by Larry Eder
This is my daily chat with #RunBlogRun viewers and track fans on track & field!
This is #coffeewithLarry for Monday, April 8, 2024!
Coffee with Larry is sponsored by JAMBAR, the Original Organic Artisan Sports Energy Bar founded in 2021 by Jenny Maxwell.
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Our topics:
1. The Boston Marathon is one week away, April 15, 2024, at www.bostonmarathon.com.
2. This is the first year of Bank of America sponsorship, which replaced long-time sponsor John Hancock, who began in 1986 and ended in 2023. They have created controversy by including their names on the finisher’s medals.
3. RunBlogRun’s thoughts: Well-meaning but poorly managed. Finishers medals at Boston are HUGE. They should not be anything more than traditional. Remember, runners are creatures of habit. Boston marathoners are the most eccentric in our sport in many ways (not a negative).
3. The NYC Marathon has 165,000 applications this year, which speaks to the sport’s health.
4. The weekend features the Schneider Electric 2024 Paris Marathon, https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/en/
5. ASICS is doing a very cool event. Obviously, they spent money to do it right, so why are there no promotions? It is not just ASICS; most brands have little or no clue how to promote their events.
6. Events like ASICS speed races are glorified as intramural events; if they want to attract consumers, they need to find a way to reach them.
7. The number of boys under 9 minutes for the 2024 Arcadia Invite reached 69 this year. It’s just insane.
8. Adidas is having its 4th adiZero Festival on April 27, 2024! They promote their event, and here is the YOU YouTube channel (1.27 million followers). This is how to promote an event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6qaeYOI77c
9. Most events have little or no promotions. Any more. Why spend millions for a couple thousand to watch? The destruction of running print media has meant that the hordes that used to hit significant events are now replaced by content creators who do not tell stories; they give us scenes, reels, or incidents.
10. Well done to ASICS on the #ASICSFestivalduRunning in Paris. Hannah England and Cathal Dennehy did a great job!
11. In the Festival du Running 10k, Jemal Yimer won Men’s 10k in 27:42, Likina Amabaw, 29:56!
12. In the ASICS Speed Race 5k, Hagos Gebrihewit won 13:24 and Caroline Nyaga 14:40.
13. The Adidas Atlanta City Games will be held downtown Atlanta on May 18, 2024. I can not wait.
14. I am frustrated about the USATF LA Grand Prix. Do not get me wrong. Last year, the management spoke of how they would be different. Then, one of the founders seemed to sabotage the meet, and sponsors spent six figures in the last 3 weeks to frantically get 4,000 fans on Friday and 7,000 fans on Saturday. RunBlogRun has reached out to sponsors, USATF, and founders simultaneously, but no one is talking. We are not sure if Web MD is involved after last year’s cluster.
15. The Miramar Invite had some excellent races and a pleasing crowd. Best parts? Paul Swangard and Ato Boldon kibbitzing between races. Ato noted that he thought Femke Bol would do hurdles and 4×4 in Paris, and Sydney would do 400m flat (and 4×4?). We shall see!
16. And finally, in what parallel universe is USATF living without sending a team of U20 to Lima, Peru? State Dept lists Peru as level 2 of 5 in travel advisories, like Serbia. There could be a higher threat level for the US team in Peru, but more information from USATF would be helpful.
17. It’s nice to see Abby Steiner racing again! She ran 51.59 in her 400m opener after having Achilles surgery last fall. I’m glad to see her back!
18. At this time, my vente Iced Americano at Starbucks cost more than a share of Under Armour. How does management screw up a brand that has had the best designers and running peeps in sport? Well, management does not listen and thinks running is like football. I hope Kevin Plank can pull his proverbial head out of his backside and either go into running, listening to the pros, or get out of it. They have a great racing shoe, but sure can not make a decent training shoe.
See you tomorrow at 9.30 AM Central in Coffee with Larry!
