I think the smaller races should stick to the 10 year age divisions vs the 5 year ones. That makes the awards more valuable. Also, I see so many unclaimed trophies at smaller races because they didn't have enough entrants into that age group. I don't think it makes sense for the 3 guys age 40-44 to get trophies just for showing up and running. You can't always fix that, even with the decade divisions, but it would be a start.
And, races that small should really consider some type of finishers award to give to everyone instead of trying to pay for and manage all of the narrow age groups.
What do you all think of graduating awards? I do like that idea. But I have never complained if the first place racer walked home with the overall, Masters overall, and first place age group trophies. Technically, that person earned the rights to all of those awards.
But graduating people up does tend to make things more exciting a little further back in the pack. And I have yet to meet a fast runner that was bummed they didn't get trophies other than their top 5 overall one, while the person that moves up and claims the newly created 3rd place slot in the age group always seems to be really excited. So it works out.
And, races that small should really consider some type of finishers award to give to everyone instead of trying to pay for and manage all of the narrow age groups.
What do you all think of graduating awards? I do like that idea. But I have never complained if the first place racer walked home with the overall, Masters overall, and first place age group trophies. Technically, that person earned the rights to all of those awards.
But graduating people up does tend to make things more exciting a little further back in the pack. And I have yet to meet a fast runner that was bummed they didn't get trophies other than their top 5 overall one, while the person that moves up and claims the newly created 3rd place slot in the age group always seems to be really excited. So it works out.
Yes, that true for many of the smaller races down here (in Vancouver area at least). For example in the 10k race I ran 3 weeks earlier (with ~270 participants, small for a local race), the age groups are mostly in 10-year age group divisions, which makes things alot more competitive. I was in the M20-34 AG which had 40 contestants.. many of them very competitive. I managed a decent time but placed 14th in the AG. The big races however usually stick to the 4-5 year age group divisions. However to balance it out, most races I've been to will offer random draw prizes (from race numbers) available to all race participants so at least everybody gets an equal chance of taking home some hardware. (Although I've not been so lucky yet...)
I've never put any ounce of thought into any of this. Not sure if I want to think much about it either.
I train to run and do well.
That's it.
I train to run and do well.
That's it.
Back to the original question.
I can qualify as an Athena/Filly/Clydesdale. I choose not to, because I don't feel my weight is that much of a factor. Or, maybe a better way to phrase it, I don't want my weight to be factor in determining awards that I might win. I guess I would rather win/place in my age group that win/place overall due to my weight. Just because I might weigh more than half my age group, I still might be better trained and able to kick some ass in AG.
Of course, I run pretty small races. I think I have run about 13 races, and I have won age group awards in 4 of them. So hardware can come pretty easy here in Ohio. Sometimes it's just a matter of showing up.
Hardware and Race Directors
AG awards, weight categories, and novice categories are pretty much the discretion of the RD. The last 5K I ran, there were only awards with top competitors. That was cool. That was what the RD had posted.
I can understand the splits in ages and the five deep in awards categories, especially for the small hometown races. Most of the time, half your racers will go home with a trophy. They will brag about it, and hopefully they will return the next year. This spring I ran a 5 miler in Marietta, along with a 5K walk. The awards were about 5 deep, in each age category. It took the RD longer to present awards that it did to run the 5 miler! But this was race for the local YMCA. Everyone was 99.9% local (except for me) lots of folks got trophies, I'm sure it was in the local paper, and there will probaly be a good turnout for next year's race too. People like to get hardware, especially when this might be the only race they run/walk that year. Hardware is a good way to get the youth involved, and maybe get return runners the next year.
I can qualify as an Athena/Filly/Clydesdale. I choose not to, because I don't feel my weight is that much of a factor. Or, maybe a better way to phrase it, I don't want my weight to be factor in determining awards that I might win. I guess I would rather win/place in my age group that win/place overall due to my weight. Just because I might weigh more than half my age group, I still might be better trained and able to kick some ass in AG.
Of course, I run pretty small races. I think I have run about 13 races, and I have won age group awards in 4 of them. So hardware can come pretty easy here in Ohio. Sometimes it's just a matter of showing up.
Hardware and Race Directors
AG awards, weight categories, and novice categories are pretty much the discretion of the RD. The last 5K I ran, there were only awards with top competitors. That was cool. That was what the RD had posted.
I can understand the splits in ages and the five deep in awards categories, especially for the small hometown races. Most of the time, half your racers will go home with a trophy. They will brag about it, and hopefully they will return the next year. This spring I ran a 5 miler in Marietta, along with a 5K walk. The awards were about 5 deep, in each age category. It took the RD longer to present awards that it did to run the 5 miler! But this was race for the local YMCA. Everyone was 99.9% local (except for me) lots of folks got trophies, I'm sure it was in the local paper, and there will probaly be a good turnout for next year's race too. People like to get hardware, especially when this might be the only race they run/walk that year. Hardware is a good way to get the youth involved, and maybe get return runners the next year.
