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jevans
Posts:1
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| 09/28/2009 9:47 AM |
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Hey Redman organizers:
Nice job tearing up the Lake Hefner trails. It looks terrible out there. First your event keeps everyone off the trails for an entire weekend, and then you leave the place looking terrible. I'll be contacting the OKC City Council about not approving the permits for this event next year. |
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kmccombs
Posts:11
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| 09/28/2009 11:22 AM |
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The Parks and Recreation Department, local clubs of interest, and local neighborhood associations were all contacted and made aware that clean up efforts would need to take place after this event. These notifications were in process even before the event was over, as soon as we identified that the weather and our use were going to create a problem. It has been made clear that we take sole responsibility and will do whatever necessary to repair the damage that Mother Nature and the Redman Triathlon created. Signs are posted at the lake and TV interviews have assisted us in getting this message out to the public. I personaly spent 10 hours this past Saturday power washing the trails to deliver the message that we are serious about our commitment. Soon the entire area will be restored to it's natural beauty. In fact improvements to better the area are also being considered along with this clean up effort. The Redman Triathlon this year has generated over $1,700,000 of economic impact to the Oklahoma City economy. We are a not for profit group that will also contribute a check for $25,000 or more to our beneficary, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. All of this as a result of proceeds generated by this event. It is a goal of our city to present ourselves as a "major league" city, and it is thorugh events such as this that we offer that image. This event was represented by athletes from 38 States and two foreign countries. Events like this are helping to put Oklahoma on the map!
One Question and one Suggestion.
Q-Besides complaining, what do you contribute?
S-Think larger than yourself... |
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Tri Girl
Posts:71
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| 09/28/2009 3:34 PM |
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Oh my goodness! I was very surprised to see this thread was started, but as a daily (and I do mean daily; whether it is walking, jogging, running, cycling, windsurfing, or sailing) trail and Lake Hefner user, I had to remove myself from my intitial thoughts/reactions to the initial post, so as to respond with the grace and understanding I hope others would have if the roles/tables were reversed.
Dear Jevans ~
I can understand your initial thoughts. As a trail user, I want those trails to always be treated with the kindness and appreciation that they deserve. They bring thousands of us many hours of pleasure and enjoyment, and we at Redman, are major trail users ourselves. We on the Staff and Organization Committee are ALL athletes and or trail users in some form or another. We are walkers, ultra runners, triathletes, swimmers, sailors, windsurfers, fisher-people, cyclists, runners, trail runners, road runners, marathoners, mountainbikers, cyclocross riders, xterra racers.... the list goes on. Many are extremely involved with being and promoting being green, to the extent that we have introduced and incorporated a great recycling program at Redman. Some of our Staff have even organized other totally green races right here in OKC. The list is far too extensive to do it or the people behind it justice. Suffice it to say that Mick (he is our Mayor) seemed pretty pleased to kick off our event with praises of us being and supporting examples of good health.... something near and dear to this city's heart.
Keith touched on some wonderfully great things that Redman accomplishes every year; from bringing a world class event to the city, to bringing over $1,700,000 in revenue to our city, to the gifts we present to our beneficiaries. That is a partial list, I can assure you.
While I appreciate your intitial thoughts, I'd ask you to think about that which Ketih mentions, as well as what he does not;
1) Redman Staff and Organizers are all volunteers with a great sense of pride toward providing a world class event that assists our community and it's participants. Not one of us is paid for the numerous 100's of hours we each give to this event, this sport, this community, and ultimately our city and our beneficiary. We do what we do because we believe in giving back to our community. We love athleticism, and we love pushing ourselves beyond our own limits. We all do that. We also feel a tremendous responsibility to assist others in achieving their goals, helping them succeed, and providing them a safe venue to reach further than they might have ever reached before. If you were privy to the myriad of remarks we receive "post race" you'd hear over and over how Redman was successful in doing that. Thus, I was surprised to see your note here.
2) Redman Staff are dedicated, caring, Responsible people. Before our event was even over, seeing the result of the unforeseen rain and our general vehicluar traffic (that normally causes no damage, but will in rains like that), our race staff contacted the City to advise of our knowledge of the rain's damage, and our acceptance of the responsibility of restoration-to-pre-race-condition, long before the city might even have thought about it. We contacted them, with our hands up, ready to make restorations as post race evaluations deemed appropos. We are responsible, and we will deliver in that regard just as we attempt to deliver in every other way, year after year.
