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Post by marathondude on Apr 20, 2010 9:56:17 GMT -5
There is something missing from track and field that both competitors need as a goal and casual fans require to spark interest in our sport. That something is racing the mile. It is a classic distance where time has meaning. Even four plus decades after Roger Bannister was the first to break the four minute mile, this time still is exciting for both athletes and spectators. When I first stepped onto the track as a 15 year old and my coach asked me what I wanted to run, I didn’t say, ‘the two-mile or the half mile.’ There was only one answer, ‘the mile.’ In recent years high school runners in the U.S. race the bastardized distance of 1,600 meters which has zero meaning and collegiate competitions include the international distance of 1,500 meters. In order to light a fire among runners and give fans a meaningful distance to get excited about it is time to bring back the classic distance. Read 'Bring back the Mile!' in Running Articles at www.garycohenrunning.com and please add your thoughts on this subject. Time to catch my plane home from my 12th Boston Marathon! Cheers! |
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syphon
Junior Member
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Post by syphon on Apr 20, 2010 14:09:00 GMT -5
Tracks are built to metric standards now.
You can't run miles on them anymore than you could run a 1500 on an imperial track.
The differences between a 1600 and a mile is less than 10 metres.
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Post by pq on Apr 20, 2010 14:58:46 GMT -5
Tracks are built to metric standards now. You can't run miles on them anymore than you could run a 1500 on an imperial track. Many tracks have a mile start line set back ~ 9 m from the finish line for exactly this purpose. It's no more difficult to set up the mile start line on the metric track than it is any other start line, including the 1500 start. |
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Post by ronb on Apr 20, 2010 17:18:29 GMT -5
JMHO,
The way to maintain this connection is with the "Main Street Miles". Find a suitable occasion, holiday or whatever, especially if there is a parade or some other festivity, and run a Mile Race down the Road ahead of time. It's a "can't miss formula" to promote our sport in front of the masses. Easy to put on, lots of spectators, and good opportunity for media exposure.
For many years, we ran the Victoria Day Mile down Douglas Street (the main drag) in Victoria just ahead of the parade. Athletes such as Paul McCloy, Carey Nelson, Dave Campbell, Randy Cox, Gary Barber, Debbie Scott, Sue Lee, Ulla Marquette, etc., etc., put on a great show. I have a lot of the action on video tape, and hope to be able to convert to DVD format within the next little while.
The all time classic was when Paul McCloy outkicked Dave Campbell right at the finish line to win. Campbell was leading and tried to run McCloy into the finish line van, but Paul cut in just in time to nip Dave at the tape. In a post-race, off-record, interview, Paul said, in classic to-the-point Newfoundlandese, "the F****R tried to run me into the truck".
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tree
New Member
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Post by tree on Apr 20, 2010 17:45:35 GMT -5
This is Canada ...
33/4 laps are fine for me. Not really much of a fan of racing 4.02336.
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Post by opinion on Apr 20, 2010 20:19:11 GMT -5
Nah
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tb400
Junior Member
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Post by tb400 on Apr 20, 2010 21:13:56 GMT -5
Hi Ron,
It's not hard to digitize video tape these days. An analog to digital converter and Dartfish makes it quite easy. I look forward to seeing the races you filmed.
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Post by ronb on Apr 20, 2010 22:58:59 GMT -5
Hi Ron, It's not hard to digitize video tape these days. An analog to digital converter and Dartfish makes it quite easy. I look forward to seeing the races you filmed. hey tb, I have a friend who has ordered me up some conversion tools, and apparently, I will be able to view the old videos, and edit and save to digital... I hope that works, as I have some wonderful stuff, including the Road Miles, the Cross Country Trials, lots of CWUAA and CIS action, and many of the HP and Road to the Olympics Meets... |
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Post by Cummings on Apr 20, 2010 23:32:48 GMT -5
"The all time classic was when Paul McCloy outkicked Dave Campbell right at the finish line to win. Campbell was leading and tried to run McCloy into the finish line van, but Paul cut in just in time to nip Dave at the tape. In a post-race, off-record, interview, Paul said, in classic to-the-point Newfoundlandese, "the F****R tried to run me into the truck"."
Did no one else read this post? What an absolute classic! I just laughed my ass off for about 15 minutes after reading this. We need road miles for stories like this, you just don't get that type of legendary tale made on the track. Paul McCloy, wow, what else can I say, this man IS Canadian distance running at its best. what a guy.
