USATF NE LDR held a meeting earlier this week in order to
decide the process for this year’s Grand Prix selection. An invitation was sent
to “member(s) of a club that scored, or as an individual scorer not on one of
those teams, in the 2015…Grand Prix”. I got the invitation third hand as it was
only sent to the CMS women’s team manager who could not attend. Since no one
from CMS could attend I volunteered to make the 40 mile drive to the meeting. I
was surprised to see that although 43 teams were
represented in the GP only 21 of those teams were
actually sent an invitation. Of the 21 teams only 11 teams sent
representatives, perhaps the logistics of coming to Brandeis on a Monday night
hurt attendance? Anyway, the main goal of the meeting was to decide the process
for the GP selection. It seemed that there was a lot of talk about “slates”
which felt like a step backwards after the success of the open voting last
year. After much discussion it appeared that a consensus was reached that the
open voting would be used after the restrictions on “conflicts” be loosened. It
did make some sense to not allow back-to-back races especially with the longer
distances. However the 3 weeks BEFORE or after the marathon seemed excessive
(really why wouldn’t you want to race a couple of weeks before the marathon?).
With the “conflicts” left as they were last year there would be very few choices
to make if you selected a spring marathon. The loosening of the restriction was
accepted and the ballots should be coming out in the next week or two.
The new restrictions:
· No event of
15k or over can be selected if within 15 days prior to a marathon; no event can
be selected within 15 days after a marathon.
· No event can
be selected if within 13 days prior to or following an event 12k-‐30k
· No event can
be selected if within 7 days prior to or following any event 10k or shorter
Prior to the actual ballot coming out, it makes sense to
do some research and start thinking about what races you’d like to see in the
GP. I’ve listed below the bids along with the website and a couple of my
notes.
Marathon
Vermont city
(05-29-16): http://www.vermontcitymarathon.org/
Well organized website, easy to locate registration info,
race weekend info, past results, etc. Excellent race well managed, great
support from crowds and volunteers, bonus: rough section of bike path is being
re-paved this year.
Entry fee = $99/$99
Manchester city
(11-06-16): http://manchestercitymarathon.com/
Also a very good website with all useful information via
dropdown menus. Corrected the course markings from 2014, the 2015 course had
every turn marked with signs, arrows, and painted directions on the road.
Entry fee = $80/$90
5k
An
Ras Mor (03-06-16): http://www.srr.org/anrasmor/
Website is simple, easy to view all info. Fast “city”
course.
Entry fee = $30/$40
Bedford Rotary
(05-21-16): http://bedfordrotaryraces.com/
2016 information not on the website, no information on
prize money or entry fees. Slightly rolling course, the 12k event held the same
day has often been part of the Grand Prix.
Entry fee = $25/$40
Hollis fast five
(06-09-16): http://www.hollisfast5k.com/
2016 info is up on the website but records not updated to
include 2015 (which impacts who gets a free
entry). Thursday night race, but a very very fast course.
Entry fee = $25/$35
Canton 5k (10-02-16):
http://www.cantonroadrace.org/
Website not updated for 2016 info. I get errors when
trying to load the page and past results won’t load. I have no experience with
this race.
Entry fee = $25/$30
5m
Ribfest (06-19-16): http://www.millenniumrunning.com/ribfest5
2016 info is up but couldn’t find anything about prize
money. Website causes my browser to crash, especially when trying to check out
past results. This was a GP race in 2014, well managed, closed course (boring
un-scenic out/back). Long walk from parking to start, but plenty of
parking.
Entry fee = $30/$35
Bobby Doyle (08-14-16):
http://www.bobbydoyleraces.com/
Website not updated for 2016. Part of the GP in 2015,
potentially fast course, somewhat narrow start with an early turn. Well
managed.
Entry fee = $24/$34
End of Summer Classic
(08-26-16): http://endofsummerclassic.com/
Website not updated for 2016. I have no experience with
this race.
Entry fee = $35/$40
10k
Newton 10k (06-05-16):
http://www.fattmanproductions.com/cork10kRaceInfo.html
Website not updated for 2016, very little information
available about the race. This was a GP race once. Parking was a major issue
that year. Course is excellent and race management was very good.
Entry fee = $30/$35
Lone Gull (09-25-16)
10k: http://cccbsd.org/news-events/lone-gull-10k/
Website not updated for 2016. This has been a series
favorite, well run in 2015 although seriously lacking porta-johns and poor
communication at the starting line.
Entry fee = $30/$35
Canton 10k (10-02-16):
http://www.cantonroadrace.org/
Website not updated for 2016 info. I get errors when
trying to load the page and past results won’t load. I have no recent
experience with this race.
Entry fee = $25/$30
Other distances (pick 3, but
only one at any given distance)
12k
Bedford Rotary
(05-21-16): http://bedfordrotaryraces.com/
No 2016 information on the website, no information on
prize money or entry fees. Classic race, always well run, many time member of
the series.
Entry fee = $25/$40
10m
5
College Realtors (02-28-16): http://www.fivecollegerealtors10miler.com/
2016 info on the website. This race has a long history in
the Grand Prix, typically very well run. Potential for really lousy weather
always exists and the “dirt road” section of the course can be treacherous (at
best).
Entry fee = $45/$45
NH
10m (08-27-16): http://www.millenniumrunning.com/newhampshire10
2016 info is up but couldn’t find anything about prize
money. Website causes my browser to crash, especially when trying to check out
past results. Tough course but very scenic.
Entry fee = $40/$45
20k
Seasons (09-11-16): http://onyourmarxracing.com/seasons/event-info.html
No 2016 information on the website. Part of the Grand
Prix in 2015, great challenging course.
Entry fee = $55/$65
½ marathon
Middlebury Maple run
(05-01-16): http://middleburymaplerun.com/race-info/
2016 information is on the website but no prize money
information. I ran this race a couple of years ago and loved it. Scenic,
plenty of parking, well managed.
Entry fee = $40/$60
New Bedford (03-20-16):
http://newbedfordhalfmarathon.com/
2016 information including prize money is on the website.
This race has been in the Grand Prix many times. Excellent race, course
management, etc., terrible post race food.
Entry fee = $55
New England Half
(10-23-15) http://www.millenniumrunning.com/ne-half
2016 info is up but couldn’t find anything about prize
money. Website causes my browser to crash, especially when trying to check out
past results. Point-to-Point course so logistics could be a little more
complicated.
Entry fee = $65/$75
1 comment:
Man are you right about the New Bedford food. I'd prefer a MacDonald's fishwich to that thing they hand out. Otherwise such a well-done race, too. And they feature the food on the website as one of the good things about the race!
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