Schedule for Nationals?

[Bubba PV]

I've been complaining for weeks about the lack of times for our events. It's bad enough that we jump on Sunday but to have no set competition time has made it impossible to NOT stay over Sunday night and come back Monday. Maybe if enough people complain we'll get a schedule. At most Nationals they have posted the time you compete when they open entries, several months before the meet. Makes no sense for those traveling across the country that don’t or can’t miss work on Monday. Bubba

[master]

I concur. Who should we complain to?

- master

[rainbowgirl28]

I don't know, but I bet Ken Stone knows who to complain to.

[TrackCEO]

Bubba,

Bob Weiner has written to Spokane, asking the same question. (He needed some basic info for his USATF press release.)

No reply yet.

But here's the go-to person:

Marla Emde
Director of Event Services
Spokane Regional Sports Commission>
801 W. Riverside, Ste 510
Spokane, WA 99201-0901
509-456-5812
Direct Line 509-363-6825
marlae@spokanesports.org

[Bubba PV]

Thanks Ken and thanks for your info. She's sick of me by now since I first contacted her with this question in April. She agrees with my concerns and says that it should be brought up to the games committee - whoever that is. Ridiculous situation.
I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the Spokane area but it's the uncertain Monday that causes my concerns. Like everyone else, I have a super busy work schedule that I can't even juggle until I have some answers. Bubba

[rainbowgirl28]

There are a lot of officials from my Association working the meet, I will shoot them an email and see if they've heard anything.

[Bubba PV]

I got an email back from Marla saying that the schedule will be posted this weekend. Thanks for the extra pressure guys and gals!! Bubba

PS - we've got 16 in the M55 so I hope they don't put us with another group. I predict another AR by Jeff Kingstad! B

[rainbowgirl28]

Yeah I hear they won't even set the schedule until after entries close tonight. Hopefully it will be released tomorrow or Friday.

[rainbowgirl28]

Your thoughts?

I did pass the suggestion along, but later figured out exactly why they
don't do this. Until entries are in they have no idea which age groups can
be combined. Let us suppose that there are five age groups scheduled for a
particular event on, say, day 1. Entries might come in requiring five
different competitions, but more likely there may only be two. If the third
group had been told afternoon, but the first two only had five athletes,
what can they do?

Also, for most of the masters athletes, this is more of a social occasion
than a competition. Many of the athletes compete each year wherever the
meet is held. They compete with the same basic group each year and this is
the only time they see each other during the year. They will take extra
time to be at the meet so that they can catch up with their friends.

The committee also figures that the athletes will arrive at least a day
early to acclimate to the area and will generally not try to leave any
earlier than the day after their event.

[vaultmd]

Your thoughts?

I did pass the suggestion along, but later figured out exactly why they
don't do this. Until entries are in they have no idea which age groups can
be combined. Let us suppose that there are five age groups scheduled for a
particular event on, say, day 1. Entries might come in requiring five
different competitions, but more likely there may only be two. If the third
group had been told afternoon, but the first two only had five athletes,
what can they do?

Also, for most of the masters athletes, this is more of a social occasion
than a competition. Many of the athletes compete each year wherever the
meet is held. They compete with the same basic group each year and this is
the only time they see each other during the year. They will take extra
time to be at the meet so that they can catch up with their friends.

The committee also figures that the athletes will arrive at least a day
early to acclimate to the area and will generally not try to leave any
earlier than the day after their event.

Yeah. They need to remember that a lot of us have jobs and have to fight for time off. I no longer consider meets that don't publish the schedule well in advance.

[jumpbackin]

Your thoughts?

The committee also figures that the athletes will arrive at least a day
early to acclimate to the area and will generally not try to leave any
earlier than the day after their event.

I met a competitor last Thursday who was already here for the meet! Retirement must be so sweet.

[Bubba PV]

Every national meet I go to has a schedule up when they open entries. I book my flight based on the schedule so I can go home the same day if I jump in the morning as my 92 year old mother in law lives with us. Considering that the meet attracts 30 year olds on, it's safe to assume we have work responsibilities on Monday morning. When I inquired about our Sunday slot, I simply asked, will we jump in the morning or afternoon - AM or PM. They couldn't give me that. If it were in a major city with lots of flight choices it would be OK too.

I'm not bitching about Spokane. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the area. I just don’t like getting in Friday night at 10:30 and leaving Monday morning at 5:30 to get home by 1:30 to try and get some work done. If I jump in the morning I could have gotten out in the afternoon. With the unknown we're all stuck. I'm bitching so it doesn’t happen again.

With that said I'm thrilled someone has made the commitment to put on such a meet. The schedule should be the framework for everything else. Bubba