HARRA - January 2006 Meeting
Thanks
for attending the first meeting of 2006!
Glad to see that neither stiff legs nor flooding rain will keep you from
The
committee discussed the fact that the 30k was a well organized race with no
medical issues. As for the marathon,
while the conditions were not “optimal” everyone was extremely impressed with
the growth and quality of the race. A
couple of runners experienced issues with the water stations not having water
fully ready and available to hand to passing runners.
A general
discussion was held concerning the planning for the Fall 2006 series.
There have been some questions concerning the ability for a race to move
dates in order to improve weather conditions.
HARRA’s requirements specify that any race
over a 10k has to be more than two weeks away from another HARRA event. Consequently if the Fall Series Races were
spaced like they were for 2005, at a month apart, there would be an ability for a race to move. The committee also discussed that an
additional shorter “tune up” race used to take place after the 30k, and that
the series does not currently have this race in place.
The
Spring Series Races have been posted on the HARRA website. Note that the Terlinqua’s
LP Run will take place on April 19, not the
April 22 date currently on the website. Also the final Bayou Bash Relay will be a 4
x 2.5 mile event, not 2 x 2.5 as posted on the website. The website is being updated.
For the
IRON Foot Award, HARRA members must complete the first six races of the
series. However, volunteering at one of
those races will count towards the Iron Foot Award.
The Just
for Kids event was cancelled this fall due to rain and lightning. The event spent approximately $6,200 with
$2,600 being left as a surplus. HARRA is
currently running at a surplus.
Consequently HARRA will ask the major sponsors if they want their money
back, or if they want their portion of the surplus to be held for next years
race.
Additionally,
the Memorial Park Running Club has decided that they do not want to organize
the race for next year. HARRA plans to
ask the member clubs if one of them will want to host the event next year. If no club wants to organize the event, then
HARRA will form a sub-committee of the board to plan and organize the event. If any club wants to organize the event,
please contact HARRA.
We will
announce the Club Competition and ROTS winners at the Buffalo Wallow on
February 4, 2006. HARRA will once again
award a total of $3050 to the ROTS winners this year. Tom will take care of getting new plaques for
the Club Competition winners this year.
They will be presented at the first Spring Race possible.
HARRA
will award the Marathon Finisher Towels to the HARRA members who completed the
Marla and
Caroline Burum are planning the Spring Party in the
Park for late March or early April. The
board suggested that the PIP occur in April after the date when HARRA opens its
new registration period and that the PIP be used to kick off sign-ups for the
2006-2007 HARRA membership year.
This year
HARRA has been addressing complaints about PIM.
PIM has been asked to propose new coaching guidelines that would allow
all clubs to have coaches in the program.
PIM has not suggested any proposals despite being invited to do so on
multiple occasions. A suggestion that
has been made to PIM is to have runners who want to become a coach serve as an
“assistant coach” during one season. This
meets PIM’s request to make sure a “fit” exists
between the coach and the program, while opening the PIM program to experienced
HARRA members who want to volunteer their time.
PIM has not responded to this proposal.
In the continued absence of a proposal from PIM, HARRA will develop and
vote on a proposal for this HARRA program at the February meeting.
The City
of
The
architect at Kirksey Architects has promised delivery
of the presentation materials by the next (February) meeting.
We now
have 1539 total members, not including those who signed up or renewed at the
Marathon Expo.
As noted
above, we are running at a significant surplus over last year.
We are
looking forward to a great Spring!
Tom