After all the doom and gloom of Modafinil, THG, etc., I thought I would share my weekend experience with you all to let you know that, on at least some level, all is right with our sport.
12 years ago, a Montana runner by the name of Ray Hunt founded a cross country meet called the Montana Cup. It is an open race that is based on a city versus city format. That is, the 7 major cities of Montana (of course using the words major, cities and Montana in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch) field teams. You run for the team of the city nearest to where you live (i.e. a runner from Belgrade runs for the Bozeman team). You can have an unlimited number of runners on your team, but only the top 5 score, with 6 and 7 displacing other teams scoring runners. Much like regular high school XC. Speaking of high school XC, the meet is always held the weekend after the state meet so that the high school runners can participate and not run afoul of state association issues. At any rate, the meet rotates from city to city each year, and Billings had the pleasure of hosting the meet this year. And here is what we had. A total of 66 runners (44 men, 22 women). 5 full men's team, 3 full women's teams. Runners from the ages of 14 to 62. 3 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifiers The 2002 Big Sky Conference XC Champion 2 members of the Montana State XC team that placed 11th in the 2002 NCAA's Several All-State Prep athletes Athletes who drove up to 420 miles to compete in a 6,600 meter race Brothers and sisters Mothers and daughters Fathers and sons For some, this was their second race of the day All of this for some individual trophies and the traveling Montana Cup for the winning teams. These were athletes who were out for the love of the sport. Some were recreational runners. Some were national caliber athletes. All were out to enjoy a race and experience some competition. Yes, we all get jaded by the drug scandals, rabbited WR efforts, shortened crossbar pegs, whether or not walks should stay in the sport, and all the other hoopla at the top end of the sport. But, when it comes right down to it, there are a heck of a lot of us out there who just like to go out and run. Nothing more, nothing less. Just line us up, shoot the gun, and see who comes in first. We're not worried if so and so is clean or dirty. We don't care who they're coached by. We aren't worried about whether or not we should be at this race or that one because it might affect my T&FN rankings/at-large berth/shoe contract/agent take/etc.. We're just here to try to see old friends and make some new ones, run each other into the ground, then all have a beer and some pizza afterwards. So yes, we have the ugly, dark and seemly side of the sport. But, when it really comes down to it. There are still those who are involved in the sport for nothing more than the pure joy of seeing who can run the fastest from point A to point B. And I was blessed with the ability to see that side of the sport this weekend. Tony Banovich Billings, Montana
