How many elites take the time to thank race directors?

Elite Runners never came to our sponsor meet and greet.

Elite Runners never stuck around for the Awards once they received theirs.

Elite Runners never showed up to the expo.

Elite Runners never sent letters to our sponsors.

My opinion is this:

1. If you want the elites to do that, then specify it in the contract

2. If you asked them to do that and they don't, don't invite them back next year. They will get the hint. The smart agents/athletes know how to take care of the people that are paying them.

"I recently left a group over this exact reason"

Are you kidding me? The race should be "thanking the (elite) runners?" Spoken like someone who has no knowledge of the marketing side of the sport. I have been a race director here in Florida for over 15 years, and only one thing changed in the late 1990s when we dropped elites and our massive elite athlete budget - our #s went up! We not only had more entrants, we had an additional 65k to give to our 6 local charities. We now have more $ and less arguments with agents or runners complaining because we roomed them with someone. Every bit of research for road race management globally bears this out. The Mom and pop jogger do not attend races because someone who can run a 28:30 10k is running. In fact 99% of the general running public is just as excited for a guy who runs 32:30 - to them that is elite. Why do races even do elites? Most race directors do what they do on the elite side because of their philanthropic belief in supporting the sport (many race directors were themselves competitive runners who like to give back and now have access to purse strings as professionals). Runners should 100% thank race directors, whether it is a free room or a comped #....why? - not because we race directors want our asses kissed (although that is occasionally nice too) - but because gratitude is always a good thing and generally rewarded.

First, thanks for the props in the previous post.

Second, I've been doing this since 1986 and have been on both sides of the issue here. I do always insist that athletes thank the MD or RD for the invitation and try to seek out sponsors to thank BECAUSE WE NEED THEM. I don't care who you are but a city is not going to shut down public streets for 3-6 hours for 30 elite runners to race, but they'll do it for 3,000 joggers. Now the local paper will rarely write about Joe Smith a 32-year old accountant who won the race in 32:48 because that is not news unless he just returned from Iraq or did it on one leg.

Occasionally, you'll get a race director with a bad attitude (a recent issue in Dallas with an RD who I guess was having a PMS day). She was too stupid to know that I do consulting for one of her major sponsors and yes they heard about it.

After Boston one year, I stopped John Hancock chief David D'Alessandro to thank him for their sponsorship. He just looked at me like no one ever had done that before. To me though, its a no-brainer.

Maybe the fact that this is even discussed shows what complete group of idiots this sport attracts. Come to think of it I can count on one hand the times someone has thanked me for inviting them to a race or meet where I serve as director.

I agree 100% with the above post. This is why we love the Hanson's.

JT 20k wrote:

Not true here. In fact it is the exact opposite for me.

I am the elite coord for the 20k usatf championship.

I get many thank you cards every year.

I enjoy seeing all of them each year.

_________________________________________

JT20k,

You apparently are doing something additional or different than any other posted. Can you elaborate?

Why do you get positive and "many" thank you cards?

Just curious

I used to thank RD's for inviting me and comping me at races. That didn't stop them from NOT inviting me once my times got slower.

It's a business transaction. Politeness is bonus but not required.

Hansons rock wrote:

I agree 100% with the above post. This is why we love the Hanson's.

_______________________________________

What does any of that have to do with the Hansons?

Why did they lose so many runners?

Why do they have so many rules ( must be awake 4 hrs. before race. No dating within group etc.)?

It seems their program has downsized. True?

Why do I see so many average runners wearing their singlets? Can anyone buy them?

i have been road whoring since i graduated college in '04 and would categorize myself as "sub-elite". i am always very grateful to the race directors that comp entries, give accommodations, and/or travel (rarely). i try to say "thank you" face-to-face after races, although some rds i never meet in person or are difficult to locate.

as i've gotten older and been the elite coordinator for a decent size race (volunteering my time), i've made even more of an effort to seek out the people that made it possible for me to be at the race (elite coord; rd). getting paid to do what you love (however small or large the amt.) is an exceptional gift.

as a general rule, elites should always be at the awards ceremony (barring sickness, travel conflicts, etc.).

thanks. this was put well

Former Group Member wrote:

This was a huge issue when I ran with the team. Our coach wanted us to thank everyone involved with the race. We very rarely did. We were trying to get better as runners, we are not there to make friends. If an RD needs someone to kiss their ass then I would rather go to another race.

