tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post5354642943939349578..comments2024-03-01T06:33:20.145-07:00Comments on The Running Man: My Take on the New Leadville Lottery StandardsWyatt Hornsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-19541740153588210872014-10-07T18:05:57.465-06:002014-10-07T18:05:57.465-06:00Wyatt,
great post and articulated very well (much ...Wyatt,<br />great post and articulated very well (much better than my attempt). Although you said something that had me scratching my head for a second. You mentioned you may even retire from the sport of ultra running altogether because of too many people (or however you worded it). If you're looking at stepping away from the sport, but I couldn't disagree more that the reason would be because of there being too many people in the sport. Just doesn't seem like a valid reason to me, but that's just my thought on it.<br /><br />Back to the subject at hand. I think you've brought about some valid solutions and I do hope that there is more tweaking being done to the lottery prior to next year. I think LRS recovered better than anyone could have imagined after all the bad pub from the 2013 race. I'd hate to see them lose any of the ground they've gained since that day.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364050021996942483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-91793950925490504892014-10-06T16:00:00.536-06:002014-10-06T16:00:00.536-06:00I am not opposed to the lottery, but I think it ne...I am not opposed to the lottery, but I think it needs to be done right. A few thoughts:<br /><br />I agree wholeheartedly on the automatic entry for prior year's runners (#1 above). This Summer was my first LT100, but as we left town my wife (who crewed and paced for me) said "Make sure you rent this house again for next Summer; we're coming back, even if you're not running, to crew or pace or volunteer." To me, that's what LRS should be striving for - encouraging returning runners and the traditions that familes, like yours (and hopefully mine), have started around the race, but at the same time welcoming newcomers into the fold. A mixed automatic entry and lottery seems to strike the right balance.<br /><br />Along the same lines, Volunteers should get an automatic entry or increased odds, as should runners who have completed LT100 in past 3 or 5 years, though not in the prior year.<br /><br />Also, a slug of automatic entries should also be reserved for Leadville residents. How crazy would it be for Leadville folks to have to sit out their own race?<br /><br />I understand that LRS is opposed to qualifying races, but they could give increased odds to someone who has completed a 50 miler or above in the past year as a way to reduce the strain on resources attributable to less-experienced runners. Still allows the complete newbies, but encourages them to get some miles under their belts before they show up at 6th and Harrison.<br /><br />As to course changes, I'm probably in the minority, but I love the out and back. But since the road to Winfield is now shut down during the race (a brilliant move), use the Colorado Trail to Winfield outbound and the road from Winfield to the base of Hope inbound (or vice versa). Won't solve all the problems of congestion, but it deals with one of the most narrow/crowded sections (miles 47-53).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-72501075806266068492014-10-03T13:19:04.202-06:002014-10-03T13:19:04.202-06:00GZ: Note that in my blog I didn't use the word...GZ: Note that in my blog I didn't use the word "volunteer."<br /><br />Almost any good system needs to be tweaked now then. Very little in life is static. We'd all agree (well, maybe not all) that Apple makes great phones, and yet they're always sending out tweaks.<br /><br />Regarding the course change, you could probably keep the first 50 the same but then have a new backside 50. Not sure how it would look, but I'm guessing it would involve a ton of vertical.<br /><br />WyattWyatt Hornsbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-27735164807075091542014-10-03T13:15:56.524-06:002014-10-03T13:15:56.524-06:00AJ: I agree with everything you said in the first ...AJ: I agree with everything you said in the first paragraph. My wife has told me, like you, that a lottery without a qualifier is a joke. In this case, the lottery without qualifier is clearly a tactic for getting money to the legacy fund. I do think the Hardrock lottery is pretty impressive. It's a model Leadville could consider. Leadville thinks it needs a big lottery for the legacy fund, so in the end who knows how this turns out. But this I do know: people like us are getting the shaft.<br /><br />WyattWyatt Hornsbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14224514798393011001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-71353820425606835132014-10-03T12:32:17.025-06:002014-10-03T12:32:17.025-06:00AJ: Hardrock is run by nuclear scientists. :) Th...AJ: Hardrock is run by nuclear scientists. :) They want to run a lottery that strikes a balance between people who have done it several times and those that have never done it. While it seems complicated, I think its actually quite simple.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376446409534942024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-14032344402550096682014-10-03T10:51:45.496-06:002014-10-03T10:51:45.496-06:00Excellent Post!! WHY??? Because You Gave Solutions...Excellent Post!! WHY??? Because You Gave Solutions!! CheersThe Padrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07488266642564760406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-55701027529100918402014-10-03T10:06:46.917-06:002014-10-03T10:06:46.917-06:00I know it runs core to who they are, and I know th...I know it runs core to who they are, and I know they take advantage of publishing a high DNF rate to make the course seem like the toughest out there, but I find any attempt to make a lottery without a qualifier a joke. Most of what is wrong with this event -- in my opinion -- is a result of them allowing unqualified and unprepared runners to toe the line. Yes, you can turn that around and say everyone deserves a shot to take the challenge. But, with the climate what it is today, I think runners that are prepared for the challenge should be rewarded, those that have paid their dues. Leadville could still reap the benefits by using their own Race Series as qualifying events. If the runners were more qualified, then you could consider some additional change that would be positive for the course, namely not allowing crew or pacers at Winfield, except for maybe those runners that are in danger of going back over in the dark, those near the cut off.<br /><br />Beyond that, I agree with GZ, keep it simple. Hardrock's lottery, while well thought out, seems unnecessarily complicated to me.AJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256410616083520026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-62471020230265937082014-10-03T09:07:24.905-06:002014-10-03T09:07:24.905-06:00As a runner who has never tried an ultra but is co...As a runner who has never tried an ultra but is considering the Pb100, I think requiring a prior 50 miler would be good for the Leadville rookie to understand what they are getting into and good for the race to see more successful finishers. I believe that is the thinking behind the rocket scientists at WS " we want you to succeed" not a bad motto for a race.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04075869745220133396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-78091029796497380002014-10-03T08:48:47.508-06:002014-10-03T08:48:47.508-06:00I am not a fan of the preferential lotteries (like...I am not a fan of the preferential lotteries (like Hardrock) as they arguably need to be continually tweaked to be considered "fair." Keeping it simple is fair to me.<br /><br />I am also not a fan of mandatory volunteerism given the oxymoronic nature of that very phrase. That said, I'd be fine with the RD granting a lottery ticket, or two or whatever to persons that have contributed to the race in a positive way.<br /><br />I'd be fine with there having to be a qualifier - including a recent Leadville finish (say within 2 years) being one.<br /><br />My understanding though is that a qualifier goes against some of the initial pathos of Leadville. Changing the course that significantly is probably in the same vein. <br /><br />Folks seem to agree that the race needs to change ... there just seems to be disagreement on what that change is ... GZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623054918799881730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979545333979747089.post-19171138264778141752014-10-03T07:45:13.273-06:002014-10-03T07:45:13.273-06:00I feel for you Wyatt - a race I love and have done...I feel for you Wyatt - a race I love and have done 7 of the 9 years is Hinson Lake 24 Hour run. Its gone from 100 people to 350, way beyond what the 1.5 mile loop around the lake can handle. I'm sure there will be a race cap next year. They give out bibs based on total cumulative mileage over the race's history, so I hope they provide some guaranteed spots based on that, but it really depends on the RDs philosophy of if they want to allow any sort of favoritism based on that or not. I guess we will see. Personally, I think all race cultures are a mixture of the volunteers, RD, and racers who have come before - so the more you have done a race, the higher chance of entry you should be given if there needs to be a lottery...Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376446409534942024noreply@blogger.com