[USMA:24206] 5 "K" runs

[Harry Wyeth]

Regarding the post re trying to persuade runners to adapt to the metric concept of 5 km runs, I have been trying to do this for some years now, with rather mixed success. As an experienced road and trail runner myself, I have tried:

Reminding runners that a sister sport, xc skiing, is totally metric and never uses miles. Not much response here.

Telling runners that measuring speed and distance is really easier using km rather than miles. A little success here.

Simply always using km in conversation and in writing (I am the eMail guy for a local running club). Pretty successful, but still not very persuasive in actually getting other people to change their behavior.

Badgering race organizers using miles to convert. Not successful. There are some races that may remain in miles for years, such as those with historic names ("Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run") and those which involve support crews needing to know where to drive cars to relay points (the car odometers being in miles).

Making my own km distance signs and loaning them out for use in local races, the idea being that if a race is a 10 km, the interval signs should also be metric. Also arranging to measure the new distances myself. Pretty good success here, with no complaints and some compliments.

Always using km in talking to high school students, whom I coach in track in the spring. Somewhat successful, but difficult when I am the only coach doing so--even though all running events have been metric for years now. I still don't know if kids really know a kilometer from a snowball.

But overall, there is a lot of lethargy and a "why bother" attitude in the running community. Progress is not what I would call rapid!

HARRY WYETH