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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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 Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 9:16 am Post subject: what's Dan do with his time? |
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I'm sure some of you wonder from time to time what I do to keep busy in between posting in the forum ... it's not like anything has been added to the site in ages, right??? Well, let me tell you a little story...
Maybe a month or two ago, I got an email from some super angry fella who was submitting a link to the running directory and was pissed that the other events listed in the state he was submitting to were old (not out of date links, just not new events, whatever that was supposed to mean). Here is the enlightening discussion:
| Quote: | him: As the race director for a Florida event I've just submitted a race to your "East" > "Florida" calendar. Is it your intention to let this section die from neglect? The page reflects very badly on you and your site since the races listed are from the years 1999 and 2000. You, or Able Design, should maintain the page, imho.
me: First of all, thank you for submitting to your event (to the links directory, not to the calendar, by the way). However, I have to ask... You've got to be kidding??? You submitted your event 8 minutes before sending this message and are implying neglect on my part? Have you ever tried maintaining 10,000 running links that change on a daily basis, for zero pay no less? I will take a look at your event, but please try looking at the big picture before insinuating a lack of interest or time spent.
him: I was obviously not referring to my own entry. And I did submit two entries, one of which was, or so it appeared, to the Florida event calendar and yes, there are no other entries since the year 2000 and I do believe that you're in the wrong business. I'm sure you want to be seen from your best side and that page is indeed neglected. You can't handle a legitimate concern sent to a posted email address and I will refrain from making suggestions in the future. |
What's my point in sharing that? Nothing really. Just one example of the bizarre expectations that float around the 'net and land on my front porch from time to time... This individual obviously had no concept of that which he spoke. I keep busy enough keeping the listing current, let alone scouring the 'net for new sites to add. I spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in the early days of Run-Down building up the directory (I'm gaining more and more respect for Google every day). If people want to submit their own event, that's how new things get added...
Just a week or two ago, I discovered that RRCA (road runners club of america) had changed their entire site setup to a new structure. As a result, I had to update about 120 links to their club and event pages (by state) to reflect the new URLs. I just noticed today that Cool Running had done the same with their event calendars, making another 65 or so links to update. Mr. Personality above probably doesn't even have that many links on his entire site to worry about... I've got a backlog of about 800-900 dead links (mostly schools and clubs, which are a real pain in the a$$ to keep updated) to wade through, with more being reported all the time.
Now you understand what I do ... and this is just (one of) my hobby! 
Dan |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 9:44 am Post subject: Thanks! |
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Dan I think I speak for everyone on this board, when say thanks for maintaining such a high quaility website. I haven't come across a more user friendly, or comprehensive running website. You've got links to every running club, high school and college team I've ever heard of and hundreds more that I haven't. Not to mention a pretty darn good set of message boards. And obviously a lot more. I hope your hobby here can turn into something that pays your bills, and that all the time I and the other regulars spend on the sight can help to support your little hobbie. 
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 10:01 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, DG. Means a lot coming from someone who hasn't always agreed with me.
The site actually did pay a good chunk of the bills back in the hey day of online advertising (I probably wouldn't have quit my job and gone solo with web design if not for the advertising income I had at the time), but that dried up a year and a half ago and probably doesn't even cover the monthly hosting expense anymore...
Still, I have no intention of ever letting Run-Down slip into obscurity, regardless of time requirements or income. The increase in forum participation definitely helps keep things going, especially when I get the occasional note like from the person above.
Dan |
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2002 3:51 am Post subject: |
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DAN, I can't be spending my time on Open Mic Night !! Mad Dog is outposting me 20-1 !!.
Seriously, though, DG speaks for me, too. Plus you've got an elegant layout here. Many places are just too busy-looking.
As far as the Discussion Forum I just stopped looking elsewhere. The information and the civility of the posts are refreshing. Must be Micah's Southern Manners influence!! 
I invision that some of us might even run into one another at track meets some time in the future.