I still might be better trained and able to kick some ass in AG
I like your attitude 8)
thanks for another opinion on why age divisions CAN be beneficial to a race. It gives the topic a new perspective. I was at an awards ceremony today, that was way long................but it was local and I got to meet some beginners that I was SO wishing them to nab a medal. I told them that they can look forward to improving their time next year.
Back to the original question.
I can qualify as an Athena/Filly/Clydesdale. I choose not to, because I don't feel my weight is that much of a factor. Or, maybe a better way to phrase it, I don't want my weight to be factor in determining awards that I might win. I guess I would rather win/place in my age group that win/place overall due to my weight. Just because I might weigh more than half my age group, I still might be better trained and able to kick some ass in AG.
Of course, I run pretty small races. I think I have run about 13 races, and I have won age group awards in 4 of them. So hardware can come pretty easy here in Ohio. Sometimes it's just a matter of showing up.
Hardware and Race Directors
AG awards, weight categories, and novice categories are pretty much the discretion of the RD. The last 5K I ran, there were only awards with top competitors. That was cool. That was what the RD had posted.
I can understand the splits in ages and the five deep in awards categories, especially for the small hometown races. Most of the time, half your racers will go home with a trophy. They will brag about it, and hopefully they will return the next year. This spring I ran a 5 miler in Marietta, along with a 5K walk. The awards were about 5 deep, in each age category. It took the RD longer to present awards that it did to run the 5 miler! But this was race for the local YMCA. Everyone was 99.9% local (except for me) lots of folks got trophies, I'm sure it was in the local paper, and there will probaly be a good turnout for next year's race too. People like to get hardware, especially when this might be the only race they run/walk that year. Hardware is a good way to get the youth involved, and maybe get return runners the next year.
I'd like to debate that statement!
I can qualify as an Athena/Filly/Clydesdale. I choose not to, because I don't feel my weight is that much of a factor. Or, maybe a better way to phrase it, I don't want my weight to be factor in determining awards that I might win. I guess I would rather win/place in my age group that win/place overall due to my weight. Just because I might weigh more than half my age group, I still might be better trained and able to kick some ass in AG.
Of course, I run pretty small races. I think I have run about 13 races, and I have won age group awards in 4 of them. So hardware can come pretty easy here in Ohio. Sometimes it's just a matter of showing up.
Hardware and Race Directors
AG awards, weight categories, and novice categories are pretty much the discretion of the RD. The last 5K I ran, there were only awards with top competitors. That was cool. That was what the RD had posted.
I can understand the splits in ages and the five deep in awards categories, especially for the small hometown races. Most of the time, half your racers will go home with a trophy. They will brag about it, and hopefully they will return the next year. This spring I ran a 5 miler in Marietta, along with a 5K walk. The awards were about 5 deep, in each age category. It took the RD longer to present awards that it did to run the 5 miler! But this was race for the local YMCA. Everyone was 99.9% local (except for me) lots of folks got trophies, I'm sure it was in the local paper, and there will probaly be a good turnout for next year's race too. People like to get hardware, especially when this might be the only race they run/walk that year. Hardware is a good way to get the youth involved, and maybe get return runners the next year.
I'd like to debate that statement!
I'd like to debate that statement!You just need to run some 55 - 65 mile weeks to take home some more hardware!
I'd like to debate that statement!
:) Ok, how about I say "hardware comes pretty easy here in Ohio for a female in the age 35-39 group." :P
:) Ok, how about I say "hardware comes pretty easy here in Ohio for a female in the age 35-39 group." :P
Okay, so I felt like I HAD to say something in response here, not just to the post I quoted either, but to a lot of the negative feedback I read about Athena division. I just won the Athena Division for a TRI here in Illinois. The cut off was 150lbs+ and I'm 150 on the dot, and I'm NOT EMBARRASSED about participating in a weight class, especially since I also came in 2nd place overall in my age division of 20-24yr olds. I'm 20 years old, 150lbs, but also 6 feet tall, but I'm a size 4, not 8. Oh, and I'm a DI TRACK ATHLETE. Not all Athenas are huge old women who find "support with the fellow bigger women in the weight division because of their size." How rude. Or the one post that said it should be based on BMI. The head track coach at my University takes our BMI once a month and requires us to be under 13%. Additionally, muscle weighs more than fat, so wherever I read that "it's an advantage for the swim" on this forum, that person can shove it too. STOP RAGGING ON THE ATHENA DIVISION. I can't help that I'm 6 feet tall with a muscle packed fame and love to do triathlons. Same goes for most of the women I see in this division.