Social Media and the Silent Sports

This post is part of the Lightspan Digital#MarketingHop on social sports, in which bloggers were asked to share their story about how social media is connecting people in the silent sports community.

Are our sports more social than ever before? I would say absolutely yes. I think it started as more and more people started getting involved with less emphasis on competition. That, coupled with modern technology, brought us to where we are today.
Social media isn't something I saw coming or really felt a need for as I looked for ways to spread the word about the sports I love and the events I direct. Now, as I move forward, I can't imagine not having such a technologically saavy tool at my disposal and yours as we move up the high-tech social ladder.
As a dedicated provider of information, advocate for change, organizer of races and events and as an active participant in the silent sports, particularly running, cross-country skiing and, to a lesser degree, road cycling, I am thankful to the pioneers who came up with this social networking concept back in the 1990s -- namely Tina Sharkey, Ted Leonis and Darrell Berry -- at least they did according to a Forbes Magazine article in 2010.
We really can engage like never before. Quick examples in my own sphere of influence include getting the word out that last year's Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th running race was a go despite major storm damage and a power failure at the race venue. Two minutes on Facebook from a restaurant in a neighboring town erased any doubts the best runners in Chicagoland had. More recently, a Holiday Lights Fun Run I organized through the Door County Silent Sports Alliance in Sturgeon Bay, WI, was entirely a Facebook enterprise, and I might add, a total success.
In the cross-country ski world of northern Illinois, a hard-core group of several hundred snow-chasers is linked both through Yahoo Groups and Facebook. If there is snow, good ski conditions or a race nearby, those are their lifelines for information and commentary.
Finally, as an advocate (or activist -- take your pick), I was one of many who spoke up and prevented a new law in Wisconsin that allowed hunting in state parks to be implemented as originally intended. It was cut from 7.5 months of open hunting and trapping to two months after ferocious efforts by silent sports lovers. Through Facebook and the Door County Silent Sports Alliance, my statements as well as television and newspaper interviews I did, got wide exposure and helped the overall cause immensely. I did not seek this publicity, but the information spread freely. It happened in this new technological era of open communications on a platform called Facebook, a word that didn't exist not too long ago. I just had to smile when I saw how it worked and what was accomplished in the Wisconsin political arena.
As a Chicago-area running blogger since 2005, I tend to bring some of my traditional journalism skills from years at the Sun-Times, and Milwaukee Sentinel before that, to the modern world. In other words, I really do try to keep myself out of it most of the time and report the who, what, where, when, why and how. But as Facebook has evolved in my daily routine, I do find myself becoming more and more a part of this human story-telling phenomenon in which we engage others day and night.
At any rate, social media certainly enable race directors and potential participants to meet in cyberspace, engage in conversation and move ahead loaded with information.
Do we go too far sometimes? Yes. Do we come up short sometimes? Yes. Are the silent sports better off with social media? I think so.
For the silent sports and me, it's two states, two sports I love and two fabulous platforms (Facebook and Google). Once upon a time, we said "right on." Now, it's "log-on!"

Check out other views (links below--updates coming) from runners, retailers, coaches and race organizers about how social media is connecting the silent sports community. To continue the conversation, join us in a Twitter Chat with the hashtag #marketinghop on Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.
Tim Cigelske, The Beer Runner,(@thebeerrunner):
http://draftmag.com/beerrunner/not-so-silent-sport/
Myles Dannhausen, Door County Half Marathon, (@mylespulse): How Social Media Helps Us Improve the Door County Half Marathon:
http://doorcountyhalfmarathon.com/news/how-social-media-helps-us-improve-the-door-county-half-marathon/#.UOvQdYnjnZU
Tom Held, The Active Pursuit (@tomheld): An Antenna, Not A Mic - Reporting With Social Media):
http://theactivepursuit.com/?p=1336&preview=true
Maggie Wolff (@not_maragret): How Social Media Changed My Running:
http://www.magmilerunner.com/2013/01/blog-hop-how-social-media-changed-my-running.html
Ashley Kumlien, MS Run the U.S. (@MSRuntheUS): Raising Funds, Awareness With Social Media:
http://www.msruntheus.com/socialmediamsruntheus
Lauren Matricardi, Fleet Feet Chicago (@fleetfeetchgo): The Conversation: Our Social Media Strategy:
http://www.fleetfeetchicago.com/blog/conversation
Lightspan Digital: How Social Media Changed Running:
http://www.lightspandigital.com/how-social-media-changed-running

