Hat Trick. Troika. Triumvirate.
Such an interesting weekend. Beer and Bagel dominated with thousands taking part in the fall classic. Mass participation fun like few other Nebraska events. Grown so large now that it takes Saturday (half marathon) and Sunday (4 mile).
But today’s focus is on a much smaller, more competitive cadre. Those 13 people that showed up to race our Nebraska Association XC Champs. No costumes, no mid air poses, no fanny packs, no headphones, no rock stars, no supa stars, no woots, toots, or butt scoots. No hand holding, no feel good stories, no novelties, no bucket list, only competition not to we missed.
Our state has spoken in a whisper but the heart beat is still there. Barely yes, but maybe stronger than ever. Nebraska Run Guru Elite (2 men and 3 women), Team Nebraska (3 men), Lincoln Running Co. Racing (3 men), Club 420 (1 fella). Four USATF member clubs represented. All the best male athletes in our association, with only an exception or two I allow because of injury or the Good Life Halfsy 7 days prior.
Our NRGE women, uncontested. Not a single female athlete outside of my club showed. Why? Where were they? I’m not asking them, I’m asking you to ask them, asking you to ask yourself. Where were they?
Ruben Carter, our USATF Association President made the race, got a first hand view of how LDR is supposed to roll it out (build out, timing, and results provided by my event management company). He was so impressed that the request was made to use it for the Junior Olympics meet held later yesterday afternoon. I gladly complied, any thing we can do for our youth after all. He also took time to attend our LDR meeting post race. Put in his highly valued two cents, decrying the vast LDR chasm called the Platte River. Why won’t people from Lincoln come to Omaha to race? Several theories abound but a lot of it has to do with the leadership on both sides of the river. Omaha heads west for races, Lincoln rarely if ever heads east. Think about it. Why? Why not?
Disambiguation. Resolving conflicts based on articles of the same name or title.
Nebraska Run Guru Elite, Inc. Our USATF Club.
Nebraska Run Guru Events, LLC. My Event management company.
Bar None Produce. Our Best Organic Practices gardening operation.
The race was set up by NRGE, LLC. The individual races were won by NRGE, Inc. The prizes and medals were sponsored by Bar None Produce. I offered at the LDR meeting that this alone kept some athletes and admins away. Sorry that they missed the most competitive off road race of the year.
Grant took the measure of the field in 15:35, I’m going so far as saying the venerable course has never seen a faster 5K. I can’t imagine a high school or youth athlete running faster than this national class athlete we boast as our #1.
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