SUDBURYROCKS!!! MARATHON
2007 Update
by Steve Matusch
Hi All!!!
Greeting from the Sudbury Rocks Marathon 2007 Committee!!!!
Firstly, I want to congratulate everybody out
there on a great running season – whether it was your
first or your fortieth! As the leaves are turning and you look
at pulling the leggings and jackets out of retirement, I’d
like to update you one some of the changes upcoming for the
Sudbury Rocks Marathon this year. It’s an ambitious set
of changes but we’re definitely on the track to make this
a very real Canadian destination race.
AGE AND GENDER GRADED STAGGERED START!!!
The Sudbury Rocks Marathon is going to become
the ONLY age and gender adjusted, staggered start race in Canada.
What does this mean???? Well, it means a lot to those runners
over 35 (like me) who are spending more and more in hair colour
– or less and less on shampoo!!!
THE SUDBURY ROCKS MARATHON 2007 IS YOUR
CHANCE TO SHOW HOW GOOD YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN!!!
World Masters Athletics publishes statistically
derived set of numbers that show you how much speed (all training
being equivalent) you naturall give up each year due to physiological
changes, and how much natural advantage males have over females.
For those of you want to see the science behind it, the data
is here: http://home.stny.rr.com/alanjones/AgeGrade.html
This year, we’ll be starting our marathon,
BASED ON THESE TIMES!! In practice, this means
we will have twenty start times – breaking up people by
gender and age, in 5 year increments.
What does this mean????
This means that an extremely fit, 55 year old
female has as much chance of breaking the tape, to the cheering
crowds, as does an equally fit 28 year old male!!! And with
out new prize structure, this means that that same 55 year old
female could bring home the grand prize!!!!
Why are we doing this? There are three reasons.
1. We started this event with the intent that
it be a really inclusive, event – encouraging participation
for all ages and all abilities. We think that the new format
really promotes the idea that fitness is a lifelong pursuit,
and not something strictly for youth.
2. We think it’s a unique idea, and we think
it makes our event stand out from all of the others out there.
It’s a way to help us build the event.
3. We all thought that is sounded like a lot of
fun!
PRIZES AND AWARDS
This year, for the first time, we will be awarding
substantial cash prizes for our winners, including a $2000 overall
first prize!!!!
LOCATION – DOWNTOWN
This year, the event will be held downtown. This
is something that we had some major debates over; the Science
North venue was great in a lot of ways. But, in going downtown,
we’re able to make the courses (all of them) a lot flatter
and faster. And the city is graciously allowing us to completely
block off a few streets downtown providing a lot of space for
exhibitors and for the course setup.
PASTA DINNER and EXPO
This year, we’ll also be having (for the
first time) a pasta dinner, the night before the event with
guest speakers – hosted by the downtown Radisson hotel.
And we’ll be having a runner’s expo – possibly
a small one, but we’re sure that a number of enthusiastic
local vendors will be happy for the opportunity to show as their
latest and greatest gear and services.
Finally.. (and
all great things come with a catch).
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Our race committee
is putting in a lot of hard work to build a great event for
the city. We’re looking for some additional volunteers
from the community to help with the organizing the event –
which is underway already. We need additional help in any way
that you could contribute your talents – media and advertising,
organizing the venue, setup of the course.
If you can help
us in any way, drop me a line at the following address –
stevem@ionic-eng.com.
Or let any of our other committee members know that you’d
like to help. We did great last year thanks to all of your help,
and we hope to make this year an even bigger success than the
last!!!!
Our next committee
meeting is Tuesday October 17th, 7PM at the Running Room. Please
come on out and help us build a really great event, and support
a great cause!
Steve Matusch – Race Director – Sudbury Rocks Marathon.
