Austin Officially Announces "Registration Cap Possible"
In an e-mail blast that went out this morning, the AT&T Austin Marathon officially announced what "Houston Running" reported on Saturday that a registration cap is possible for its two events.
"Registration for the 2007 AT&T Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is on record pace and is currently almost 50% ahead of registration on this same date last year! In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable run for everyone, we will impose a cap of 6,000 runners in the half marathon and 6,000 runners in the full marathon. Online registration closes completely at midnight on February 11, 2007. Registration may close earlier if race capacity is reached before February 11."
So, just like Houston, everyone now has officially been forewarned.
I still believe that an event that announces a cap creates an artificial interest in its product. People who need a bit more time - rather it from overcoming be an injury, their work schedule or family situation - and would normally wait until their schedules are set (knowing that they only might have to pay a late fee) now rush to register for fear of being shut out.
The event wins because it has its money in hand and it eliminates many of their worries about whether or not they will have enough on race day, etc. As I said before, I don't begrudge an event that at all. They want to have enough, but they don't want to spend a lot of money unnecessarily - and if donating monies to charities from the proceeds are involved, it would take away monies that could go to appropriate causes.
The same person that told me about the Marathon's cap also said that in other years that all they needed to do was work with the City to open up an extra lane, etc. and make the appropriate adjustments.
In the same vein, I was encouraged by Steven Karpas' comments in today's article by Dale Robertson in the Houston Chronicle.
Bigger, at least in terms of numbers, became an issue this year when the 15,000-runner limit for the marathon and half-marathon together was reached six weeks in advance, leaving lots of frustrated local runners out. Ways will be explored to increase the ceiling next year without sacrificing either order or safety.
"We'll look at all the options, maybe even having separate marathon and half-marathon courses or wave (staggered) starts," Karpas said. "But you have to remember we're inconveniencing people, businesses and churches for six hours because so many streets have to be closed."
Edwin Quarles and I both looked at each other when Chevron's representative at the press conference, Frank Herbst, said that they were looking at making the event next year be "bigger and better." Our thought was, "Well, what does 'bigger' mean?"
As far as inconvenience goes, find out how Chicago, New York, Boston, Indianapolis (Mini-Marathon) and others "sell" the inconvenience to their residents -- beyond the tradition alone and attempt to employ the same techniques that allow them to have anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 runners on the roads at a single time.
Karpas' leadership has overcome the limitations of having only a marathon and an auxillary event, such as a 5K, to make the day even a bigger event that more people will want to take part in.
The $64,000 question is: "How much farther can it be taken or can it at all?"
It seems like though that it is the issue for many marathons, including Houston and Austin.
"Registration for the 2007 AT&T Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is on record pace and is currently almost 50% ahead of registration on this same date last year! In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable run for everyone, we will impose a cap of 6,000 runners in the half marathon and 6,000 runners in the full marathon. Online registration closes completely at midnight on February 11, 2007. Registration may close earlier if race capacity is reached before February 11."
So, just like Houston, everyone now has officially been forewarned.
I still believe that an event that announces a cap creates an artificial interest in its product. People who need a bit more time - rather it from overcoming be an injury, their work schedule or family situation - and would normally wait until their schedules are set (knowing that they only might have to pay a late fee) now rush to register for fear of being shut out.
The event wins because it has its money in hand and it eliminates many of their worries about whether or not they will have enough on race day, etc. As I said before, I don't begrudge an event that at all. They want to have enough, but they don't want to spend a lot of money unnecessarily - and if donating monies to charities from the proceeds are involved, it would take away monies that could go to appropriate causes.
The same person that told me about the Marathon's cap also said that in other years that all they needed to do was work with the City to open up an extra lane, etc. and make the appropriate adjustments.
In the same vein, I was encouraged by Steven Karpas' comments in today's article by Dale Robertson in the Houston Chronicle.
Bigger, at least in terms of numbers, became an issue this year when the 15,000-runner limit for the marathon and half-marathon together was reached six weeks in advance, leaving lots of frustrated local runners out. Ways will be explored to increase the ceiling next year without sacrificing either order or safety.
"We'll look at all the options, maybe even having separate marathon and half-marathon courses or wave (staggered) starts," Karpas said. "But you have to remember we're inconveniencing people, businesses and churches for six hours because so many streets have to be closed."