Now if you could just get us a quantity discount on that Lactate Pro ($900), then everything would be rosy. But if DG found out my lactate threshold occurred at 8:30 min miles, he'd probably gather up all my posts and send me packing!! 
Keep up the good work, but enjoy yourself this summer, too.
Paul |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2002 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Paul.
| Quote: | | you've got an elegant layout here. Many places are just too busy-looking. |
You never get a second chance to make a first impression...
I actually did meet one of the forum posters at a home meet this spring. Surprised the heck out of him.
Member discounts? That could be an interesting way to boost the community bond and help fund the site, if it could be pulled off. The key, of course, would be bringing together enough desirable sponsors and having something valuable enough to offer them in return (visibility, guaranteed sales at some discount, etc.). A number of people happily offered prizes for the old Run-Down contests (no guaranteed sales in return) -- but that got to be such a nightmare to administer prize delivery that it dropped by the wayside -- so that has a wee bit of potential.
Dan |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2002 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| pnb470 wrote: | . But if DG found out my lactate threshold occurred at 8:30 min miles, he'd probably gather up all my posts and send me packing!!
Paul |
No worries Paul, you don't have to run fast to speak intelligently. As a matter of fact there are times when I think being a good runner hurts a persons ability to give good advice.
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Shaun Fox
Water Boy
Joined: 15 Jul 2001
Posts: 78
Location: Peterborough, England
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with DG to you do a great job maintaining and running this site and its the best running site i have came across. thanks and welldone |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 6:49 am Post subject: |
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You're welcome, and thank you.
Dan |
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Micah Ward
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 08 May 2000
Posts: 2152
Location: Hot&humid, GA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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Here is the major problem with your site Dan. You have so much stuff and the forums are so interesting that I can't find the time to go anywhere else. 
In all seriousness I have not found another site with the quality of this one. And as I have stated before, the civility and maturity of the forums keep me coming back. Although I haven't met anyone in person from the forum I would gladly buy the first round of mint juleps for any of us who might get together one of these days. How about that Paul? In fact I will even go so far as to say that if I ever meet you Dan, dinner is on me!
You do a great job with this site and the fantasy league was a stroke of genius. The next logical step would be for as many of us as possible to pick a year and all show up to compete in the National Master's Track & Field Meet. Any takers?
Keep up the good work Dan and forget that neanderthal from Florida. They got no manners down there anyway.  |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Micah, I like the idea of everyone getting together for a track meet although I've still got a year or two before I'm a master. Mint juleps, must be a GA thing, but if any of you are ever passing through corn country, I got the first beer.
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Micah Ward
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 08 May 2000
Posts: 2152
Location: Hot&humid, GA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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It doesn't hurt to get a wild thought and hatch a plan. What year would you be eligble for the Masters meet DG? If it is 2-3 years down the road that gives us plenty of time to train and save traveling money.
Maybe even have tee shirts for "TEAM RUN-DOWN" ? |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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I have no idea what a mint julip is, but thanks for the offer of southern hospitality.
| Quote: | | Maybe even have tee shirts for "TEAM RUN-DOWN" ? |
I've actually toyed with that idea... I had a CafePress.com store set up to experiment with t-shirt Team Run-Down designs (ice packs on runners and what not), but it's been so long that I can't tell if I still have that account and artwork...
Masters competition begans at age 35, right? I'm still 7 years away...
| Quote: | | Here is the major problem with your site Dan. You have so much stuff and the forums are so interesting that I can't find the time to go anywhere else. |
Uhh, I'll see what I can do about that...
Dan
- damned if you do, damned if you don't |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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I think masters running starts a 40 in which case I have a little over 15 years. If it's 35 then I'll be there in a little over a decade. In the mean time I'm hoping to get my training together and run a fast time in the 10k or marathon.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe it's the women that start at 35? I thought one was moved up 5 years ago to encourage more participation.
Dan |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2002 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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I know Kip Javrin is 36 and competed in the regular Decathalon so unless you can choose to compete out of your age division the men can't be 35.
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