2002-12-24
That is a great idea, except for one drawback. For someone to endorse SI in
running, that person would expect a huge financial compensation. Who would
be willing to shell out the money for the sponsor and the advertisement
space? I'd bet no-one. A business sponsor would have to feel that
promoting metric usage will increase profits, then such a move would be
made. But, I don't see that being the case. Simply put, nobody cares what
an individual times him/herself in, as long as they continue to buy sports
equipment.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, 2002-12-24 08:37
Subject: [USMA:24209] Re: 5 "K" runs
> 2002 DEC 24 TUE
>
> I know the most motivating way to convince runners that they need meters,
> some how we would need a famous runner to want and demand km. Only a
famous
> runner could appeal to runners' emotions. Many people would follow what
> famous sports atheletes do (just like people buying Air Jordans). So I
> guess one of us must learn to run a 2 minute kilometer and win many races.
> Or we could find someone, maybe a Kenyan, their fast and come from an SI
> country.
>
> Sincerely,
> Matthew Zotter
> SC, USA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Harry Wyeth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 5:04 AM
> Subject: [USMA:24206] 5 "K" runs
>
>
> > 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
> >
>
