Masters Weekend Runs and Races

For the record, I've made $25 so far this year. Running.

I'm now one week in, getting up to 20 minutes on the treadmill and then outside runs of 4.5 and 4 miles over the week-end.

I went down to the City to watch the race, catching the women twice and the men once. I was a bit bummed when I was on the course because I was missing the race, but I got over it. Now I'm wondering whether to try in 2009, but I don't know if I'll be ready to put in the requisite effort. For now, I'm just trying to get the arm back.

It's nice to have your back, Platter. I can attest to that although Mr. Platt *looks* kind of scary and he is quite opinionated, he is a really nice guy. He's also one of the toughest guys out there -- maybe not the fastest, but the one who gets the most out of his talent -- on sheer guts sometimes.

Funny, all this talk about money winning. I've hardly ever earned money running (and certainly have never counted on it - someone faster *always* shows up and I'm one place out of it), but this I earned more from running related races (i.e an adventure race and a mountain race) than in any other year -- (and yes, I have the tax form for it). It was definitely a fluke and the prize wasn't related to my ability to run fast at all. I'm sure the amount I've spent in pursuit of earning the money outweighs, by far, the amount earned.

For the record I couldn't win any money in a race if they gave it away but I'm still going to post and wish I could win some money. You guys are just so competitive that it overflows. Had a good start to the week so far. Talk to ya Sunday.

Once I won a pizza. Another time I won an artichoke.

Been racing since 1965. Won $30 two years ago at a trail run. Average that income to under .75 cents per year. The cheap seats fit my backside just fine.

What ails the Badgers Football team.?? CC's doing great.

RUNINTHESUN and all you other coaches and parents instilling a new generation with greatness; to you, a huge thumbs up.

Boy, am I glad I didn't bring up the election!

Now it's Tuesday.....let's get out and vote.

I've won a grand total of $125, plus a few gift certificates, but I spend maybe $2k per year on entry fees and travel. I guess my ROI isn't very good moneywise, but it's priceless when you look at my health 4 years ago compared to now, as well as my increased productivity at work. I'm also having a blast meeting and competing with and against my fellow masters.

Pete, I hear ya.

Races are a business and I live my life in the operations of business; managing costs and measuring investment return. I could argue the dollars and sense of it all day, and I am confident I could defend the use of the word. But, I will not win it here.

So let's try this: The justifications and existence of prize money and special treatment for Master Racing is fragile and tenuos. It is MY opinion that the we should treat the races and races directors with respect and be very careful about the image that we portray.

And I am accepting thanks in advance for adding some life to this weekly thread (which I do read but on which I rarely post, thank god)

mplatt wrote:... we should treat the races and races directors with respect and be very careful about the image that we portray.

Well put.

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Get out and vote you folks, and good luck with the outcome. With another perspective from the cheap seats (the north side bleachers, I guess), I think I could be happy, as a Canadian, with either of your choices. They both strike me as very good men, in spite of their various idiosyncracies and policy choices I might not agree with (from both of them).

mplatt wrote:

So let's try this: The justifications and existence of prize money and special treatment for Master Racing is fragile and tenuos. It is MY opinion that the we should treat the races and races directors with respect and be very careful about the image that we portray.

Mike, would you suggest all races do away w/prize money since you feel there is poor ROI? I'm curious your definition of ROI. I'm thinking it's much narrower than my view.

scotth wrote:

Mike, would you suggest all races do away w/prize money since you feel there is poor ROI? I'm curious your definition of ROI. I'm thinking it's much narrower than my view.

I did not suggest that money be eliminated.

I do not think that all things should be valued strictly by ROI.

I understand there are intangibles that are difficult to measure.

I see the value of the very enthusiastic and vibrant "Masters Competitive Culture" in the global culture of foot-racing competition.

My definition of ROI is neither narrow nor wide, it is the defintion: The measure of earning power of resources allocated(used or spent).

for example:Give everything a dollar value and then measure it. (the difficulty is trying to identify and place a dollar value on ALL resources that are invested and ALL the returns created by that investment, tangible and not tangible)

Thought I'd have a go at this one, even though the dude asking the question would hand me my ass in a race:

bpilch wrote:... I would be interested in how you structure 75-80. How many doubles do you run? How long is your long run?

For me, I don't try very hard to "structure" my week, per se, and I let the week structure itself, more or less. The only exceptions are Tuesday and Friday are my normal workout days. I do assigned sessions those days, and run easy every other day.

Long runs, if I do them, will be Sunday most of the time. The importance I place on a long run depends on what I'm training for.... in track season I don't do many of them, and out of track season (outdoors and indoors) it will range between ~ 10-16 miles, with the occasional longer one in there.

