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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 26, 2008 17:07:09 GMT -5
Entry fees have not yet been established, but I assure you the kids runs (26.2 meters, 262 meters and the open run, for all ages and abilities, of 2.62 miles OR 2.62K ) will be very affordable and family-friendly.
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Post by bevj on Jun 26, 2008 19:34:16 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity, since this marathon is in April as is the Great Escape 5k, will there be a date conflict and/or would the marathon draw away from the 5k field?
I'm sure you've already discussed this, but again, I'm just asking out of curiosity.
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 26, 2008 20:05:22 GMT -5
While it's true the Great Escape and the marathon, with associated events, are currently scheduled to be held on the same weekend in 2009, that event drew 73 runners this year, and most of those were "hyper-local" and few who would be forced to make the choice between a 3.1-miler and a 26.2-miler.
Great Escape officials have every opportunity to move the race to a different weekend or, as they have every right to do, keep it the same weekend. If it's on the same weekend, so be it - it'll be a great weekend for running in Allegany County.
The Great Escape is typically held on a Saturday. The marathon is to be on a Sunday. Shoot, if on the same weekend, our open event (2.62K or 2.62M) might benefit from a few people who hadn't heard of it yet by that Saturday morning. So it's a win-win.
I would prefer, and may even approach the board to request the consideration of the possibility, that QCS look at moving that race to one week later. But I don't think it could possibly have a negative impact if QCS chooses to keep it on the Saturday before Boston.
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Post by gdbrown on Jun 26, 2008 23:04:06 GMT -5
Just a few comments - KSpradlin mentioned the RRCA Club Challenge on a previous post - At one time (early to mid 1980s) the RRCA Club Challenge 10-miler in Columbia was something that many QC Striders of old looked forward to...we typically placed 2nd or 3rd in the team standings. We were always solid up through runners 11-12 (at the time 15 were scored), but because our club was small in comparison to other clubs throughout the state we struggled to get 15 runners across the line. Dave Rinehart won it at least once (50:+). I know one year we had our top 5-6 in under 56 minutes. The Club Challenge is something for the younger Striders to consider. Also, there is a race still in the early stages of planning that is scheduled to occur on April 25th in Cumberland, so I don't think it would be reasonable to expect the Great Escape to move to that weekend. More info. will be forthcoming on this new race in the near future.
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 6:52:27 GMT -5
I knew QCS used to compete - and I would have presumed the team would have been a contender - but I'd never heard the details. Thanks for that. On short notice, I tried to get a few guys to go down with me either as a QCS team or as part of the Westminster Road Runners Club (I'm a member there, too). There were no takers.
I forgot about the Greenway Ave Stadium race people are trying to put on. Again, even if the Great Escape and marathon are on the same weekends, I really don't think it'd be a big deal.
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Post by frojoe23 on Jun 27, 2008 7:13:17 GMT -5
I like the idea of the race theme being "historic travel". If you take in the National Road up through the Narrows up 40 into Frostburg, you'll pass some historic markers and the toll house - this would be the historic auto or carriage travel part of the race, then if you come back down the GAP, you get to take in the Frostburg Depot with the roundabout, the Brush Tunnel and the bridge over the Narrows. This section would be the historic Railroad travel part, especially considering the first iron rail was made in Mount Savage. Then if you could work a small portion of the end on the Canal, this would be the historic barge travel part of the race. Hopefully, by then the Canal Boat will on the water there.
I think it is a good opportunity to showcase the heritage of travel in this area - especially when it come to transport of coal (along the National Road, the Western Maryland Railway, and the C&O Canal).
I'd like to see the race head up a little above the Depot onto the business section of Frostburg. Don't know if you could work that in, but a good opportunity to show off my hometown.
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 9:03:40 GMT -5
I'll take your thoughts, everyone, into the next meeting (the date of which I'll post here but will be later in July). Jaron, you explained better than I did the possible connection to the transportation heritage the marathon will offer, no matter the route. If we end up going to Frostburg, I think it'd be tough to throw in much more of Frosburg other than turning at Depot Street - the bottom of the switchbacks there already is about 11.6 miles and it's about 15 or so more to Canal Place (the possible/likely start & finish area). We could probably adjust the starting or something, though, perhaps to include a block loop. A definite possibility - in fact, pretty much everything is on the table right now. You're not the first person to express interest in having the marathon come through Frostburg.
