The Bottom Line

We have weighed various aspects of a marathon within a 1,000-point scoring grid. Besides the author of the article, a dozen runners at the race were randomly chosen to score the race for us. (VCM = Vermont City Marathon.) The results follow:

1, HISTORY/TRADITION Evaluate the race’s sense of history and tradition. [Possible points: 30 VCM score: 25]

2. ENTRY FORM Is the race entry form clear, concise, attractive, complete, and easy to fill out? [Possible points: 20 VCM score: 18]

3. ENTRY COST

For most races, the entry fee covers between 30 and 50 percent of the cost of putting on the event. Rate the value of your dollar relative to this race. [Possible points: 30 VCM score: 25]

4. LOCALE/SCENICS Is the race held in an area that is easy to get to and scenic, and offers adequate food and housing services and nonrace activities for family and

friends? [Possible points: 50 VCM score: 46]

5. REGISTRATION ls registration well organized and efficient? Does it bog down unnecessarily? [Possible points: 20 VCM score: 17]

6. PRERACE ACTIVITIES

Evaluate activities such as pasta feeds, parties, and so on, during the days before the race.

[Possible points: 50 VCM score: 45]

7. EXPO

Does the expo offer a fair number and variety of booths relative to the race’s size? Are there quality exhibitors and good guest speakers?

[Possible points: 50 VCM score: 38]

8. COURSE

Take into consideration the following: degree of difficulty, certified, sanctioned, quality of road or trail surface, adequate mileage and directional markers, aid stations, medical coverage, race communications, accessibility to course for friends and family, typical weather, and so on.

[Possible points: 400 VCM score: 353]

132 HM MARATHON & BEYOND March/April 2000

9. RACE AMENITIES

This category includes race T-shirt, finisher’s medal, finisher’s oe adequate and efficient finish area, ease of sweatbag retrieval, showers, postrace refreshments, awards ceremony, raffles, results postcard, results book, and so on.

[Possible points: 250 VCM score: 225]

10. VOLUNTEERS

Are the volunteers experienced and adequate in number? [Possible points: 100 VCM score: 96]

TOTAL SCORE FOR KEY BANK VERMONT CITY MARATHON 888 points

The Rest of the Pack Below, listed alphabetically, are other marathons profiled in Marathon & Beyond, the volume and issue number in which each race’s profile appeared, and the overall score each race received.

Aspen Fila Skymarathon (vol. 4, issue 1): 863 points Calgary Marathon (vol. 3, issue 2): 876 points Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon (vol. 3, issue 6) 901 points Edmonton Marathon (vol. 2, issue 2): 814 points Fox Cities Marathon (vol. 3, issue 4): 865 points Governor’s Cup Ghost Town Marathon (vol. 2, issue 1): 795 points Grandma’s Marathon (vol. 3, issue 1): 968 points

Honolulu Marathon (vol. 2, issue 4): 906 points Humboldt Redwoods Marathon (vol. 2, issue 3): 809 points Las Vegas International Marathon (vol. 1, issue 5): 789 points Philadelphia Marathon (vol. 1, issue 4): 838 points Pittsburgh Marathon (vol. 1, issue 6): 904 points Portland Marathon (vol. 3, issue 3): 943 points San Francisco Marathon (vol. 1, issue 2): 804 points Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon (vol. 2, issue 6): 866 points Steamtown Marathon (vol. 3, issue 5): 892 points Sutter Home Napa Valley Marathon (vol. 2, issue 5): 913 points Vancouver International Marathon (vol. 1, issue 1): 823 points Wineglass Marathon (vol. 1, issue 3): 839 points

March/April 2000 KEY BANK VERMONT CITY MARATHON = 133