Distance Racing

[Soldier5082]

Before my latest stint into rowing, I was an ultra-runner and raced frequently in the southern CA area. I was a moderately decent runner but, truth be told, I'm a far stronger rower. I've rowed off an on for more than two decades but the lack of any races longer than 2000m always forces me eventually back into running where ultra events have been growing steadily for the last many years. 10 years ago there were only about thirty 100 mile races in the US; last year there were 127. Ultra running has grown leaps and bounds but I still can't get a competition on an erg longer than 2k. 2K is a sprint and I'm an endurance athlete...they just don't fit well. I'm not looking for 100s yet but a 10K or half-marathon event would be nice.

Seriously, who would accept a world where the longest race a runner could do was a 2K? No Boston, New York or London Marathon; no Peachtree Road race or local 5Ks? Why cant the erging world begin to add longer races to some of the existing events? The evidence suggests there is a significant void to fill and becomes an alternate way to grow the sport. If you have any doubt there interest is there, just look at the Honor Board....there are a whole lot of people logging big meters everyday.

Is this something in the works somewhere or are there some longer races that I just can't find? If not, I'd offer it might be time to expand erg events to include something for those of us that find something s that want to push it a bit farther.

-Robert Harris

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." - T.S. Eliot

[Bob S.]

It is a matter of economics. An erging event promoter has to provide the machines and the necessary computer hardware and can only have a limited number of participants at one time. A running event does not have that sort of equipment expense and does not have the rather severe limit on numbers of participants that an indoor rowing event has. On the water, it is a better situation, since the participants provide their own boats. And there are a lot of 5k events on the water in the fall season. There are a number of special site longer races, like the Catalina to Marina del Rey race in SoCal and the around the Farallons in the S.F. Bay Area The ultimate long distance OTW rowing events, of course, are the trans-oceanic races.

Bob S.

[hjs]

Rowing is all about the 2k, there are some longer races, but not manny.

Looking at the perspective of getting people involved, not doing longer but shorter stuff would be better. But it simply is not hapening. To organise a event is always a lot of hasle, work etc. So the few races that get organised are most often 2k s.
We used to have a marathon here one a year, but that event dead out, not enough participation.

Lets face it, the erg is a perfect training tool for home and online, but for racing it is less handy.

[Ralph Earle]

For several years there has been an erg marathon overlooking the Boston Marathon route the same day as the race. Look for posts from RIck Bayko.

[Soldier5082]

The economics issue is interesting but having volunteered and helped with several ultras over the years, I can tell you the logistics of having 300+ people running through the night over a 100 mile course are pretty extreme. Many race directors truly spend the full year getting ready for the next event. There are permitting issues, insurance, air rescue, coordinating 20 plus aid stations including the food, drinks and volunteers to man them for 30-hours plus often in cold and rainy conditions. There are HAM radio operators, need for bathroom facilities throughout the course and either end. There is course marking to be done before the event, course sweeps during and medical checks at various aid stations. And yes there are severe limitations on how many runners there can be because of useage rights and permitting. Most 100 mile races have less than 150 people participate. It is a tremendous undertaking, very costly and yet racers generally pay only about $100 or so for a race entry.

Having said that putting on a distance event at a place that already puts on 2K races would seem to pale by comparison, especially if done in conjunction with a 2K event. There should be really no added cost other than maybe a few hours added to the event. It would seem to me to be pure profit. Seriously, what would it take to add a 5K or 10K? There is little or no added cost. And comeon, if Crossfit can put on a half-marathon race as just one event of many over several days, why can't the rowing community manage one of their own. I think we are missing out on a major opportunity for expanding the sport....at least, I feel like I'M missing out. I guess I'll start looking for my next run.

[jamesg]

Ergs can be connected over the net. You could start that way, organising 24h or 100k races. Then if you find enough interest you can always hire a stadium and a few 100 hundred ergs from C2.

I suspect such long distance stuff is of far more interest to cyclists; the recent Marathon in the Dolomites here had about 20 thousand applicants, but participants were limited to only 9000. There were more than 20 sponsors, and of course TV stations lap it up thanks to the spectacular environment, not to mention the local hoteliers.

http://www.maratona.it/en/

The 70 km Marcialonga in winter on narrow skis has a similar status here. Some oldies have been doing it for 20 years.