Some more LDR relevant information. Some we got to, some introduced here and now.
I proposed our association championships marathon (Lincoln) host a team competition. A true team competition and not just an All Star showing. How to accomplish that? By following suit of every important club event. Seven can enter, top 5 score. There’s no way in hell NRGE can touch the top 3 for either LRC or Team Nebraska. You stretch it out to 5 and I begin to like our chances (insert your guffaw here), take it 7 deep and the playing field levels out quite nicely. Try telling my soldiers they have no chance and you’re likely to get what is good for you.
I informed the group about a little known $1000 grant available to offset travel expenses to USA Club Cross next December. Comes from the national office in Indy, no reason to not take advantage of it, simply need follow a few protocols.
Association Records. Wasn’t introduced at the meeting but it was in my notes to bring up. LRC Racing keeps a record page, Team Nebraska has an incomplete one. We need to harvest from the total knowledge of LDR performances since its inception in 2002. Individual performance marks, team marks (i.e. Distance Medley Relay, Marathon Road Relay, other track relays, all USATF certified and/or sanctioned events), team national championships (their are more than you might realize), and individual national championships, either open or age group.
Club Hopping. Another subject we didn’t have time for. We want to make sure USATF protocol is adhered to when switching clubs. For example an athlete that runs the Lincoln Mile for one club and then switches to another club for the Columbus Downtown Run Around would not be eligible to score for that club or receive prize money in the latter. There is an unyielding 90 day rule, it needs to be enforced. If you need a deeper explanation as to why I’ll happily provide.
Mail in balloting. Didn’t get to it. I was told last September by our association President, John Wissler, that our LDR election would take place via mail ballot. A tiny group, maybe 7, somehow, some way, pulled a shenanigan and convinced John to accept the one sided vote of those present at the meeting. I was pissed but the fact Michael Rathje was elected to fill Matty P’s term was sufficient balm to keep me from pursuing. A bona fide mail in ballot is a must for this coming September’s election. No more trickery!
Market to Market 50K. Linda & I met with Ben Cohoon in the early winter of 2008, just after the inaugural M2M. Hoped he would consider making the event our association 50K Trail Champs. In 2013 it finally was. I suggested to Ben after Sunday’s meeting that the event would more closely fill the bill of our 50K road championships since it isn’t run on a trail, or at least the mopac is also eligible to be considered a road course. This will open another 50K hosted entirely on trails to submit a bid. Scott Giddings? Got anything for us?
Officer Protection. Didn’t come up but is vital to the survival of the program. We’ve got to make sure those that volunteer aren’t continually harassed by disgruntled (or worse) members of our association. Dovetailed nicely with Ben Cohoon’s suggestion that we open up our association championship events to an “anonymous” post race survey. I vehemently argued against allowing nameless, faceless, no huevos, anonymous bashing. Cited Lets Run dot com’s treatment of me, Linda, and the 2012 USA Club Championships. Easily googled.
Will Lindgren LDR Founder’s Scholarship. Established in 2012 to provide a $250 scholarship each to a deserving graduating high school boy and girl. In the mess that was 2013 it slipped through the cracks. I suggested a coach from both Omaha and Lincoln (Craig Christians? Ryan Salem? Brian Wandzilak? Shannon Stenger? Paul Wilson? Dustin Llewellyn? Max Kurz?) and perhaps me too as the third (or Michael Rathje or other acting LDR Chair) be established as a panel to solicit and entertain nominations.
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