What if the Cities from Hopkinton to Boston got together and denied the Boston Athletic Association a permit to hold their venerable marathon?
Then what if those same cities announced they would be holding the inaugural "Boston Communities Marathon" on Patriot's Day on the same course, with the same qualifying standards as the BAA's event? My guess is that the running community would be up in arms over the loss of the Boston Marathon's long history and rich tradition. I can't imagine very many people would want to participate in the substitute event.
Never happen you say? Well I sure hope not for Boston, but it appears that is indeed happening at my beloved Catalina Marathon. I’ve run three Bostons, but I’ve run the last eleven Catalinas. And it looks like 2011 might have been the final one. Why? The Catalina Conservancy, which is charged with stewardship of most of the island, has denied a permit to Pacific Sports, the folks that put on the marathon, instead announcing the inaugural “Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon” would be held on the same course and on the same date as had been scheduled for the 35th Catalina Marathon.
Read the Conservancy’s announcement here: http://catalinaconservancy.org/userfiles/files/News%20&%20Media/CICNewsRelease2011-05.pdf
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| Finishing in 2008 with a new Catalina PR |
I’m no activist and I’m not connected to any of the parties in this dispute. I frankly don’t care who wins, so long as the 35th Catalina Marathon, not some cheap imitation, is staged next March. I’ve met several runners who feel similarly dismayed by this turn of events, and we have various opinions on who and what are right. I put this blog together to provide a place for independent views of the events, and solicit input from other folks who care about this event.
Comments are moderated, so any nasty ones won’t get published, but I’m open to dissenting opinions so bring’em on.
