Tri State
Area's premier 15K could see changes in 2010
Great Allegany Run director could increase prize money, entry fees
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
LONACONING, Md., Jan. 12 -- Dave Treber, race director for the area's premier 15K (9.3-mile) road run, said Tuesday that since the event is back on a stable financial footing, he wants to try and grow the race.
In order to make that happen, Treber needs money. He asked the Queen City Striders board of directors during their monthly meeting for their feedback on the possibility of spending up to $1,000 in marketing, increasing participants' entry fees and increasing prize money.
|
The marketing outreach, he said, would get the GAR "into the minds of a lot of people."
In recent years, prize money has been awarded to the top three in the men's and women's open and masters divisions, with the top prize topping out at $250. The total purse in October 2009 was
Randy Lowe, club secretary and former elite runner of the GAR, which benefits the Cumberland YMCA, said the event is "at a fork in the road."
He said stakeholders need to decide if it's a regional event that tries to draw the best runners from the area.
"If we want it to stay that way, we're going to have to at least double the prize money," Lowe said, "or choose another" approach.
Treber said a draft version of the 2010 event entry form did not include information about a pre-race pasta dinner, traditionally held the night before the Saturday morning contest at Cumberland Holiday Inn on South George Street.
|
It's been "a drain on the finances every year," Treber said of declining participation. "We don't get a lot of people who want to hang out."
Board member Jeremy Rice asked Treber if he'd ever considered club, or team, scoring. That might increase participation, he said. Treber said his goal was to finalize plans by Feb. 28 - the date of the RRCA Club Challenge 10-miler in Columbia.
Treber said the time is now to get plans ready for the October event. This is when runners are planning their 2010 running and racing schedules and deciding if they want "the fastest 15K they'll ever run" included in their list of goals.
"It comes down to what kind of race people want it to be," Lowe said. "I think it's a great tradition" to offer prize money and attract top-flight talent.
"To me ... this is the race" to enter in the area, Lowe said.
Treber said the current entry fees, which start at $15 for the 15K, have not be increased in years. He asked the board to consider increasing the early-entry fee to $18.
"We had a good race" in 2009, Treber said. "Everything went well. Everybody really liked the technical shirts."
But the higher-end product comes at a cost, Treber said.
Email Kevin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
Board member Jeremy Rice asked Treber if he'd ever considered club, or team, scoring. That might increase participation, he said. Treber said his goal was to finalize plans by Feb. 28 - the date of the RRCA Club Challenge 10-miler in Columbia.
Treber said the time is now to get plans ready for the October event. This is when runners are planning their 2010 running and racing schedules and deciding if they want "the fastest 15K they'll ever run" included in their list of goals.
"It comes down to what kind of race people want it to be," Lowe said. "I think it's a great tradition" to offer prize money and attract top-flight talent.
"To me ... this is the race" to enter in the area, Lowe said.
Treber said the current entry fees, which start at $15 for the 15K, have not be increased in years. He asked the board to consider increasing the early-entry fee to $18.
"We had a good race" in 2009, Treber said. "Everything went well. Everybody really liked the technical shirts."
But the higher-end product comes at a cost, Treber said.
Email Kevin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.
|
|
