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Reply to "A New, Internet-based, National Running Data Center"

One reason NRDC worked so well was that Ken Young was hugely proactive in contacting and convincing race directors to send him their results. In RRIC, Ryan Lamppa worked in a similar manner. In both organizations, the number of race results obtained was only a fraction of the races run. The race organizations were either unaware of the need for information or simply did not care to send it.

Complicating this, when a fast time was run, the race directors were sent applications for records, which contained lots of questions that required work to answer. This was not a welcome chore for many race directors.

We have a tight group of course certifiers, and have succeeded in making available all that we know about what’s certified and what is not. This information does not readily cross over to race information. We are never certain exactly which course is used for which race. This is known only to the race directors. Their knowledge is often incomplete. After a few years goes by the original course measurement certificate and course map get lost as race directors change, and all that remains are paint marks on the road and a vague recollection that “the course is certified.”

David’s idea is an attractive one, but one that will need somebody to continually beat on the heads of all the race directors to get their results.

The race directors’ main goal is to provide a good racing experience for their runners, and they put in hard work toward this. Anything that adds to their work is unwelcome. They need to be shown what they will gain by doing the extra work of cooperating in this venture. It has to be more than altruism. Doing good is desirable, but by putting on a race they have already done a good thing, They may not wish to do more.

It’s a good idea. Who is out there to make it go? Any volunteers?
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