Mother Nature “Strikes” again!
Sitting here in No. Tahoe, it’s safe to say, it’s a smoker here, and wildfires suck, but life goes on. What will we do now? we’ll go running somewhere else. Perhaps the fire gods are telling me something…..to focus on the AT only.
It’s a shame all those $300 entry fees can’t be at least partially returned, but it’s understandable, that’s the way it works. I’ll go for a smoker run tomorrow to emigrant pass…just because.
We have to feel for the committee, nothing is harder than telling 400 runners we can’t run. Maybe we should all head to Silverton and run Hardrock bandit style, a day early.
Or….everyone enters the speedgoat 50k on July 26th to celebrate cheryl’s(my wife)birthday. I’ll have another beer now, it’s ok……OUCH!
Bummer indeed! In one way, you have to get prepared for everything in ultra, so it’s another lesson. And another DNx TLA to the ultra glossary: DNH for Did Not Happen.
Did Not Happen, just back home, ouch…
Let’s enjoy some great ultra company for the next two days, and keep the firefighters in our thoughts, who fight so hard to preserve our remote trails. For other runs and races…
See you,
Jean.
Farther Faster
crazy news. sad really.
Sorry, Karl, I’d be so bummed, but I think you have the right perspective.
Yes, it might be a sign. Luckily the Appalachian Trail doesn’t burn nearly as much.
KARL, TURN AROUND! Opps to late. I’m in a total state of shock, or I think I’m gonna cry! Gotta go….maybe I can get a refund on some rooms? Well, now I’ve tried to get into states 5 time! It looks like it may be when I’m in the 50 year old age group, double ouch!
Sorry, Karl, to you, all the field, the Board, etc. You, AJW, a mess of those in the mix seem to have a great attitude and empathy about it all. From the perspective of an east coast trail runner, and WS fan, I sure hope they can re-create the exact same field from this year. It looked to be one for the books.
This definitely sucks but safety has to come first. Just sucks that the first cancelled race is with the deepest field ever in the history of the race. As the entry fees cannot be refunded, seems like they could donate at least part of the money towards efforts fighting the fire or in rebuilding afterwards. Maybe everyone could run on the Placer HS track - make it a literal track meet. Kidding.
karl -
from now on when doing your race odds, put Mother Nature at 1-1.
jeff
So, what does the WS board do with the $120,000 bucks they collected? They obviously don’t want to return it. Cancelling the race may be the right thing to do but keeping 100% of the cash is not. Sounds like the board wants to buy a shiny new 40 foot boat or something. Hey WS board, if you’re gonna keep the money, at least, man up and give it to charity.
Aw, man! Sorry Karl. See you when you get back.
Sad news. Hard to believe really.
I am so sad for you all you should have an other beer on me.
Happy Birthday to Cheryl,and congratulations on her first ultra…
Norma
Thats really a bummer. I feel sorry for all of the runners and volunteers.
But Karl, you can pace me at Hardrock, if I get in
:-)) LOL
I bet that would make me 10 minutes faster then last year.
Markus
feel depressed for all the athletes. Never have done an ultra, but real interested. IM finisher 10x.
Sorry Karl…
Best wishes in August. I’ll be watching.
Aaron
The word is all runners will be rolled-over for next year. Goof for us, bad for the rest. Hardrock did the same years ago when they were shut down. That’s the fair thing.
Entry money? I won’t comment on that, I wouldn’t want to get in trouble! But partial would be a nice gesture, or at least the best thing to do would be to donate a small portion to the guys fighting the fires. Let’s hope Maine isn’t burning in 6 weeks!
Yep, we are being “rolled” next year. I think the fee might be less and you have to have your work hours again though. But we don’t have to re-qualify. I was up at Squaw today to pick up my shirt to a race I never ran!
I think they should but the pressure on the Forest Service to up the limit next year as a one time deal. What’s the harm in a few hundred more? After all it’s our land.
You gotta think. A lot of the money would have already been spent. Come on guys, let’s not go down this path. All of the aid, shirts, and other expenses were probably already purchased this close to race day (on the date they cancelled), so not sure how much would actually be left in the coffers.
Let’s just be thankful of the rollover and get on with our lives. There will always be other races and days to run.
Soderlund’s paying his mortgage, don’t kid yourselves….
Karl,
I was so sorry to hear about all of this and hope that everyone’s spirits are up, all things considered.
Give me a call when you get back to the Beehive State and I will take you up on that offer to run.
Dane
Baldy, I don’t think he’s paying his morgage. I have a close friend on the board and he say’s cost per runner is about $700-$800 dollars.
If he’s making any money on the event, good for him. Does he not have that right?
I’ll have to chime in to say, there is no way each runner costs $700-$800 bucks. Many of the people involved are volunteers. The RD should definately make some money, and a fair bit as it is very difficult and time consuming to put on a race. Why would a race director charge 300 if each runner cost 700? Just my two cents…about the amount of stuff I take off the aid tables! Maybe each runner’s expense is 700-800 (locals).
I’m pretty sure that $700 figure includes the buckles - I believe the silver buckles cost at least as as much as the entry fee, and the bronze buckles aren’t exactly cheap. Granted no buckles get awarded this year, nor any cougars (those must cost a pretty penny), but I’m sure a whole lot of unrecoverable money was spent on transportation, consumables, equipment rental, facility fees (do you think they get Squaw Valley or the High School for free?) etc. Exactly how much does it cost to put a porta-potty in the middle of nowhere for a weekend?
Some funds must come from the sale of (very reasonably priced, compared to most other events) schwag to participants and crews - that revenue is going to be way, way down. Sponsors defer much of the cost of the race - with no race, there’s not much to sell to them, so it would not surprise me if that aspect of the revenue is diminished. Their in-kind contributions are also part of the cost per runner, albeit not directly to the race organization. And even if direct sponsor $ are retained as non-refundable like the entry fees - look at the way this event is managed compared to the closed corporate infrastructure of the Ironman brand or any major marathon - it’s relatively wide open and transparent. The people on the board are participants with an interest in the health of the event and our continued access to and enjoyment of the trail (http://www.ws100.com/gallery/v/board/), not investors and their accountants and lawyers. Have you seen the video of the WS warehouse? The race organization owns a LOT of stuff, much of which was not free and needs to be maintained replaced periodically. Can’t imagine the warehouse itself is free either. For the level of organization and support offered leading up to and including race day, and the support the organization gives to the trail itself, having participated in much more expensive events with far fewer amenities and simpler logistics, I consider this event entry fee a bargain. I realize not every individual runner will extract the same tangible benefits from the tables at the aid stations, but that’s not a significant aspect of the true cost.
I don’t begrudge anyone who makes a fair wage for working to put on races, but I doubt anyone is raking it in unfairly on this particular event. Just my opinion -I don’t have any insider knowledge, nor do I have any vested interest or connection to the organization other than as a race participant, but I’m fine with the entry fee and with what is provided in return, and don’t think anyone is getting ripped off. Perhaps there will be some sort of discount for those who were shut out and that would be really great, I’m all for it, but if there’s not, I doubt it’s going straight into any individual’s pocket. If someone has any real information to the contrary, rather than speculation, innuendo, and rumor-mongering, I’m all ears.