Supporting running in the metro Richmond area
Capital 10 miler
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Ed Carmines on -
I think the club needs to decide what it wants to be. As one of the largest running clubs in the US, we have the manpower to put on an event like this. The number of volunteers needed for this race is less than the Patrick Henry Half. Most of the volunteers go to the water stops. This can be managed by getting volunteer groups to do it rather than club members. This is the Sports Backers model. I believe there is a real opportunity for a 10 mile race in Richmond. The SB can't do it in the Fall because of marathon and PH Half. Their plate is full. The people that chose to run a 10 miler should be the same as a half marathon. There clearly is a market. When designing a race, you have to give people a reason to run it. The course needs to be good, the venue pleasant, the race give aways (shirts, awards, medals) desirable and the price right. I thought the Capitol 10M met these requirements. What we did not get was support of SB and the city. A recommendation by SB to the training teams could have filled the race. Getting support of the city required a skill set and connections that the club did not have. Bill Kelly was able to get the Governor and first lady last year and this had the potential to open doors. A race like this needs an advertizing budget and community support. Richmond is a great running town and lucky to have RRRC and SB. When one looks at race opportunities, the only thing missing in our line up was a 10 miler.
-
Permalink Reply by b white on -
1. I think the club needs to decide what it wants to be.
2. A race like this needs an advertizing budget and community support.
I agree and the two go hand in hand......I guess I fall into the category favoring a "runner's" club over a race promotion/public relations club. You can of course be both.
-
Permalink Reply by Jay Humphries on -
Ed-
I agree. Sorry to see the Capitol 10 miler go away. I really enjoyed the race and it fit really well with training for PH/Rock and Roll/Richmond Half and Full.
-
Permalink Reply by Ed Carmines on
-
I agree. When I originally came up with the concept of the race, it was one for runners. Not an event. The goal was to put on a quality race that met the needs of the running community. We did not position the race for the Monument Ave crowd.
Since leaving Richmond, I have been associated with two different large running clubs. Neither comes any where close to quality and camaraderie that RRRC offers. You don't realize how good things are until you leave......
-
Permalink Reply by Nigel Bavin on -
The thing i find really funny is that more people have looked at this post than actually ran it last year, which would indicate a desire for it if all those stepped up & did the race as in the first year.
-
Permalink Reply by Hervey Sherd on -
I couldn't run it last year, but I did the 2 years before and loved it. Nigel I agree with you and actually joked with the ex Pres that was I the one who got it cancelled because I was out of town that weekend :)
I liked the race as a GP race since I hate running in the freezing cold LMAO and this was one NOT in the Winter ;)
-
Permalink Reply by Chip Free on -
Late to the party here, but would like to add one other perspective - aging up of kids, who start to get fall sports commitments. I ran this the first 2 years and liked it. Last year, I could not do a fall Saturday race (or any fall race, really) due to kids sports commitments. I know it doesn't explain all of the fall-off, but that's my excuse. I kinda like Sunday races in spring and fall for that very reason, though then you're also dealing with churchgoers and their priorities. (As a Catholic, I have options.)
Still, this was a fun event, and I liked the course either time. Yes, even the hill at mile 9. The route's a good one. Finding the right time for it may be the challenge.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Hearn on -
I have to agree with Ed about RRRC, here in Lexington we have 145 members of the BLUEgrass Runners. As the 60th largest city in the country and the home of the University of Kentucky (along with numerous other colleges within a 30 mile radius) there is the population to support a larger club. So far the efforts to put in place a Sportsbackers type group have faltered.
My experience is that 10 mile races seem to be hard to keep alive. Over the years I did a number of them, some very well run that vaporized (i.e. Waterman's) and the only one that has managed to stay around is Hartwood.
If 10 miles is the magic distance, just add .7 to the Frostbite race and you are all set.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2013 Created by Richmond Road Runners.