I like to double as much as I can. I'm lucky to have a buddy who runs to work a little after 7 am, and I join him 2-3 days a week, which makes it easy to get ~ 25+ morning miles in the bank. I wouldn't run that easrly on my own.... normal double days my "morning" run is at noon or 1 pm.

I don't fuss too much about total mileage, but generally try to work toward bigger weeks when not racing (70-90ish), and lower when racing. I taper for every race and skip a workout after races to recover, so mileage may be a little off before and after race weekends. The daily easy run(s) is(are) whatever the body feels like that day. Usually without the watch.

Would be interested to hear others' response to this guy's question.

Pilch & Pete,

I don't do doubles or 70-80 mile weeks. Right now I'm maxed at about 50-55 on six singles, which includes 2 days on the track or trails (repeats of 800s up to 2 miles) and a long run of 16-18. This is in preparation for a half marathon. During summer track, I'm running 30-35 per week with 2 or 3 days on the track or hills, still running singles on six days.

JM

PS. Great job at Tamalpa, Brian.

OH boy now I gotta find out if the eye ar es is gonna get me

many years ago in a place i no longer reside i won a 20 foot long subway sandwhich by winning the masters categotry at a turkey trot.Male if it matters.

I did not report the prize sandwhich.

I did not eat that monster either.

I just tossed the gift cert into my running prize box.

Well nothing happened!

So anyhow a few years later when moving I gave this gift cert with no exp date to a friend who could use a 20 foot sub.I don't think he declared this on his taxes either.

so am I looking a doing some time?

Charlie,

In this case, I'll allow you to turn yourself in. Let's say we give you 48 hours to get your affairs in order and go to the eye ar es as you so eloquently put it.

After that, I'll have to show in KC (I believe?) and turn you over to authorities.

Charlie wrote:

OH boy now I gotta find out if the eye ar es is gonna get me

many years ago in a place i no longer reside i won a 20 foot long subway sandwhich by winning the masters categotry at a turkey trot.Male if it matters.

I did not report the prize sandwhich.

I did not eat that monster either.

I just tossed the gift cert into my running prize box.

Well nothing happened!

So anyhow a few years later when moving I gave this gift cert with no exp date to a friend who could use a 20 foot sub.I don't think he declared this on his taxes either.

so am I looking a doing some time?

No, just hefty fines. Too bad, though, since you could have depreciated the value of the sandwich over its expected life span, and maybe even written off a net loss if you had redeemed the gift certificate and then given away the actual sandwich. That's why you should have (as MPlatt says) contacted a CPA!

A late November race around here used to give pies. Typically, my winnings would no longer exist by the end of the day, so I did not declare it.

Those who can't do, coach. That would be me apparently.

Some rules for more mileage:

1. Soft surface training whenver possible. Don't listen to Concrete Runner. ;)

2. Monitor iron, calcium and magnesium levels. Stay on top of your nutrition.

3. If needed in lieu of running and you are serious about it, add two fairly hard, interval-oriented (i.e., 90 seconds 'on,' 60 seconds easier) deep-water morning pool runs (Monday = day after long run and Thursday = day after medium distance run), i.e. 30 minutes = 4 miles. A float belt is OK if you need one. Or take a modest swim class in the morning.

4. General parameters: You can switch Tuesday Intervals with Friday tempos if you are so inclined.

-Afternoon intervals Tuesday (early a.m. shake out jog)

-Moderate distance w/ hills Wednesday

-Afternoon tempo Friday (early a.m. shake out jog)

-Long run Sunday, second half faster than first, more flat thatn hilly, on dirt.

-the other days are easy days, easy doubles if you can swing it, or days off.

-Strides and light plyos on easy days.

-Stretch 2-3 mihgt per week for 20 minutes before bed.

-Core work, 40% of the body's strength is contained in the hips, glutes and abs/lower back.

-Strive for ambidexterity, and mix in some light lifting sessions two days per week.

-Get a deep tissue massage whenever you can to avoid dings.

5. Increase mileage gradually. Usually increase it only 5-10% at a time every few weeks. It's sort of like a hot shower. Jump into the hot water right away and you can't take the shock. However if you adapt to it slowly your body can tolerate much more stimuli.

So in sum, don't expect to be at 80 MPW right off the bat, however with patience you can get there.

Now that's funny!

My Own Private idaho and I were at a race many years ago. The race was put on by a winery. We won way too many bottles. Luckily we drank the evidence.

I think?

lughead,

My Private Idaho and I received some hemroid medicine for competing in the Idaho Senior Games. We also received some literature on senior housing. Kind of funny when you know MPI has a two year old child. I guess times change faster then you think.

Ghost of Igloi