Post by kevinspradlin on Jun 27, 2008 17:49:39 GMT -5
There are several reasons why I feel a new running club is needed to serve Allegany County and the surrounding areas. I'll be happy to address anything you like personally, in detail. I can be reached at 240-522-0276. But, in writing:
1. After my first 3 months in Allegany County, I thought the QCS was pretty much worthless. It's now been nearly 9 months, and I realize my first impression was absolutely wrong. QCS serves a purpose. However, there are a number of issues I have with QCS, its leadership (as a group, no particular individual) and the way it conducts business (or lack thereof).
2. Fees. I've heard so many times in 9 months that we live in an economically depressed region of the state, I'm afraid to look at my checkbook (really, I am, but that's another story). Why, then, do we pay as much in entry fees and more than the state average in club membership fees? Whether a student, adult or family, we pay more per person than most every club west or north of Montgomery County (I contacted every club from HoCo, FredCo, WashCo, MontCo and CarCo. QCS is higher than most every single one. I've got the numbers around here somewhere to prove it). Why? And entry fees are another issue. I understand some races are for a cause - scholarships, for example. I believe in that, attested by the fact that the marathon is to benefit the County United Way. But does EVERY race have to benefit something? Why not just show up and race? If that would happen, perhaps the entry fee could be significally lowered - by up to two-thirds. Several runners have agreed with me on this point, to varying degrees of passion.
3. Cooperation. On Feb. 27 this year, I posted on this message board - qcstriders.proboards102.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=449 - about a new, low-key race and asked why there were more than 3 months between Snowflake and the Great Escape. I thought (and think) there was a void. So on the 27th I suggested a new race. One person expressed interest and, by March 2, most of the general details were in place for a new 10K race five weeks later on Mason Road - low-key, $3 per person.. When I tried to get QCS sponsorship (meaning club insurance), I wasn't met with open arms. At least, that was my approach. I was asked to attend the next board meeting but it was (and always are) on Tuesday nights (when I have to work). Plus, the date of the board meeting also shortened the time I had (already little enough) to promote the race. I didn't attend the board meeting (had to work). Instead, I immediately called my old friends at the Westminster Road Runners Club. Within 24 hours, I had permission to do the race under that club's RRCA insurance - and keep within the spirit and the letter of the rules and regulations set down by RRCA.
4. Common sense. Once the entry form was drawn up, I had a part of a sentence in the waiver releasing liability from "individual members of the QCS." The entry form was put on tristaterunner.com and QCS website. In a very short amount of time, any mention or link of the new 10K was removed from QCS site but not tristaterunner.com. I learned soon enough one board member was upset that no vote had been taken to put the information online (I simply can't believe EVERYTHING is voted on to that smallest detail) and was upset that the waiver mentioned anything of QCS. Yes, I took that personally. I think many would in my position. I thought it was pretty silly to have a race in Cumberland and not have the QCS involved. I was doing my best to give a little bit of "goodwill" by including mentioning members of the club were instrumental in helping. I was stunned by the response I got by one or more people. Funny enough, I'm confident (but could be wrong) that no vote was taken to REMOVE any mention of the new 10K from the QCS site. Now, how'd that happen?
5. What's best for runners. Folks - GDB - that was just dumb, in my opinion. I would LOVE to attend QCS board meetings. Yes, I'm that much of a geek. But I usually have to work Tuesdaynights covering the BOE for the paper. It's my job. I have to do that July 8, too. The thing is, what happened in that situation was clearly not in the best interest of runners. I've tried to be supportive of QCS efforts - having submitted short write-ups to the times-news sports department after most races and several out-of-town races in which QCS members compete. I guess that contribution, which I'll admit was not asked for, was overlooked or hardly mattered.
6. A new club, with a new focus on what's best for the runners, is what is best, I feel. And there are agroup of people willing, thankfully, to be a part of it. That doesn't exclude QCS from anything - we're not in there way. But we do and will operate independently of the QCS and its leadership. I've met many QCS members - they're a class act and a great group of people to run with. Jaron and the gang (Jeremy, Dave, Rob, Luke, Dan, Jordan, etc.) have embraced an no-talent runner like myself and treated me as an equal when it comes to meeting up for runs. We rarely run together; but starting and finishing in the same place has reallyl helped me. I've run through the winter months for the first time in my life and feel eager to shoot for my 10-miler goal time this October, knowing I have the strength and, if necessary, guidance from local runners who happen to be QCS runners.
At the same time, I've had no less than two key QCS members virtually ignore me at local races where I've been trying to help. Oh well.
7. In short - this new club and 6 of its 7 (New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, April 4 10K and 4 events on marathon weekend) events scheduled for 2009 will be low-cost, responsive to the needs of the running community and convenient while providing safe competitive opportunities for athletes in our region.
