Runnerville

Toni brings up a great debate about appearance money versus prize money in his most recent feature article. He cites the recent decision by 9 of the world’s top 25 golfers to play in Qatar for guaranteed (i.e., appearance) money over the prize-money-only Buick Invitational. I want to take a slight tangent from that argument to talk about something perhaps even more troubling as it relates to prize money: the Tiger Woods effect.

A recent Slate.com article investigates the motivating effects of financial incentives as they pertain to golf. The article cites a study by Jennifer Brown that investigates whether golfers actually play worse when Tiger Woods is in the tournament. The first paragraph starts: Read more…

That old tyme running conundrum - appearance money versus prize money - reared up this past weekend at, of all places, the PGA TOUR. San Diego Union Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan lays out the issue of guaranteed money at the European Tour’s Qatar Masters syphoning nine of the world’s top 25 pros away from the prize-money-only Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, site of this summer’s U.S. Open. “Players say: Show us the money, we’ll follow.” If only running’s money was of a similar scale. Should running move towards prize money only?

“Players say: Show us the money, we’ll follow”

Millrose is nigh upon us: Friday. Madison Square Garden. Can you feel the tingles?

Up here in New York, they would have you believe that The Garden is a special place, unlike any other. Well, those people are right. So, as Friday draws ever nigher, I’ve put together a little crib sheet for those attending and for the non-NYers trying to get their heads around that famed mystique (with help from Deadspin.com).

1. For all you reporters out there… …you better behave yourselves.
2. Bring your crazy pills because I think there is something in the air.
3. Re: If you enjoy the ambience of The Garden so much you don’t want to leave.
4. Think twice before you unleash on Lagat if he doesn’t deliver.
5. The Garden is a magical place where fan participation is the only thing that affects outcomes in competition. So if you don’t cheer, expect a coach or two to yell at you.
6. Blackmail = encouraged. Please feel free to bring along those racy pictures your cousin took of Galen Rupp at that party he went to in Eugene last spring.
7. See Entry #3.
8. See Entry #7. (2nd from bottom on linked page)
9. On second thought, skip the PR opening and just apply for “Bossman” because clearly there are few requirements in terms of humility, common sense, and class.

See you Friday!

Only 98 more episodes before we reach triple digits! Look out Jaffe Juice.

In this episode:
Toni Reavis wants to set the mood.
Scott Bush feeds the Boston/New York rivalry.
Amby Burfoot reviews Spirit of the Marathon.
Jay Johnson thinks running can be cool.
Jeremy Mosher pits Lopez Lomong (wearing a green singlet) against Chris Lukezic (wearing a blue and red singlet) at halftime of an Eagles v Giants game.
Chris Lear hopes Millrose can return to this:

Matt Taylor hands out his winners and losers.

What do you think? Are we on the right path? Way off? How long before The Daily Show comes looking for Jeremy Mosher? Let us know by leaving a comment below or calling the comment line: +1 206-888-0346. Don’t be afraid.

[Music by Millis Pride, now Autumn Hollow]

Craig Mottram takes down The Emperor’s US-soil record in Boston with a 7:34.50 and, as is becoming typical of him, leaves us with a colorful quote:

Mottram said he did not know it was Gebrselassie’s record he beat until after the race. He said, “Had I known it was Haile’s (record), I would have tried a little bit harder.” 

Tried a little bit harder?  Who does Mottram think he is?  Only Nick Willis is allowed to leave fans speculating over how much faster he could have gone in a given race.

On Friday, I built my fantasy “team” for Saturday’s Reebok Boston Indoor Games.

On Thursday, the USATF announced its new Pick-N-Win Fantasy Game, track’s first dive into a fantasy world dominated by the Big Four (sports leagues, not accounting firms).  The format is pretty simple: Before each meet in the Visa Championship Series, fans can pick their winners for each event, and after the meet is over, the team scores are tallied up using traditional track and field scoring: 10 points for first place, 8 points for second, 6 points for third, and so on.  Weekly winners receive prize packages including cash and Nike/USATF gear.  Not too shabby.

I don’t expect men in cubicles to be organizing fantasy track leagues anytime soon, but I am hopeful that the Pick-N-Win is one small way the USATF can stimulate its base.  From the looks of the game’s standings board, participation was high for Week One — and the standings board only lists the top 500.  Considering that fans only had about 48 hours from the USATF’s announcement to the Boston Indoor Games to register and punch in their picks, I’d say the turnout was phenomenal.

How did I fare in week 1?  Well, I managed to squeak out 103 points (the winners scored 128), good enough for 135th place in the overall standings.  Watch out, Bullets, Ultimate High TC, and LoopyNed — I’m hot on your tail going into Millrose.

I went to Abilene Christian University.

Running enthusiasts will recognize the name of the Division II Texas school immediately because it is one of — if not the – most storied track and field programs in America, regardless of division. A combined 55 men’s and women’s Division II National Titles. Texas Monthly’s “Sports Dynasty of the Century.” Training ground for Olympians. You get the picture.

But in my six years — four undergraduate and two graduate — as a student reporter covering Wildcat running, I only recall one home meet at which I wasn’t more or less alone in the stands. (the 2005 National Championship meet) The rest of them were downright lonely. Roughly 5,000 students were walking around our West Read more…

Welcome to the first episode of The Toni & Matt Show, featuring Toni Reavis and Matt Taylor. In this episode:
Intro
- Welcome
- Listener expectations
News
- The track season is underway, but with no Defar v Dibaba showdown.
- Craig Masback’s resignation. What it means and where we go.
- Violence continues in Kenya. Will it effect performance?
- Honolulu Marathon timing woes.
Runnerville Weekly Recap
- Has track lost touch with it’s fundamentals (i.e., racing)?
- Chris Lear ponders how much we want to know about our athletes.
Outro

Comments?
- Send them to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com
- Call our comment line: +1 206-888-0346. The first caller will get some as-yet-undetermined prize.

Music is “Over My Head” by Jeff Mallon.

One of the hottest topics in the running community this past week has been the relative success of the recent Michigan versus The Ohio State University dual meet. The dual meet is compact, the team competition relatively easy to follow. What I think made “The Dual” most interesting, though, was that with Wolverines facing down their one natural enemy, the Buckeye, state tree of Ohio, you just knew both sides would be bringing it, and hard. That’s called intrigue, baby.

Well after the jump, I’ve compiled a little list of some other dual-meets I think we’d all like to see on the track and promoted to the hilt. The chief criteria? Serious rivalry, serious talent, serious commitment to getting the dang thing over while the student-athletes are both students and athletes. Read more…

How does running - a delayed gratification - compete in a world tied to opening weekend box office, # of weeks on the best-seller list, and the quarterly business cycle?  The whole enterprise is antithetical to the 21st century American ethos.