Théoden,
Not sure if you are being sarcastic about your comment ("Haven't been able to solve the mystery of 'Why No Races on Sunday?'"; see entry here), but pretty obvious to me why all races in this town are on Saturday.
There is this guy (or maybe gal..:) ) called GOD. Have you ever tried to drive down Providence road on a Sunday around 9 a.m.? It is pretty much impossible, especially as you get into Myers Park. Churchgoing folks are everywhere, parked on the road and in spots that during the week day are illegal.
Since you moved here, how many folks have asked you what church you go to? I was NEVER asked this question [up north], but it comes up every couple of months here when I meet someone new.
I don't think any race director could successfully pull off a Sunday race here, especially since you have to secure the police. Also, during football season, this town is not big enough for some other event and a Panthers game ... however ... if the team keeps playing like it did Sunday, maybe that will change.
Sincerely,
A.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Another letter to the blogger
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8 comments:
This writer is on the right path with this. You can't close the roads and prevent people from getting to their church, plus all the off duty cops that are usually hired to work races are tied up directing traffic for churches. However trail races could be run. We have parks, trails and greenways. Let's go R4YL!! Give us some Sunday trail/greenway races!!!!
I think the writer is right on the money. It's a church thing. I don't even think trail races would be viable. Attendance would probably be way down for a Sunday race.
Personally, I prefer Saturday races (even though I'm an atheist!) and have never really understood why nationwide so many races seem to be Sunday. Saturday just makes more sense to me. Always has.
I think someone should contact Tim Rhodes from Run For Your Life and the promoter for most races in the Charlotte area and see what he has to say on this. In addition, perhaps someone from CMPD who does traffic control for events might chime in. I know Raleigh and Charlotte are different, but the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh, and a large race is held on a Saturday. I understand the Charlotte Thunder Road Marathon held in December is run on a Saturday, perhaps to avaid any conflict with Panther football traffic.
I was born in NC and have lived my whole life in the South, but am tired of hearing Southerners say races are held on Sundays in other parts of the country because those folks attend church less. Give me a break. Have you seen how many people are driving to a Panther game on Sunday morning. They have seem to have been able to work out this problem. Not having a Sunday race during Panther football season is understandable. There are only so many Police officers to handle traffic control in the City. Doesn't explain the non-Panther time of the year.
I did two triathlons this summer in the Charlotte area and they were both on a Sunday. These events were well attended with 500+ participants and were well managed with police and volunteers stopping traffic on the bike and run course. Seems like running races might do OK on Sundays too.
To Anon 9:09, Tim Rhodes is a religious person who is probably opposed to Sunday races because of his beliefs. This could be another reason for only have races on Saturdays.
To Anon 8:09, were these tris in Charlotte? Were Charlotte police involved? Other cities and counties have different rules about when and where streets can be closed and how many cops can be used and how much they're paid.
I do my long runs on Sunday mornings and since my route takes me past some rather large churches it does get a bit tricky.
I learned to stay off Sharon Road because the faithful will run you down like an animal on that road.
I always hear people from elsewhere say that people down here constantly ask them where they go to church. I've lived in the south all my life and never gotten this question. I'm an athiest so maybe I give off a vibe, who knows but I certainly have never been shunned for my lack of beliefs.
All things being equal I'd rather have those races on Saturday so I can still do my long run on Sunday or if its a half I have a recovery day before the week starts back up.
I've lived in both the north and the south and Saturday races are the norm everywhere.
In my opinion, races are held Saturday for the same reason restaurants and movie theaters are busy Saturdays: that's everyone's first day off from the work week and time to let loose and be entertained and have fun.
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