Western States 100 Cancelled
The fires in Northern California have claimed its latest victim: the Western States Endurance Run. For the first time in its 35-year history, the race will be cancelled.
I've talked to Rick quite a bit over the last day and obviously he's pretty bummed. He has busted his ass to put himself into a position to finish the granddaddy of trail running.
Waverly and I were both very excited about the prospects of this weekend. Our plan was to meet Rick in Auburn so he could drop his rental car there at the finish and then we were going to stay in a condo that he rented for Thursday and Friday.
We have with us the Houston Running Bloggers banner (yes, it fit in the suitcase) as well as The Woodlands Running Club banner.
They were going to be used for pre- and post-race pictures.
I specifically had also not written about the event in my Courier column so that I wouldn't jinx Rick's finish (not that it really mattered, but why let things to chance?) I also have the same type of deal with Kim Hager.
We're as disappointed about not being able to spectate and cheer Rick on as he is about not being able to run in the event.
Waverly and I both looked at each other last night at dinner wondering what we were going to do. We don't have hotel rooms planned now as our flight home isn't until Sunday evening.
The race will be making some decisions about the 2009 race as soon as possible. Personally, I think that the 2008 entrants should get to run the 2009 race since it is clear that race officials never had a backup plan in place. It is one thing that the Chevron Houston Marathon can't simply shut down one week and do it over the following week, but I can't imagine that a race of this magnitude hadn't thought this whole thing through.
The race did the right thing from a safety standpoint, but its response over the coming days is how they'll be judged.
I've talked to Rick quite a bit over the last day and obviously he's pretty bummed. He has busted his ass to put himself into a position to finish the granddaddy of trail running.
Waverly and I were both very excited about the prospects of this weekend. Our plan was to meet Rick in Auburn so he could drop his rental car there at the finish and then we were going to stay in a condo that he rented for Thursday and Friday.
We have with us the Houston Running Bloggers banner (yes, it fit in the suitcase) as well as The Woodlands Running Club banner.
They were going to be used for pre- and post-race pictures.
I specifically had also not written about the event in my Courier column so that I wouldn't jinx Rick's finish (not that it really mattered, but why let things to chance?) I also have the same type of deal with Kim Hager.
We're as disappointed about not being able to spectate and cheer Rick on as he is about not being able to run in the event.
Waverly and I both looked at each other last night at dinner wondering what we were going to do. We don't have hotel rooms planned now as our flight home isn't until Sunday evening.
The race will be making some decisions about the 2009 race as soon as possible. Personally, I think that the 2008 entrants should get to run the 2009 race since it is clear that race officials never had a backup plan in place. It is one thing that the Chevron Houston Marathon can't simply shut down one week and do it over the following week, but I can't imagine that a race of this magnitude hadn't thought this whole thing through.
The race did the right thing from a safety standpoint, but its response over the coming days is how they'll be judged.
posted by WalkSports.com | 3:08 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home