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justincraddock
50 Posts |
 Posted - June 22 2008 : 22:51:19
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I decided that I am sick of all the 5ks around here. I run track and field not cross country all year round. I have been trying to get into shape for some time now and I have wanted to run some track races to see where my fitness is at and since training from January on I have yet to run a race that’s not a 5k. there are many running clubs in the area, checkers, GBTC, fleet feet running groups, the new north Tonawanda north stars summer program, Jamestown striders, there used to be wny jets (not sure if there is any more) yet the closest summer track meets are in Rochester, and there are some in Syracuse. Why is this? I am sorry to say that even the greater buffalo track club as far as I know doesn’t hold any meets how is this a track club then? Looking around the country even around the state at other track clubs are much more organized and promoted than others. The Syracuse track clubs records are impressive and they have had Olympic trials qualifiers. I am sure it helps when you have access to an indoor track but there are many clubs that don’t. I for one am very passionate for track and field I love the atmosphere, I love the workouts, the people, I love the events. I like racing around an oval and subjecting myself to the same 400 meters a lap that everyone else has. I would pay 20 dollars to enter a meet I would pay 40 dollars to enter a good meet. But where has buffalo track gone. During the summer of my junior year I was part of a track club and it made me better, it exposed to me different training philosophies, and national caliber competition and meets. I discovered a passion and competitiveness I did not know I had. The summer following my senior year the summer track program died down, not as many athletes and not as much passion. Now I don’t even know where to find one. I am an 800 meter runner, sure I could benefit from some distance but I don’t need training necessary for distance and 5ks like checkers and other training groups offer. Where do I go in my off time to compete? I took a year and a half off from running and I think this was due to my lack of desire to run, I wasn’t in school at the time, and I had nowhere to compete. Now after all that time and slowly seeing myself coming back I still have nowhere to compete close to home. I no longer have a car because I travel by bike, and I don’t foresee myself buying one any time soon. The rit meets are great, have you ever been to one sometimes the competition is top notch; there is a huge showing of younger kids, great opportunities to run over and under distance races such as the 300, and the 1000. Some of the relays they have are great workout type races.
I remember checkers had some track meets in the summer of 2005, when I went to one of them the showing was good. I would do more of these but I do not believe they have any more.
Also the Greater Buffalo Track Club, do you actually have track records? I know Syracuse and Rochester both have them posted on their website and they are good records. Does the buffalo track club keep these? And is there any push to up the amount of people in the club? Are you reaching out to create an environment where buffalo running can flourish? I was happy when I discovered this forum in high school as a way to keep track of what goes on here, and the section 6 runs website is top notch. But we need some other competitive opportunities than just a 5k race every weekend.
I have been thinking a lot about these issues since I have become aware of how big the Oregon track club is getting. It’s a track club that has many professional, semi professional, and former college athletes just trying to run fast. I am sure it helps majorly that they are backed by Nike, but do you need to be to succeed?
My high school coach told me about the Buffalo Bells and Braun, a track club he used to help coach. Why don’t these clubs work out? I know a fair share of guys that would join a true track club if there was one. I know many people who would run races closer to home.
I made an argument to a friend that if buffalo had a 200 meter indoor track I am sure we would have a top notch track club, but we don’t. Can’t we have a good track club without it? What did people used to do when they didn’t have these tracks? They ran outside, they ran workouts outside. Or even if it was only a summer track club with a minor cross season, we could succeed there as well, or hell what if there was a plan for an indoor 200 meter track in a golf dome like bubble. I am sure that many high schools would pay to run meets there, or train there. What if it was membership based and you could run workouts in the winter and a track club met there. There are many uses for a complex like this why isn’t it here.
I am ranting and raving and this does nothing to solve these problems, I suppose I just needed a place to vent my frustrations about track and field in buffalo, in general. Maybe one of the people in charge of their respective clubs will read this and address it. Or maybe I will go forward with a plan of type of track club. I thank you for your time in reading this hope others feel the same.
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - June 22 2008 : 23:03:24
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I share your feelings as well. I like running track and think of it as the purest of running---it's been around forever. In Albany, we have the Tuesday Night Track Meets in the summer and they have events from the 100 meters to the 2 mile. They are well attended, by high schoolers, college runners, and old-timers such as me.
But, you have to deal with the demand, and in WNY, the people have spoken. They love road races and they love the 5K in particular. They support the Shamrock and the Turkey Trot out of tradition, but if the Trot and Shamrock were 5Ks, they probably get 8,000 and 5,000 respectively in those races.
Simply, WNYers are not fans of track races. I love Bob Carroll and his efforts to build an indoor track facility, but I don't see it ever turning a profit because the demand to use it simply won't be there.
You have two choices: 1) buy a car and travel to track meets in the region; 2) accept the fact that WNYers like the 5K and gear your training accordingly.