Coming Tuesday: Da 'Blog-Hop'

I will be participating tomorrow in a unique silent sports blog-hop. The general topic will be my perspective on how the social media relates to the world of silent sports, which, of course, includes running. The blog-hop, organized by Lightspan Digital, will feature other Chicago-area and Midwest bloggers and include links to their writings on the same subject at the same time. For those of you who have not heard the term "silent sports," before, it includes running, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, paddling and hiking. This (the blog-hop, not the sports) should be an interesting venture into new territory, at least for me. Until then . . . .

Giulianos S-No-W Fun Run 5-Mile Winners

With snow on the ground but off the roads at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva, WI, times were very good on Saturday at the 33rd annual John Jantz Memorial 5-Mile, better known as the S-No-W Fun Run. Another large field turned out with strong runners competing from both sides of the state line. Leading the men and women were well-known Chicago-area runners Ryan and Jacqui Giuliano. Now based downstate in Oakwood Hills, IL, the recently-married couple won, but not without opposition. Ryan, 28, won the men's race in 25:51.6, with Eric Wallor, 29, of Palatine, second in 26:40.5, and Brandon Gittelman, 23, of Naperville, third in 26:59.5. Jacqui G., 26, took the women's field in 29:54.5, with Shannon Teunissen, 30, of Belvidere, second in 29:59.3, and Emma Keenan, 24, of Evanston, third in 30:05.4. There were 937 finishers in this race, which, of course, is followed by a great party. If ever there were a combo competitive/social run, this is the one. The special touch I like is the one-year age groups. Some mighty fine runners were there in all age spectrums. Nice job!!

2013 Off to a Brisk Start

The New Year's Day 5K in Lincoln Park was run for the 28th time on Tuesday and in its customary fashion, visitors to Chicago were there to join the local racing scene while all were working off their New Year's Eve refreshments. The overall title went to Kevin Carollo, 44, of Fargo, ND, in 17:26. Second went to Derek Weber, 19, of Los Angeles, and third male was Andrew Letourneau, 18, of Arlington Heights, in 17:58. The women's field was led by Amanada Sanchez, 18, of Arlington Heights, in 19:58. Runner-up was Jesse Hunter, 24, of Richmond (IL, IN, VA???), in 20:59, and third woman was Becky Durling, 23, of Chevy Chase, MD, in 21:30. There were 828 finishers.

Heading for 2013 -- Full Speed Ahead

Boy, where did 2012 go? Running seems to carry me right through, no matter what is happening in the "real" world. While real-life topics such as "fiscal cliff" and "gun control" capture our interest, we manage to keep our running going through thick and thin, good and bad, no matter what it takes -- barring injury. Today, I started the day helping fellow runner Nancy Rollins and her crew put on a small 5K in snowy Northbrook. It was fun to apply new meaning to "sweeper" as I swept the first and last few hundred yards of the course. After this fun race, which drew about 120 runners, I headed home and took my own run of about 8.5 miles on the snowy, but very run-able Illinois Prairie Path in the west suburbs. It is SO nice to be running with no injuries and no imminent race plans. There are New Year's Eve and New Year's Day races coming up, so good luck to all participants! I'll be running, but not racing, and as many of you know, I'll be cross-country skiing when I find skiable snow. That's another great running-related sport full of great races, short and long. Back to pure running, I have now done it for 50 years, and believe me, I am thankful for that. Good luck as you make plans for 2013, and congratulations for all of your progress and accomplishments in 2012. I know I'm ready for wherever the running adventure takes me!