I hope the conversation continues - it's encouraging to see people interested and taling about running, whether we agree or not.
1. After my first 3 months in Allegany County, I thought the QCS was pretty much worthless. It's now been nearly 9 months, and I realize my first impression was absolutely wrong. QCS serves a purpose. However, there are a number of issues I have with QCS, its leadership (as a group, no particular individual) and the way it conducts business (or lack thereof).
2. Fees. I've heard so many times in 9 months that we live in an economically depressed region of the state, I'm afraid to look at my checkbook (really, I am, but that's another story). Why, then, do we pay as much in entry fees and more than the state average in club membership fees? Whether a student, adult or family, we pay more per person than most every club west or north of Montgomery County (I contacted every club from HoCo, FredCo, WashCo, MontCo and CarCo. QCS is higher than most every single one. I've got the numbers around here somewhere to prove it). Why? And entry fees are another issue. I understand some races are for a cause - scholarships, for example. I believe in that, attested by the fact that the marathon is to benefit the County United Way. But does EVERY race have to benefit something? Why not just show up and race? If that would happen, perhaps the entry fee could be significally lowered - by up to two-thirds. Several runners have agreed with me on this point, to varying degrees of passion.
3. Cooperation. On Feb. 27 this year, I posted on this message board - qcstriders.proboards102.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=449 - about a new, low-key race and asked why there were more than 3 months between Snowflake and the Great Escape. I thought (and think) there was a void. So on the 27th I suggested a new race. One person expressed interest and, by March 2, most of the general details were in place for a new 10K race five weeks later on Mason Road - low-key, $3 per person.. When I tried to get QCS sponsorship (meaning club insurance), I wasn't met with open arms. At least, that was my approach. I was asked to attend the next board meeting but it was (and always are) on Tuesday nights (when I have to work). Plus, the date of the board meeting also shortened the time I had (already little enough) to promote the race. I didn't attend the board meeting (had to work). Instead, I immediately called my old friends at the Westminster Road Runners Club. Within 24 hours, I had permission to do the race under that club's RRCA insurance - and keep within the spirit and the letter of the rules and regulations set down by RRCA.
4. Common sense. Once the entry form was drawn up, I had a part of a sentence in the waiver releasing liability from "individual members of the QCS." The entry form was put on tristaterunner.com and QCS website. In a very short amount of time, any mention or link of the new 10K was removed from QCS site but not tristaterunner.com. I learned soon enough one board member was upset that no vote had been taken to put the information online (I simply can't believe EVERYTHING is voted on to that smallest detail) and was upset that the waiver mentioned anything of QCS. Yes, I took that personally. I think many would in my position. I thought it was pretty silly to have a race in Cumberland and not have the QCS involved. I was doing my best to give a little bit of "goodwill" by including mentioning members of the club were instrumental in helping. I was stunned by the response I got by one or more people. Funny enough, I'm confident (but could be wrong) that no vote was taken to REMOVE any mention of the new 10K from the QCS site. Now, how'd that happen?
5. What's best for runners. Folks - GDB - that was just dumb, in my opinion. I would LOVE to attend QCS board meetings. Yes, I'm that much of a geek. But I usually have to work Tuesdaynights covering the BOE for the paper. It's my job. I have to do that July 8, too. The thing is, what happened in that situation was clearly not in the best interest of runners. I've tried to be supportive of QCS efforts - having submitted short write-ups to the times-news sports department after most races and several out-of-town races in which QCS members compete. I guess that contribution, which I'll admit was not asked for, was overlooked or hardly mattered.
6. A new club, with a new focus on what's best for the runners, is what is best, I feel. And there are agroup of people willing, thankfully, to be a part of it. That doesn't exclude QCS from anything - we're not in there way. But we do and will operate independently of the QCS and its leadership. I've met many QCS members - they're a class act and a great group of people to run with. Jaron and the gang (Jeremy, Dave, Rob, Luke, Dan, Jordan, etc.) have embraced an no-talent runner like myself and treated me as an equal when it comes to meeting up for runs. We rarely run together; but starting and finishing in the same place has reallyl helped me. I've run through the winter months for the first time in my life and feel eager to shoot for my 10-miler goal time this October, knowing I have the strength and, if necessary, guidance from local runners who happen to be QCS runners.
At the same time, I've had no less than two key QCS members virtually ignore me at local races where I've been trying to help. Oh well.
7. In short - this new club and 6 of its 7 (New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, April 4 10K and 4 events on marathon weekend) events scheduled for 2009 will be low-cost, responsive to the needs of the running community and convenient while providing safe competitive opportunities for athletes in our region.
I hope the conversation continues - it's encouraging to see people interested and taling about running, whether we agree or not.