Competitor group's masters runner comped entry standards

While I know the R&R series has become known for being a profit driven group, I still think I side with them here. It's there race, and there's no entitlement to a comped entry.

And honestly, it may have just come across this way via email, but your tone was not very pleasant. You're essentially asking someone to give you something - it seems you should at least be nice in asking.

Solid 10 miler though.

I don't see the issue. 1:12 half doesn't seem good enough under 50, imo.

Would be nice if they were a little more accommodating to a local masters runner.

Sadly the competitor group doesn't care about local runner's. They are a massive corporate entity out to make money. I'm still pissed that they bought and changed the name from the Philly Distance Run!

They need your $120 to put Mike Rossi out there with his DJ equipment and a couple shitty bands on the course.

They cater to all the thousands of hobby joggers who want that medal and 13.1 sticker.

Yes you are wrong. The standard to be considered is 1:06 or an age graded time. Just because not many have run it means nothing. Not only are you wrong you come off looking like a tool. Because you don't meet the standards you call them stingy and have poor ratings from elite athletes. First thing is you are the one who wants something for free and not willing to do anything for it. So who is really the sting one? Second thing is they have good rating from true elites, it's the lower end elites or sub elites, like youself, that just want something for free without bring anything to the race.

Of course, races are not obligated to give out comp entries, but a 1:08 half marathon for master's is so difficult as to be unreachable by all but a few, whereas a 1:06 for open, while difficult, is considerably less difficult in that there are well over a hundred Americans alone who ran sub 1:05, and quite a few more sub 1:06 (then many more non-Americans), whereas, as he says, only 16 masters' runners did sub 1:08.

You have done the impossible. Taken competitor groups side. You aren't entitled to free entry. Get over yourself you're not that good and you aren't even close to a draw for the race. They were generous to offer you entry anywhere.

Races aren't free events and don't have to give free entry to anyone.

You call yourself mildlyfastmaster, and that's what you are. Why do you think that deserves a free race entry? What value would the race get from you being there? You expect spectators to exclaim, "Oh, wow, there's a mildly fast master! How exciting!"

Get over yourself, you're no more important to the race than the guy who runs a 1:19.

why you think they are obligated to comp anyone is beyond me. the fact that their standard is high/low (depending on perspective) enough to qualify 16 people is completely up to them. does every race comp the top 16 qualifiers? is this race--put on by a for profit organization--going to lose anything if you don't participate?

by the way, as an example: i did NOT get comped at last year's 1/2 marathon national championships in san diego despite the fact that i am a pretty good masters runner on the national scene. they set a standard that i had not reached that year. i could have bitched about it, but instead won my age group (thereby breaking even on the race) and got comped this year.

my advice--and i'll probably sound like an ass, but i'm just trying to elucidate the strange and sometimes seemingly arbitrary world of masters running where very few people give a $#!+: hang in there, and run faster...

I've been 88% and it never occurred to me that anyone owes me anything. Is this a Gen X thing?

8.8/10

Yes you are wrong.

I have never asked to be comped, even to races where I was the previous year's winner. Your asking for a comp isn't wrong. You never know if you don't ask.

Your response is wrong. Complaining about the standard as not fair is bush league.

Just my opinion as a reasonably fast master.

Very nice. Consider yourself comped for any further posts.

HardLoper wrote:

8.8/10

They should have comped your entry and would have a few years ago. Their standards have gotten tougher and tougher and the perks less and less. A friend of mine was offered a comped entry, met the standards, but wasn't allowed to use the elite amenities (like the restroom). It's quite ridiculous but I suppose they don't have to care since middle and back of the packers are their profit makers.

I avoid Competitor races like the plague.

+1 don't get mad OP, get better.

Brian,

You suck. Your level of entitlement is incredible. Insane! People are not biased against you. Just the fact that masters and "age grade" exists is something that you should be grateful for.

Do you think age grade exists in nature? While hunting a dear, does it slow its run depending on your age? Get over yourself.

I have worked with the Competitor Group as an agent and they are beyond generous for elite runners and go above and beyond supporting our runners and sport.

Listen, 54:00 for a 10-Mile as a Master is a solid performance, but it is not worthy of a comp entry at most races. Take a look at a guy like Sean Wade, who at 50, can be competitive with the young guns.. or a Kevin Castille, etc.

Keep training hard. Hopefully you can get well below 1:10 for a Half Marathon in the next couple of years, which is a pretty solid milestone for a good Masters runner.

Also, it is my opinion that Age Grading is a complete joke and should never be referenced. Take it from a guy that ran 15:04/31:40 as a 40-year old.

The tone of my email was cordial until I figured out that besides not comping my entry they are not willing to comp any master's entries unless your Meb or Kevin Castille. Like I said above the standards are discriminatory toward master's athletes only. If the standard was reasonably comparable to any other big race then it would have been fine. I would have said, ok I'm not fast enough but at least a few other guys will get in. As a race organizer, why put up any prize money if you're not going to attempt at making it a competitive race?

This race used to be about the competition. It was built up as a competitive race. That's how it got started and grew so well. Its arguably the fastest record eligible half marathon in the US. Deena set the masters record there two years ago. It draws a ton of competition. The competitor group has turned it into a 13.1 mile carnival with live music, inflatable rock stars, and skee ball along the route. I don't have a problem paying race fees. When I emailed race organizers for a seeded bib in the last two major races that I ran (philly marathon and Broad street) I offered to pay for the bib even before they comped it. In both of these races the benefactor is Philadelphia parks and rec. Competitor group is changing the way these events are held for the worse and if no one speaks up its gonna get worse. Competition still drives this race at the front end and I believe that masters athletes specifically should be catered to a little more.

kjc wrote:

I have worked with the Competitor Group as an agent and they are beyond generous for elite runners and go above and beyond supporting our runners and sport.

You "have" worked. Do you currently work with Competitor Group? They have changed. I disagree with you that a 54:00 for a Masters runner would not get a comped entry at most races. The equivalency would give him a comped entry at the Philadelphia Marathon, Shamrock races, Twin Cities, (Elite Development at Chicago) and quite a few others.