So.... I am not sure what else this race staff could have done any sooner to make restorations. We paid for and posted signs immediately letting you and our friendly trail co-users know that we know we have a responsibility and that it will be taken care of. I am not sure what else or what more could have been done to make you feel better or less inclined to point out the obvious. We wish we didn't have rain. We wish we had a dry event and we wish you were not inconvenienced in any way. We, at Redman, want to build a better mousetrap each year. So yes, we do ask you. Please tell us constructively and postively what else you think we might have done to remedy this situation. It will go in our lessons learned file for next year's event and I promise you it will be discussed. You may have thought of something we have not. If so, send it on. If not, I would still invite you to come join us next year. Come see the hundreds of athletes demonstrate will, courage, and "champion" mentality for merely showing up at the starting line.
You could see a teenager with diabetes, overcoming tremendous odds. You might see a US Army veteran with a below-the-knee-amputation who completes a 70.3 or 140.6 mile race. You might see a 75 year old gentleman cross the finish line at 2:00am, with exhausted volunteers still there at the finish line to cheer him in. You might see a deaf gentleman finish faster than I could ever dream of. You might see a whole host of things that will, as Keith mentioned, take you well outside of your world. It did me. We'd love to have you. If you can make it, please sign on to the site, to the volunteer page, and then select your area to help. As a trail user, I know you will appreciate much of what you might see for the first time at a future Redman event. We invite you to join us. We know you care, and we invite you to come volunteer and help us out next year. Your life will be changed forever.
Sharon
Web Admin
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ouwelsh
Posts:7
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| 09/29/2009 9:03 PM |
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jevans,
The negative attitudes by people are frustrating such as yourselves. The volunteers are great and the trails already look better due to the mud created by the torrential rains we had on race day. My training buddy and I have on several occasions stopped to pick up trash around the lake while training as well as even went into Louies Lakeside to borrow their broom to clean up glass around the trails. I am not asking for kudos nor do I want them but would ask what have you done for the lake trails?
I will give you credit for one thing however, you made me want to volunteer to help restore the trails. What will you do? |
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PK
Posts:1
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| 09/30/2009 10:57 PM |
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Jevans,
You are very much misinformed. Your comments are uneducated, uncalled for, and simply ignorant. I applaud the efforts of the Redman race organizers for putting on such a great race. Your post provoked me to register just to reply to your topic. I guess you probably are upset that the amount of swimmers in the lake scared away the fish or somehow changed the water quality. I was one of the athletes who "tore up" you beloved trails. I can tell you that the trails were not closed to the public and not demolished by the runners. I ran around non-race participants, wedding parties, and other folks. No one seemed to mind the on-going race. I wonder if you are just upset because you didn't register for the race or felt that your current fitness level prevented you from competing in it. Thank you for being the only negative thing that will stand out in my Redman experience.
Thank you Sharon and KMcCombs for the great responses to Jevans initial post. Thank you Redman race organizers, city of Oklahoma City, and the fine folks of Oklahoma for letting this Texan enjoy a wonderful 4 days. You have made my first ironman race memorable and I will never forget it.
Patrick K. |
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bvseevers
Posts:3
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| 10/01/2009 1:17 PM |
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Hey Redman organizers:
I was appalled to read the post that started this thread. I hope you can keep it in perspective. I hope you know how much athletes appreciate the great work you do. I did the Redman iron-distance in 2007, and had such a great experience that I came back again this year. Despite the weather you still put on a great race. In 2007 I was the only entrant from Minnesota. This year there were about eight. Word gets around and word is that Redman is terrific. Thanks for your work! |
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mikie
Posts:3
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| 10/01/2009 5:58 PM |
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As a volunteer at many events in our area I know about nay-sayers. Every place has them. I am sure there was some damage to the area, but I am also sure it was temporary. The earth has a wonderful way of coming back. I think that is what rain is all about anyway.
The organizers deserve a big thanks for the work they did at the event site. I am sure they did more afterwards. I would venture to say the area is already back in shape.
