Summer Fun Run Frustration

[BigManDan]

I know the majority of posts here are about Marine, but seens as it is a 'Sport Crosby' forum, i just wanted to air my immense frustration at the decision to make the summer fun run every 2 years.

It is a day that is right up among the days i look forward to all year. I've took part in the race every year since i was knee high, winning it once and coming second last year. I know people who have taken part in all 27 (?) races and have met a variety of runners over the years before, during and after the race whom i speak to regularly around Crosby.

Making it every 2 years is going to lose Crosby such a special event. Every year now we simply expect the bands festival to take place and the continental market to make an appearance. We just assume the triathlon will take place and the christmas tree will be lit by a 'celebrity'. These key events in Crosby that bring the community together where everyone from age 1 to 101 can take part together in an event for the local community, by the local community.

I had set a personal target of trying to get 100 people to participate in the fun run this year as part of a project in school but now i have to look at the reality of one more summer fun run before uni.

I'm genuinely gutted as well as frustrated. I know no one will probably reply to this as i doubt anyone has the same interest but this fantastic event, a part of Crosby's history, is no longer what it was if it is to become a rarity instead of an annuality.

[johnhardie45]

Big man Dan we at Marine Youth are also gutted, but for a slightly different reason. All the youth teams were supposed to take part and raise funds and awareness of the youth set up.
Your community spirit is fantastic.
Well done .
One day it may come back and be a yearly event.

[Stormwatch]

I was looking forward to the fun run. When was it decided that it'd be every two years?

[BigManDan]

John, even though you've known me longer than i can even remember, i'm still big man dan to you!?!?! haha!

gutted about the youth teams not being able to take part too. down the years we have had everyone in t shirts for remembering special people and the year when all runners wore yellow ribbons for Maddy Mcann and the year when england were about to play, if my memory serves me right, Ecuador in the world cup 2006 and everyone had flags at the start and finish lines. Some absolutely fantastic memories - Kenny Daglish signing shirts at the finish line, waking up early on the Thursday after to find your name in the paper. A local tradition is being lost here.

Vinny (stormwatch), it was only announced this week. Next one in 2010 and then every 2 years. Looks like we'll have to go fancy dress next year, mate

[marineland]

I think the organisers just couldn't be bothered this year. Why not write to the Crosby Herald. If enough of you did then never know.........and at least you would let everyone know how you felt.

[CF]

Me too - i've done the last 5 summer fun runs but this year decided to do the Crosby 10, trained for it, and now it's been cancelled.

I've heard that it's something to do with safety requirements and traffic management issues etc, imposed by Sefton Council.

I also think the Herald's story is a bit of a fudge too. There's no real explanation offered there.

It's usually a great event, is well supported and a great charity fund raiser.

Sefton should be encouraging this sort of thing, not putting obstacles in the way.

I know of many others in Crosby who are just as disappointed as we are.

[BigManDan]

"this year decided to do the Crosby 10, trained for it, and now it's been cancelled."
i know the feeling, ive been out running a few times this week to try and give one of the races my best shot.

At the end of the day, what do you need for an event like this?
Participants - regularly over 600 take part each year and i guarantee with a little effort we could get it to the target number of 1000.
Volunteers to help marshal/hand out medals etc - again, a little effort and these can be found EASILY.
Sponsors - there seem to be more sponsors than runners some years, so no problem here, surely?
"Safety Reguirements" - if its able to run every 2 years, then the problem can clearly be overcome and so there does not seem to be any reason why not every year.

The most important thing is, every runner pays a fiver --> get a thousand runners and you got £5000. Every runner raises another fiver from sponsors etc (come on, everyone has a family member who gives them a fiver!) and you raised £10,000. This is before we even go into sponsors and the like. I'm sure it can't be simply a 'can't be bothered organising' attitude as there is such potential for money to be raised.

I know the organisers of the event and think they do a fantastic job every year. I'm sure it wouldn't have anything to do with them not being bothered. I just want to know the real reasons why its not going ahead!!

CF, do you think a petition would be worthwhile?
And Barry, i was SERIOUSLY going to ring you to ask you to be one of the 100 runners i was trying to get... will you run next year?!

[marineland]

I would do if I thought I could do it. I never quite recovered from the car crash I had in 1998, especially around the knees. Also, I have a rare nerve condition known as peripheral nerve hyperactivity for which I take medication twice a day. It came on five years ago. Nerves have protective coverings and mine don't. Without medication it's a form of torture because I have continuous muscle twitching, especially in the calves of the legs. Physical activity makes it worse and I get spasms and cramps that run through the nerves as well as the muscles. It's about ten times worse than ordinary cramp because they mimic electric shocks. So you can see that it would be tough for me to do it. Perhaps I would risk a mile, though.

Hey, why not organise a sponsored one for Marine? If we could get 20 people to do it and get sponsored for £25 each we could get £500 for the club or use it to buy flags for another flag day at the last home game of the season as we did 3 years ago (300 of them-3ft x 2ft). The race could take place at any time in the season but if we did it in September it would be easier to get sponsorship from our fans. Outsiders could do it with us, too, for their own causes.

[BigManDan]

I don't really know what to say, Barry, other than that you do enuogh for the community to have to worry about a race

With a bit of thought, there is no reason why Marine coudn't organise one with more like 200 than 20 people Barry. I think 25 quid each is a lot to get sponsored but a tenner each, 200 people and you are looking at a lot of money. I know a lot of runners in Crosby who are not competitive more than for just the odd charitable race each year but who are devastated at the fact that the summer fun run isn't going ahead this year. With enough preparation, there is no reason why a race couldn't take place before/after a marine match, get the crowds in - even finish around the ground or something - watchers in the stand etc... its certainly got the potential. Would be a lot of organisation and work, but an idea, most certainly

[JMC]

I don't know if I'm on the right forum, I'm after a little info, but first surely if an event brings the community together and raises money for charity the question of 1 or 2 years is a no brainer.
I presently live in N Yorks but grew up in Crosby; having recently lost both parents (Crosby residents) to cancer I would like to participate in a sporting event such as the Crosby Triathlon to help raise funds for a cancer related charity. Does anyone know of events I could enter Crosby 10? Triathlon? etc and when these events are taking place? Any other info would be of help such as location and contacts, thanks.

[marineland]

The organiser of the Triathlon is John Moran and you can contact him at St. Mary's Prep school
(0151 924 6302)Blundellsands Rd West (L23).
Two seasons ago, Jon Caple (Merthyr Martyr) and a couple of younger fans did the Triathlon and between them raised £800 for Marine. So if anyone would like to have a go for our club feel free. The swimming part seemed to put people off last time but the cycling part is gruelling as it is done on the grassy area next to the coastal path.