50-Plus Library: Health and Fitness

Fifty-Plus Fitness Library

We Don't Get No Respect!

Thanks, Rodney Dangerfield, but that's how an increasing number of senior runners and other athletes feel about recognition at award ceremonies. We have watched award ceremonies go from fun for runners, family and friends to a loud rock and roll band, age division finishers posted late (or never) on a distant wall, chaos at the award table as volunteer award givers and winners struggle.

Knowing that America is graying, Fifty-Plus believes we are in a position to get our races and other events to pay more attention to the over fifties and make a collective evaluation and even pressure on conduct of races and award ceremoniies. It has also been suggested that Fifty-Plus review races as to their accommodation to older athletes and even publish such reviews to our members. In addition, Fifty-Plus can publicize races that do a good job in seniors recognition. We would like comment from our members on this.

Reports on races in Northern California in 1997 have covered a wide range of experiences. Many come off very well, but here are some of the things that leave a lot to be desired (all of which have been experienced at one time or another this year):

Late announcement of award, particularly to the oldest age groups
Oversized t-shirts only for late finishers of races, which usually includes older runner
Leaving out the oldest age group recognitions entirely (unless there is a world class participant present)
No recognition of over 70 age group (Fifty-Plus 8K allows for a 90 age group)
No publication of older age group results in national racing magazines

Fifty-Plus invites reports from members on race management , both good and bad. There is obviously a wide variation in how the older runners are treated at these events and we want to make the directors more aware that fair treatment of the over fifties may well determine the future and longevity of the event itself.