I've dedicated plenty of space on this humble blog writing about the New York Road Runners' finances and other policies. At one time or another, I've been irked by their mandatory volunteering, non-refundable application fees at races, highly paid executives at this non-profit organization, and other issues.
Today's topic is high entry fees. Recently a lot of people have complained about the hefty price for the NYC Half, but I've actually defended NYRR – albeit unenthusiastically. After all, the cost for the road closures, extra police, and other logistics for a point to point race that goes through Times Square must be hefty. After all, it's not just another 2+ lap half marathon in Central Park like Grete's or the Manhattan Half. But look what they've done with the More Marathon, which in fact is just another 2+ laps of Central Park. Last year the cost for NYRR members was $20. This year, it's a whopping $60. That's right – a 200% increase in price for a race that they turned into an untimed "fun run" last year due to the weather.
Presumably the race will sell out again, and the pragmatists will point out that just like the NYC Marathon and Half Marathon, NYRR is simply taking advantage of the demand. Still when you consider that the additional revenue will most likely be used to pay elite athlete entry fees and staff salaries rather than benefitting the members of the "club", it seems that most NYRR members would be more than a little miffed by the new pricing. Or maybe they'll use it to pay off Mother Nature so that the weather is better for this year's race.
Written by Coach CanePosted in Coach's CommentsDecember 14, 2009
The job description for the lead motorcycle rider at a marathon is probably pretty simple. Stay in front of the runners, but not so close that they're sucking on your exhaust fumes. And oh yeah -stay on the course!
Unfortunately, the rider atop the pace motorcycle at yesterday's Tucson Marathon wasn't so good at item #3. According to the Arizona Daily Star 36-year old Carlos Paradelo was leading the race by about a minute, seven miles in, when the lead motorcycle took him in the wrong direction. When he objected, he was assured they were going the right way, but was then informed about a mile later that a wrong turn had been made.
''I trained pretty hard for this for a good few months and then to know at 8 miles that it's kind of worthless …," Paradelo said, trailing off. "They were like, 'We can drive you back to the start or you can turn around,' and I was like 'either way I won't be running marathon distance.' "
Paradelo continued on the path he was on, which cut off some of the course, and ran approximately 23 miles. It was not immediately clear whether the Phoenix resident would receive any recognition for his efforts.
The wrong turn came at a section where you exit the main road for an out-and-back before returning to the main road. That the Race Director would not have marshals at such intersections and that the lead biker did not know the course boggles the mind.