Edwin Quarles and I both looked at each other when Chevron's representative at the press conference, Frank Herbst, said that they were looking at making the event next year be "bigger and better." Our thought was, "Well, what does 'bigger' mean?"
As far as inconvenience goes, find out how Chicago, New York, Boston, Indianapolis (Mini-Marathon) and others "sell" the inconvenience to their residents -- beyond the tradition alone and attempt to employ the same techniques that allow them to have anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 runners on the roads at a single time.
Karpas' leadership has overcome the limitations of having only a marathon and an auxillary event, such as a 5K, to make the day even a bigger event that more people will want to take part in.
The $64,000 question is: "How much farther can it be taken or can it at all?"
It seems like though that it is the issue for many marathons, including Houston and Austin.
posted by WalkSports.com | 12:27 PM
4 Comments:
I guess he could mean a couple of things:
1) They can figure out a way to allow more runners (staggered start, for example). As you said, if they can sell the road closures to the city, it might not be a bad idea, and would allow a lot more people to run.
2) They could try to hit up Chevron and other sponsors for more appearance/prize money. Ryan Hall's performance in the half may have opened some eyes to the fact that Houston has a great event on a great course. Maybe they'll try to go after more elites? The problem there, of course, is that they'd be competing (at least at the marathon distance) with New York, Chicago, London, Boston, and Berlin. There is a lot of money in those races.
That said, Ryan Hall put on a show for the ages on Sunday. Maybe that help take Houston's race to another level, whatever that might mean...
What's a bit of a concern is that the Marathon doesn't have the financial pull with the City right now the way things stand.
What do I mean? If Mary Kay can come in with their National Convention and move the Marathon out of its traditional date, what would happen if the city had 3 or 4 National Conventions in January that brought more money to the city than the Marathon did.
Something to think about.
What would the Marathon do?
Great comments and, as always, thanks for contributing.
Metro didn't use to be pleased with having to not use all its rail route, i.e. north of Rusk to UH.
Adding the Half was a pretty inexpensive add. The fixed costs would be the same whether the Half was there or not. All but 1-2 miles are on the same course, so you just add more fluids, a few cops and porta potties to the existing marathon route. Shirts are donated, medals cost ~$5/each or less AND you have a name sponsor for the race, so you have even more money.
I understand a squeeze point on the course is on Michaux. I'm not that fast, so I don't know for sure.
They COULD add a relay. lol.
Don't get the "bigger" comment either which just touched a nerve so I had to comment. Ironically they could create "bigger" by addressing some quality issues first that would allow the race to grow if they wan't it too.
The Houston Marathon continues to talk as if running a marathon is like rocket science. Houston is not all that unique compared to many major cities. I wish they would just travel to San Diego or Chicago with a notepad and just do what those guys do. They seem to pull it off every year with no problems and truly create a great race experience for the runner. These cities create running fans and not disgruntled ones who train for 6 months and get lousy excuses on why they can't open up 1,000 slots or create a true choral system instead of erecting a steel caged start line.
The main reason they try to justify not opening up the cap is safety or too much course congestion. Last time I checked the streets of New York, Chicago, LA, Vegas, Honolulu or all of the other huge races that don't even offer a half marathon don't seem to have the same problem.
If congestion is a problem here are a few suggestions that would work to improve the marathon right now.
1) Stagger the half and full start by one hour like Dallas did this year with marathoners starting at 7:00 AM and halfers starting at 8:00 AM.
2) Create a true start line choral system by :30 pace per mile increments, print predicted pace per mile on the race bib and force people into their proper choral. This sure does beat a steel cage choral that does nothing for traffic flow and is dangerous. All of the Rock n Roll races have done it for years and it works.
3)Keep walkers off the race course before the gun goes off! If you want to walk a long distance race line up with everyone else who paid 100 bucks, find a way to walk fast enough to finish in 6 hours, walk the half marathon so you have plenty of time to finish or think about becoming a runner.
4)Change the start/finish location. I know this is way out there and will probably never happen in my lifetime but the race is outgrowing the GRB area. Why not start/finish the marathon at Reliant Stadium. Plenty of cover and parking available and we probably won't have to worry about Texans playoff conflicts for years. San Antonio's marathon started at the Alamo and ended inside the Alamodome this year and it was a great race.
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