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Post by Justin on Jun 27, 2008 9:46:22 GMT -5
My only reservation about having it go through Frostburg is the course will definitely deter a lot of people from coming, there's a big climb in there, so the "normal" marathoners would probably prefer a less extreme course offering. Out there right now a rolling course is considered difficult, and I can't think of many marathons on the road that has a real extreme climb. I can think of just about every trail marathon or ultra that does, but it seems the road marathon crowd is different than the ultra and trail crowd. I always thought a good 50k would be from Cumberland to the depot and back on the trail, but that's a whole other discussion.
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 10:56:33 GMT -5
Justin, one thing at a time! :-) But you're right - this area's ripe for an ultra. Next door, the WV Mountain Trail Runners are a major success, from what I hear (through zero personal experience). www.wvmtr.orgI, too, am concerned about the climb - it's a major elevation change - but I do believe that course possibility deserves, despite that potential pitfall, to be a part of the discussion as it is attached to so many benefits. Discussion threads such as this will weed out the good and bad and, in the end, have a pretty good course for runners.
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Post by burgrunner on Jun 27, 2008 12:01:28 GMT -5
Sounds like things and ideas are really starting to roll. I think that Jaron's idea of tying in the transportation heritage is a great theme. I have to agree with Justin while talking about the climb. Speaking from experience (I think Jaron will tell you the same thing) coming up National Pike from the Narrows to Frostburg is a killer. I did that as part of a long run a few years ago and it was definitely memorable! If you are going to market this race to the "non-Boston" crowd then I would assume that a more runner friendly course would help with numbers (and especially returning runners in the years to follow). Assuming that a majority of your runners cannot or have not qualified for Boston would probably mean that they are either relatively new to the marathon distance or not a particularly strong runner for that distance. Another regional race close by is the National Marathon and Half which is within a few weeks and that seems to be a good course to BQ from. Using the rail-trail is a great idea both logistically and and to give the race a rural feel. An idea may be to start the race in or near Frostburg, do a loop of the town , and the head down the trail to Cumberland. By doing this, runners would get the opportunity to see what both cities have to offer. The Allegany County Transit Authority would probably be able to help bus runners from Cumberland to the start. Just some ideas!
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 12:11:27 GMT -5
Have essentially a point-to-point course is an idea that has been discussed and, for now, set aside due to logistical issues. One of my earlier route possibilities suggested that very idea. While I believe it could be done (I thought the runners could be staged at Canal Place, then take the train to the starting line in Frostburg - talk about a draw), it also would create a number of things more to be concerned with and I'm just not sure that's doable, at least this year.
I should note, it's not up to me. The new club's board of directors will vote on the issue next month. There are positions available on the board. If interested, just show up the next meeting (date, time and location to be posted by early July).
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Post by question on Jun 27, 2008 12:53:04 GMT -5
What new club?
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 12:57:35 GMT -5
You'll see the announcement soon - I promise. It'll be in the Times-News and posted at tristaterunnur.com in the very near future.
By the way, I like the fact 2-3 posters on this thread are newly registered QCS message board users. thanks for signing up and taking the time to provide input and ask questions, folks.
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Post by gdbrown on Jun 27, 2008 15:19:29 GMT -5
The idea of a "transportation" theme is a good one. However, if I was still able to run I don't know that I would want to run a marathon from Cumberland to Frostburg and back. The original GAR was a 10 miler that traveled down 36, west on old 40, and finished at the Country Club Mall. The last 4 miles of the race were brutal, especially in the June heat. While I've run it before, I can't imagine looking forward to running old 40 the rest of the way to Frostburg. As I'm certain you're aware, the Frederick Marathon is typically held during the first weekend in May - a few weeks after the proposed date of the Cumberland/Frostburg Marathon. Will this be a conflict? A final question - As someone who has had ties to the QCSs for over 30 years, I have to ask why the need for a new running club in the area?
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Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 17:21:09 GMT -5
GDB, I'll address your issues one at a time (and the last, about why I feel a new club is needed, in a separate post).
1. The route. I haven't disagreed with anyone so far about the difficulty of one (of many) possible marathon routes which could lead straight up Alt 40 from the Narrows to Frostburg. It's one of several options on the table at this point. Discussions like this will help the club's board determine which route is best.
My opinion - also not determined. Unless things don't go as planned, I'll be leaving Canal Place Sunday at 7 a.m. and headed up to Frostburg, via Mechanic St and Alt. 40. I'll post here after (if I make it back).
2. Yes, I'm aware of the Frederick Marathon the first week of May. The Pittsburgh Marathon is scheduled for that weekend as well. I don't think it'll be a conflict; if anything, it'll give runners a choice, and choices are rarely bad things. We hope to draw just enough from certian markets to make it a quality event.
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