unpaid) might send the wrong signal, one that the sponsor did not want to send.

And regardless of what you might think, having one loyal sponsor it is worth more for the race for coming years than having any number of Olympians running it, no matter what their credentials or reputation.

If I had to guess, I would guess that DK and the race staff agreed to disagree, and the situation got blown out of proportion when it appeared on the Web (first time that's ever happened...).

First I've heard that the men's oly trials runners have to pony up a sawbuck. Where'd you hear that

anEconomist wrote:

it is probably more about the principal

Here's a case where misspelling the world (or rather, using the homophone) gives the sentence the exact opposite meaning of the one intended.

"principle"

I'm with you, I don't think either party is really at fault. I went on her website and she was very matter of fact about the whole thing - she asked for a comp, didn't get it, so she moved on to other plans. The RD wants the race to be a community event and not an event where elites are the primary focus. They can do whatever they want.

This is a non-story IMO.

Joseph McVeigh wrote:

According to the race website:

"Rather than attracting the world's top 10K runners for this event, we have decided to turn our 50 Buck 10K into a community run. The reason for this change is simple: we want to go back to the roots of what this event was built on."

Oh, ok, I was about to ask. This race is listed in the Road Race Management book-- prize purse of $52,200 (this is from 2 years ago). Course records are 28:55/32:47.... so this wasn't some local 'fun run' until recently.

I understand the RD\'s point. He\'s giving out some money and doesn\'t want the elites showing up and taking it. He wants the runners in the community to show up and have a shot at it.

They\'re not going to do that if the ones who have any shot at all at winning it are the elites.

I applaud him for not bowing at her feet and kissing her shoes just because she is an elite.

Charity case wrote:

We raised money for Richard Kiplagat's sister. Lets start a Diva Kaster Fund and raise the money so she'll be treated in the manner in which she's become accustomed to.

Ha, I was just thinking the same thing! Alms for the poor.

The question is when she contacted the race director... If she contacted about a month to two months ago then the RD could take advantage of the good press.

That being said after reading what she posted on her site it does not seem like she was blasting the RD. I think everyone is making more of it then it actually is.

[quote]anEconomist wrote:

i would imagine her presence would bring tons of money in for the race and the race director... if he wants to be greedy and not grant her a comped entry then why should she run

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Its not about 25 bucks, it is about being professional. Running is far behind other sports, and not just football baseball basketball hockey. Professional bowling is doing great, the X games is huge, surfing, on and on. If you want the best runners to stay in the sport there has to be more professionalism, and charging any professional athlete to run a race is ridiculous. Especially Deena who would sign autographs and meet people forever after the race. Either support professionalism or dont expect athletics to exist in the future.