September 2006 Issue 281 Race Organizers Remove IN THE NEWS Army Ten Miler Gets Tough on Reinstated Drug Offender from Headphones Philadelphia Distance Run Going a step further than other races, which have stated headphones By Phil Stewart are not welcome in their events but have done little to enforce the policy, ll of the talk about zero tolerance for drug cheats, even those who have the Army Ten Miler in Washington, DC served their suspensions, turned to action at the Jefferson Hospital plans to conduct stepped up screening Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon on Sept. 17th, when race A as runners line up for the Oct. 8 event. officials removed Asmae Leghzaoui from the course near the three-mile mark. “Because this is the Army’s race and The Moroccan distance star, who has owned world road bests at 8K, 10K and it is staged at the Pentagon, ATM is 12K, is no newcomer to controversy. She received a two-year ban for a positive rHuEPO test at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country championships, and last subject to high security measures . .” spring she ignited a storm of protest after being invited to the Freihofer’s Run for Heart rate monitors and hands-free Women 5K shortly after the completion of her ban. Several athletes withdrew hydration systems will not be allowed, from the event, citing what they felt was a cover-up of the positive test. and runners are being told not to run At Philadelphia, according to reports, she asked for elite athlete status from with “keys, loose change, or other Mike Long, the elite athlete coordinator of the Elite Racing event, and was turned noise-making accessories.” The down. She subsequently entered on-line, paying the $40 entry free on her own, organizers point out that plenty of and showed up at the starting line. According to sources, she was offered her water will be available on the course. $40 back and refused. After passing two miles in 9:55, she encountered a motorcycle with a photographer aboard and was told to get off the course. She IAAF Disallows Gebrselassie's 25K complied with the order. World Record In a time of heightened activity on the part of both athletes and event organizers Haile Gebrselassie’s 25K time of to get tough on drug cheats, the episode raised questions about the rights of banned 1:11:37 generated considerable athletes to resume competition after serving their suspensions. A number of posts debate about the use of pacers, but in on Let’s Run, a popular runner’s chat room, were supportive of Elite Racing’s the end the IAAF disallowed the record position. “Way to go Mike and staff...say NO to drug cheats!,” wrote one because there was no drug testing for individual, while another stated, “Way to take a stand! This is huge news, and the EPO after the event. “We are very elites that ran here at Philly really appreciated the efforts by Mike and his staff.” specific. Any record from 100m to The five World Marathon Majors events have stated that they will bar any athletes 100km must have been tested for from participating in their events who have received bans of over 6 months. EPO,’’ Pierre Weiss, the IAAF’s general Interestingly, Shaun Hellebuyck, wife of Eddy Hellebuyck, who will finish his secretary, was quoted as saying by two year ban this fall, told RRM, “I would never impose an athlete on an event that the official Xinhua News Agency. “This Athlete Removal Continued on Page 8 has been the case for two years now, INSIDESurvey Continued on Page 3 but it seems that not all the laboratories Commentary: Are Event Directors Charging Enough? know about it.” Survey: Who Are the Sponsors of U.S. Road Races? The Business Page: New Balance Immortalized by Monopoly www.rrm.com RRM, September 2006 Page 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher GUEST C OMMENTARY The Things We Think and Do Not Say least charge prices close to market value? The reselling of bib numbers shows that (The Future of Our Business)* if the road races won't make the market happen, then the runners themselves By Sean Ryan will. The exploding participation in triathlons recent New York Times article When bib numbers are being sold on provides an interesting comparison. Ahighlighted the practice of runners Ebay at three or four times face value, Admittedly, triathletes boast a higher re-selling race bibs for mega-events it reveals that the market value of those average income than the typical marathon (Chicago, New York, etc.) at much bibs is much higher than whatever price runner. But I still find it unsettling that it inflated prices. While the article focused the race organizers are wiling to charge. can cost $450 to participate in an Ironman primarily on how certain races are Rather than seeing the opportunity for and only $95 to run the Boston Marathon. addressing the issue, I was more upward movement in registration fees, In my opinion, most race directors— fascinated with the aspect of the "grossly however, some race directors will obsess and certainly running clubs—have what I inflated prices." Here's why... about the need for better transfer control/ call "a paternalistic runner's mindset." In the short three years that I have prevention measures. Instead of They feel a sense of duty to keep been in this industry, several things have wondering about whether it's time to registration fees at "affordable family become apparent. While overall demand double entry fees, their boards will levels" because of their roots as runners for road races may be slowing, demand strategize about how to find the and advocates for the sport. When certain for entry to certain races continues to offenders who resell their entries and professional road race management soar. And while these marquee events ban them for life. companies suggest that registration fees sell out consistently, their entry fees It seems ironic that road race directors should be priced at market levels, it is have moved up quite slowly. Registration can boast about the above average often viewed by the rest of the road fees for several of these events have income of their participants when talking racing establishment as blasphemy, as hovered at just below $100 for some with a sponsor, and minutes later fret capitalistic mentality at its worst. time. These events and their fees set the about "gouging runners" with a $10 So how is it possible for prices to market and create an artificial ceiling for price increase. Why is our industry remain artificially low? It is made possible the rest of the road races in the country. ashamed to charge market value, or at through the efforts of the people that work in the industry who settle for exceedingly low levels of income relative to the effort and expertise they provide. It is made possible by volunteers who Road Race Management Newsletter is published monthly at 4904 Glen Cove work through the night for no pay so that Pkwy., Bethesda, MD 20816. Copyright 2006 by Road Race Management, Inc. a local charity can be a few thousand No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. ISSN: 0739-3784. Phone: 301-320-6865. Fax: 301- dollars richer after the weekend. It is 320-9164. E-Mail: [email protected] made possible by the blood, sweat and tears of the race directors and sadly Editor and Publisher Administrative Assistant/Circulation enough, their families, who settle for Phil Stewart Beth Rosenthal peanuts and very little praise because Managing Editor Marketing Consultant they remain above all else passionate Pam Balcke Darman & Associates about road racing. And where does all Contributing Writers this extra value go in the end? It goes to Jim Ferstle, Jim Gerweck, Jim Hage, Dave Kayser, a seller on Ebay. Claudia Piepenburg, Sean Ryan, and Mark Winitz Note: The article title was borrowed The views expressed in Road Race Management Newsletter may not reflect the viewpoint of Road Race Management, Inc. from the film Jerry McGuire. Sean Ryan is the Director of the www.rrm.com Cellcom Green Bay Marathon. Page 2 RRM, September 2006 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher GUEST C OMMENTARY A Call to Action on Drug Testing By Larry Rawson gent Brendan Reilly, his voice race director of Austin’s marathon, in detail. “I think there is definitely more Aintense and firm, echoed the experienced what the problem may be. testing in track and field than in road sentiments of many of the sport’s clean “Two weeks before my race in 2004, I racing. It’s the biggest hole in the sport athletes: “It’s time to start rigorous announced I would have drug testing. and it really needs to be addressed now.” testing in prize money races. Testing for Within days, I had calls from the agents of At the 2005 USATF convention, EPO use should be mandatory, as well as three Russian women who had committed Women’s LDR Chair Elizabeth Phillips, for athletes in the masters’ division. to run. They told me they were all canceling after hearing several elite athletes at Until we do this, we will be viewed as out because they were injured. I decided I their meeting complain about the lack of track and field’s bastard stepchild.” would track when their next prize-money testing in road races, again brought up the Winking at the problem is no longer a races were.