I recently left a group over this exact reason.

Why do Houston and Boston and New York fight over hosting US Championship races? Because our presence is good for the race. The race should be thanking the runners and not the other way around. The runners should RUN.

Since when does thanking someone amount to kissing his ass? And how does thanking the RD and devoting a little time to helping promote the race or the sport take away from your training? I'm sure there are guys who work full time jobs who run faster than you do.

Professional athletes in every sport are asked to give back to the sport and the community. Why do you think golfers put on free clinics at tournaments, etc...

Get over yourself dude.

teddy? I've had a similar interaction...

Dallas RD wrote:

What does any of that have to do with the Hansons?

I have no idea of the inner workings Hanson's. All I can speak to is the topic at hand. They come into our city and speak at the expo and show up to the local running store and are always present at our pasta dinner and thank the Race Director and nearly all of our staff. They also send a thank you note and baked goods the week after our race. We have had them in town several times and it is always the same. Our sponsors dinner is the week following the event and every year they ask about the Hansons returning the next year.

I found this important to mention when everyone seems to think that the elite runners are not willing to do all these things, the Hanson's are.

At XC Nats last week only two of the elite athletes from the podium turned up at the USATF Awards ceremony at the hotel. That includes athletes from both open races and both junior races.

Yet, I saw several of the elites a short while later in that same hotel's bar.

I just found that a little bit wrong.

Mister Reality Check wrote:

At XC Nats last week only two of the elite athletes from the podium turned up at the USATF Awards ceremony at the hotel. That includes athletes from both open races and both junior races.

Yet, I saw several of the elites a short while later in that same hotel's bar.

I just found that a little bit wrong.

Who were the athlees that showed? Give us someone to respect.

Interesting thread. Just reading these responses makes it easy to see the problems.

You are all a bunch of whining pussies!

At the L.A. Marathon for the last six or seven years, I have worked with Bill Orr, who is the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the race (as well as quite a few others, too).

Many, many elites come to us and thank us for our time and efforts. Most of these are Kenyans and Ethiopians, although the U.S. athletes do as well.

Maybe it is just our race, but my experience is that the elite are humble and appreciative. They seem to understand what we do and that we are working for them to make the race great.

Greg Hill wrote:

At the L.A. Marathon for the last six or seven years, I have worked with Bill Orr, who is the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the race (as well as quite a few others, too).

Many, many elites come to us and thank us for our time and efforts. Most of these are Kenyans and Ethiopians, although the U.S. athletes do as well.

Maybe it is just our race, but my experience is that the elite are humble and appreciative. They seem to understand what we do and that we are working for them to make the race great.

_________________________

That's another problem with this sport. A guy like Orr get's 5 or 6 g's to be an elite coordinator for a race, when the rest of them do it for free, and just as good.

As an elite athlete who travels quite frequently to races all over the country and have for the past 7-8 years (post collegiate). I ALWAYS write a thank you note. Sometimes it is an email, but why wouldn't you? The elite coordinator or race director brought you in for the race--paid travel and hotel expenses, provided meals or gave meal money and typically had a well stocked hosptality suite full of amenities and people all wanting to help you with anything you need, they deserve a thank you for all of that and for all of their hard work. It is respectful! For all of you who are trying to get into the racing circuit and get assistance--honesty, thankfulness and responsibility go a LONG way in getting help! When I first started traveling to races, there was NO reason for the races to give me much assistance. However, I found that my attitude and how hard I tried in each race went a long way in gaining respect of the elite coordinators and thus giving myself more opportunities to get assistance.