It was a great experience for me and as I can see by the posts here for others also. Asking jevans to help out is probably a waste of time. It is my experience that people like him/her always want someone else to do the work for them. |
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dustytrlz
Posts:6
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| 10/10/2009 11:44 AM |
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| i think Redman could be called the Southwest's iron distance race. Texas and New Mexico have many great races but no fulls. Even though there was decent local news coverage, I never heard mention that OKC does something Texas does not, and does it very well. Maybe then more locals could put their heart in it the way the vols and organizers do. But then next time I would have to wear burnt orange instead of red- |
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pokeyjo
Posts:1
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| 10/13/2009 9:40 AM |
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Sharon:
I'm not 75, but I sure did feel like it after Redman. I am, however, the guy who was on the course till 2AM, while crews at every aid station waited patiently for me to pass. I've never shut down aid stations before, and I would have thought it to be a troubling experience. However, your volunteers were so amazing! I they were glad to keep things open for me. I was so very grateful. Still am. It was kindof nice being able to tell them "Go home, get some sleep, your family misses you."
jevans:
My hunch is you're never going to read this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I'm the volunteer coordinator for my tri club. I've been volunteer coordinator for a local race, also. I know the difficulties getting communities to come out and support events. So I feel like I have some authority on the subject when I say that Redman is the single most supportive event I've ever been involved with. Not only was there great community support, but the volunteer support was unparallelled. There were there lots of volunteers, they were well trained, and knew exactly what to do and when to do it. I hope somewhere inside of you, jevans, you can appreciate just how much that says for your community. I don't know if you're angry because Redman tore up HEFNER park, or YOUR park. But I hope the time comes when you appreciate just how momentous Redman was, not just for the racers, but for the volunteers, supporters, race staff, and for your great state and city. Sharon mentions some of the people you may see if you volunteer. I'd like to tell you what I saw as a racer. I saw 2 swim volunteers, colder and wetter than the racers, trying valiantly to hand out trash bags to keep racers dry and warm in the rain. They were absolutely amazing!!! I saw bike course volunteers trying valiantly to help racers past a flash flooded road, and make sure we were safe. I saw other bike course volunteers going out of their way to hold my bike, change out my waters and gatorade, and make sure I had something to eat, all while I was visiting the port o potty. I saw local farmers, curious to the situation, asking what was happening, and wishing me well for the rest of my journey. I saw run course volunteers going out of their way to make sure I could keep racing, including staying open till 2:30 in the morning. WOW!!! I saw a woman with pink hair, butterfly wings, and pom poms cheering me on, telling me I was her hero. ME! The slowest guy on the course! And you know what? I believed her. In short, I have been grateful every day this past month that I raced Redman. I'm sure I always will be.
jevans, I know you had a harsh, sarcastic tone to your post. I hope you're able to appreciate, if not now, then at some time in your life, that yes, the damage done to Hefner Park, and the fact that the race went on at all, was an inconvenience for you. But from overcoming inconvenience comes growth, improvement, strength, appreciation. If the "tearing up" of Hefner Park inconvenieces you, then I wish you luck finding ways to bring it back. Clean up the litter. Bring friends to the park with you next time, that otherwise wouldn't go. Volunteer for a race in the park, or sign up for a race in the park. All ways to overcome the inconvenience that us outsiders foisted on you. For that matter, why not consider going to an event someplace else, and seeing how that race's staff enjoys your visit to their race course? It may give you new insights into how great the overcoming of inconvenience can be. I wish you luck with it.
To the Redman staff:
I doubt you're surprised by jevans' comments. There's always somebody... Around here, it usually involves a pissed off motorist honking at a racer as (s)he drives by, going way too fast. I can't tell you how great it felt to finish a 112 mile bike ride without a single honk, or cut off. WOW! What a great community you have! Thanks so much for the pleasure of Redman. Your race, your staff, and your community are a real class act. I'm deeply grateful.
Joe.
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Tri Girl
Posts:71
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| 10/13/2009 5:31 PM |
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Dear Joe ~
How kind of you to take the time to share your experience on our message board. We at Redman are grateful it was a good one! Congratulations on a fine finish.
I wanted to share with you one thing about the "75" note I made. We have had finishers in the past - quite late (or early?) - of various ages.... I actually was referring to a previous year's racer, but still may have mentioned the incorrect age! It's all relative... you ARE a hero... to self, family, friends, spectators, race volunteers, organizers, and I'm sure many, many more.
Congratulations again on your fine finish. We are grateful you chose to race with us at Redman.
Sharon
Web Admin |
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