Gilbert, Staton Win Schaumburg TT Half

It was cold, but not windy for the large field on Saturday in the fourth annual Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon. Temps around 30 made for a robust morning, but some great running took place despite the chill. Winning was Mitch Gilbert, 20, in a nice time of 1:12:13.3. Second was TJ Luby, 23. in 1:14:33.5, and third was Michael Cauley, 31, in 1:14:53.3. The women's competition was taken by Pamela Staton, 26, of Chicago, in 1:20:29.4. Runner-up was Amanda Daws, 25, in 1:23:20.5, and third is where it gets interesting. Ashley Shares, 21, is listed as third with a time (gun and net) of 1:24:15.3. However, Amy Campbell, 24, is one place ahead of her in the net time column with a 1:24:05.9. Her gun time was 1:24:42.7. Things get a little dicey in this age of computer chip timing. There were 1,646 finishers in this turkey trot, which was one of too many to count over the past week. Thanksgiving is definitely the time when the most people race in the Chicago area in non-marathons. There also was a 5K run in conjunction with the half-marathon.

Tokyo Joins World Marathon Majors

Tokyo Marathon will be Sixth Event in Series, along with
Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City
Press Release
New York, NY - The World Marathon Majors® (WMM) today announced the addition of the Tokyo Marathon to the World Marathon Majors Series. The seventh Tokyo Marathon, which will be held on February 24, 2013, will be the first race in the 2013 - 2014 World Marathon Majors scoring period. The Tokyo Marathon is the first World Marathon Majors event to be based in Asia.
"Tokyo is honored to join the World Marathon Majors," said Tad Hayano, Tokyo Marathon Foundation Race Director. "As the first marathon from Asia, we will continuously make an effort to expand the brand of the WMM in Asia. Likewise, as the one of the World Marathon Majors, we believe that the Tokyo Marathon can make an even more positive contribution to the world marathon scene by working with our new partners."
Founded on January 23, 2006 by the Boston, Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, and ING New York City marathons, the World Marathon Majors is a race series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world. In addition to the six other races, the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons also serve as scoring events in the years in which they are held. Athletes earn points by placing among the top five in each race during a two-year scoring period. The champions of the WMM will be the man and woman who score the greatest number of points during the two-year scoring period.
In a joint statement from the World Marathon Majors Race Directors, Tom Grilk, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association and Boston Marathon, added, "We at World Marathon Majors are delighted to have Tokyo join our group. The Japanese have a magnificent history and tradition in the marathon, and the Japanese people have long embraced the marathon and distance running in general. They are among the finest fans in the world for our sport."
The inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held on February 18, 2007 and drew 95,044 applicants and 30,870 participants. Kenya's Daniel Njenga (2:09:45) and Japan's Hitomi Niiya (2:31:01) were the race's first champions. Since 2007, the Tokyo Marathon has grown to over 300,000 applicants and nearly 36,000 participants. In addition to serving as the first race of the 2013 - 2014 WMM scoring period, the 2013 Tokyo Marathon will double as the Japanese men's national team trials for the 14th IAAF World Championships Marathon in Moscow. Prior to the establishment of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation in 2007, the city of Tokyo hosted two separate marathon events for elite men and women, dating back to 1980 and 1979, respectively.
Each of the World Marathon Majors races boasts an international elite field for both men and women, has a mass participatory field completing the same course as the elite runners, takes place in a major international market, and is regarded as among the best in the industry.
About the Tokyo Marathon
Organized by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation and established in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon hosts nearly 36,000 participants on a tour of Tokyo's iconic tourist attractions. Through its theme, "The Day We Unite," the Tokyo Marathon unites runners, volunteers, and spectators on race day. Following the 2011 race, the Tokyo Marathon instituted "Tsunagu," a companion charity program for the Tokyo Marathon. Donations go to charitable activities in various fields according to the concept of "Tsunagu," or solidarity. Registration for the 2013 Tokyo Marathon, which closed on August 31, drew over 300,000 applicants.
About World Marathon Majors (WMM)
Established in 2006, the World Marathon Majors is a race series comprised of the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, and ING New York City marathons. In the years in which they are run, WMM also includes the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons. At the conclusion of a two-year cycle, WMM offers a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world. The inaugural 2006 - 2007 series launched at the 110th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2006 and concluded on November 4, 2007 at the ING New York City Marathon. The 2013 - 2014 series begins with the Tokyo Marathon on February 24, 2013 and will conclude on November 2, 2014 at the ING New York City Marathon.