Insert your best McCloy story after this post here!!
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Post by ronb on Apr 21, 2010 0:10:57 GMT -5
I have a ton of McCloy stories --- some of which I can tell, and others that I would need Paul's approval to share... Remember, Paul used to come out and run with us in Victoria for several to many weeks each Spring during the 1980's, and we travelled to Eugene and Vancouver and to World Cross County Champs. often... Where are you, Newf? Which stories can I share with your adoring public...  |
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Post by marathondude on Apr 21, 2010 15:47:30 GMT -5
I think that my main point isn't directed so much at the serious track racer but at the casual fan or those who are choosing in which sport to participate. The mile is a distance to which most people can relate and breaking a 5-minute mile or 4:20 mile or 4:00 mile still is significant to the layman. Even though Steve Scott ran 136 sub-4:00 miles, it still has more meaning than a 3:42 1,500m. We love round numbers!!!
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Post by ronb on Apr 21, 2010 17:02:07 GMT -5
Yes, md, you are right - there is still some magic in the Mile... Hell we all remember when John Walker ran his first ever sub 4. It was in 1973 at the Uvic Stadium. Of course, he only placed 1st in the B section, and 3rd overall. And then a very young Meet Director (that would be me) had to calm Walker down by buying several brewskis for him, at the Uvic Pub after the Meet. And gradually convinced him (sort of) that the only reason he ran so fast was because he was so pissed at being in the B section, which was my doing He went from 4:06 to 3:59 in one race --- great guy, great athlete, great memories... |
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tb400
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Post by tb400 on Apr 21, 2010 17:21:38 GMT -5
Ron, I hope you will compile all of these stories into a memoir (or exposé)
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Post by ronb on Apr 21, 2010 18:10:38 GMT -5
Ron, I hope you will compile all of these stories into a memoir (or exposé) I should write a book, before my memory "leaves the building". I need a good writer, who has a tape recorder, and buys a few beers |
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Post by maser on Apr 21, 2010 22:10:49 GMT -5
Ron- Great story about Walker. You really need to put your memoirs down. McCloy was a fun guy. Good story about the mile and Campbell.
Cheers
K
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tb400
Junior Member
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Post by tb400 on Apr 22, 2010 8:37:19 GMT -5
A working title for your memoirs could be "Da Do Ron Run" or "King Victoria"
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2010 9:13:24 GMT -5
A working title for your memoirs could be "Da Do Ron Run" or "King Victoria" How about King in exile or former leader beheaded Seriously, though, I have just come across many more excellent videos, so rather than memoirs, I need to find a way to "publish" these tapes. I am assuming that when my new conversion equipment arrives, I can play the video, capture it on my computer hard drive, edit and download to disc, and then copy the disc, many times over. Does anyone if that is the best protocol to follow? |
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tb400
Junior Member
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Post by tb400 on Apr 22, 2010 15:53:02 GMT -5
The workflow for videography usually goes something like this:
capture > import > edit > publish
You'll want to carefully consider the format of the video when importing and publishing.
The analog to digital converter I use (plextor) converts analog video tapes into MPEG format for publishing on dvd or online.
My personal preference is to capture an import raw video with as little compression as possible to ensure the highest quality product. After I edit the video, then I decide the best format for publishing (dvd or online) or storage (hard drive or dvd).
Unfortunately Dartfish DVDs can only be viewed on a computer so think about whether you want the viewers to watch the races on a DVD player designed for TV or not. You may also want to consider a program that converts the video to mp4 so it can be viewed on an iPod.
Does this make sense?
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2010 15:58:20 GMT -5
Hey tb --- thanks for taking the time and effort to respond. Unfortunately, I could learn to speak Mandarin before I could understand what you just said I do have a nephew who is a computer wizard, and is probably going to help me out getting this project started within the next week or so....Thanks again... |
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tb400
Junior Member
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Post by tb400 on Apr 22, 2010 16:04:49 GMT -5
Well at least you know Newfoundlandese, which is a start!
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2010 16:22:15 GMT -5
Well at least you know Newfoundlandese, which is a start! Yes, with Paul's tutoring, I learned to speak some good Newfoundlandese. Well, good for a "come-from-away"... I heard a bit of that today, as I reviewed the old cross-country tapes, including interviews with "the mighty Newf"... I hope I can figure out a way to share this stuff --- it is much too valuable to lose, for any who might care about events longer than 1500 metres...what an evil thought, eh? |
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