You're too young to be sick of things, so I do wish all the best. |
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justincraddock
50 Posts |
Posted - June 22 2008 : 23:14:55
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| i understand that buffalonians love 5ks and i am not saying get rid of them but do we need 2-4 a weekend? I think that if a track was built it would make a profit. right now how many high school meets are ran at buffalo state and fredonia. I believe over half of them and they are both 160 meter tracks. Both places charge the schools or the section to use the facilities. i think if there was a 200 meter track fredonia would not be used at all or at least not as much. i know every year there are problems at fredonia where the coaches and the athletes have more and more restrictions put on them. Also this is just me speaking but i would pay a membership fee to use a track in the winter. do you know how many workouts i can't do because its too cold out or the track is covered. there are many athletes that come home from college and have workouts to do but have nowhere to do them i am sure they would pay to use a facility. I am not saying get rid of 5ks i am just saying other areas have good results with track and at least we could have more around here. as for indoor track most likely it won;t happen for a long long while but i do see there being a demand. not just for track athletes but for other sports as well. |
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SonOfRoxy
486 Posts |
Posted - June 22 2008 : 23:38:38
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Justin,
I agree with you and I think that even among the old guys like me there is support for what you are talking about. Chris Mattingly will be racing in a Masters 3000m at the Olympic Trials. I haven't talked with him about it, but I'm sure he would have appreciated some local track races to tune up. I've tried to run mid-distance races at the ESG a couple of times and its very hard to get in racing shape with no races. Running 5Ks does not prepare you to run 800m, I completely agree, even at my old guy pace. Maybe if enough of us speak up we can get something going. We used to have all-comers meets at SUNY Binghamton when I was in hs and they were really informal, but they were enough to get an occasional decent race.
Without that, you've got the ESG, Rochester, and you should definitely do the Checkers Mile. Keep your energy and don't give up! |
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Jeff
737 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 00:38:53
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Well said Justin. I empathize with you. You are a HUGE track talent. I watched you run. You must do track and pretty soon too or you might miss your moment.
It is true that there are very few track venues in Buffalo. In about 1980, led by Checkers president Randy Halm, the GBTC was conceived as a real track club with real track athletes and a pro-track agenda and real track values. But that ended. When I returned to the club in 1999 things had changed a lot. Almost all of the track people were gone - moved to far away places (as I had). When I suggested to the new members that we should do track they actually thought it was nuts. There was almost zero appreciation for the sport.
There’s nothing wrong with what they do, in fact they do a lot of really good things for the running community and have a great time too, but it’s not track. The club was not especially receptive to my attempts to correct its non-conducive social jogging orientation. I finally resigned from the club in 2004.
Today, there’s a new group at GBTC. Perhaps the new people at GBTC can re-discover their roots and become a real track club again and promote the sport the club was named for. Maybe… but probably not. They really don't know what they're missing.
On a brighter note, there may be an opportunity for you at Checkers. It's certainly not a traditional track club either. But they do have real track workouts and are mentored by a real track coach who has a real track background and he happened to specialize in the 800. Some guys are born with a ton of talent. But Carroll created his. I respect that. He knows a lot of powerful stuff. If I were in your fast shoes, I’d try to either work with Bob Carroll and Checkers or move to Santa Monica and train with the SMTC.
I’d like to see you run in the Trials some day. I believe it’s your destiny. It doesn't really matter if you get there or not. Grab hold, give it your best, and ride the dream.
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 06:32:48
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Go to www.finishright.com and see how poorly attended the Adirondack ESG Trials were. In the distance races, there were less than 5 people in each race. In some, there were one or even two. Last year, there were only four in the 5,000. I finished fourth, and after the top three finishers passed on going to ESG, I went as the rep and was the llast person to cross the finish line.
The Masters Division of the ESG track used to be quite vibrant, but no more. In some age categories, they get no runners at all. In the 1980s, it wasn't like that at all.
Jeff is right. Track is a specialist sport, and thought I hate to say it, today's track clubs/running clubs really do cater to the casual runner/novice runner, and dare I say----jogger. I don't blame them because that's where the numbers are, the quantity. It is what it is. |
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Herron
202 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 08:51:57
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I'm with you on this one Justin.
It's strange that the top runners in Buffalo are members of GVH and not a Buffalo-based group. You'd think that with Buffalo's great running community there would be a locally competitive outfit. In the end it just seems that Rochester takes its running much more seriously.
I think somebody should be in pursuit of setting up a new track club here in Buffalo. At the very least we should be in pursuit change. After all, what else is there in life than being in pursuit of something. In fact, many people are in pursuit of a beer after their local 5k.
GBTC - JJ, There is an interesting link that seems to indicate something worthy of being called a "Track Club": The GBTC supports local track and field events by providing financial assistance on a needs basis to individuals and teams. While the emphasis is on youth athletics, all requests are welcome. -- What exactly is this all about? By youth athletics do you mean HS, because we've just established that there aren't any local track and field events.
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Smacz
172 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 10:17:18
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Nice touch! Soon to be established. Expect an e-mail soon.
smacz |
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Jeff
737 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 11:49:16
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Hi Mike - it's good to have you back. First, I don't and can't speak for the GBTC. I also am not familiar with the source your link text but it certainly was true throughout the '80s and '90s. I don't know their situation today, but historically the GBTC was well financed and by charter they strove to disseminate their wealth every year and did so.
A history of the club's largess would make interesting reading. You'd be favorably surprised. Over theyear's the GBTC gave away thousands to individuals and groups including groups that had little or no real connection to running.
There was not a coordinated effort to systematically build track and field in the area. They evolved toward a different path. Ther intentions and efforts were quite good -- but had the GBTC collectively shared our view of track then they might have left a more lasting and positive legacy.
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Herron
202 Posts |
Posted - June 23 2008 : 12:44:50
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Thanks for the welcome Jeff. It's obviously an outdated link since you are no longer affiliated with the GBTC, but it is still accessible here: http://www.buffalorunners.com/gbtc_fund.htm -- It was/is a sound commitment to developing local athletics. It would be interesting to know if this is still part of the GBTC framework.
Smacz...the word has been spread like a good butter substitute.
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