Race Promoter Defends Actions -- Lake Grapevine Runners And Walkers

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Date Posted: 20:08:04 03/22/03 Sat
Author: washingtonpost.com
Subject: Race Promoter Defends Actions
In reply to: washingtonpost.com 's message, "Runners Irate Over Cancellation" on 07:43:25 03/21/03 Fri

washingtonpost.com
Race Promoter Defends Actions

By Greg Sandoval
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 22, 2003; Page D02

The president of H20 Entertainment, the company that operates the Washington, D.C. Marathon, yesterday defended his decision to cancel Sunday's race and his refusal to refund registration fees.

John Stanley and his Arlington-based company have been criticized by a slew of runners and Mayor Anthony Williams's office for citing security concerns as the reason for shutting down the event. H20 acknowledged that it had canceled the race without any urging from city or federal officials. The mayor's office said it learned of the cancellation from the media.

"The mayor is appalled at the decision, outraged," said his spokesman, Tony Bullock. "If they had security concerns the appropriate thing to do was to meet with us and discuss it.

"I think the truth will come out in the very near future that the reason they canceled was that they were concerned they would lose money staging the race."

A group of runners, with the backing of several area running clubs, is planning to stage an unofficial replacement for the D.C. Marathon on Sunday. Participants will follow the D.C. Marathon course and those who finish the race will receive times and certificates at the Freedom Plaza finish line.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Stanley denied that the decision to shut down the race was made for financial reasons. He said that protecting the 6,801 runners was his prime concern.

Although an exact figure is undisclosed, it is believed that hundreds of people from as far as China and Britain made arrangements to compete in the race and had trained for months in preparation.

On Wednesday evening, U.S. troops were poised for war, which caused some runners to fear that the risk of terrorist attack was greater. The company began receiving "hundreds and hundreds" of e-mails and phone messages from people who said they were afraid to visit the Washington area, Stanley said.

Race volunteers, many of whom were responsible for handing out water to runners as they traversed the 26.2-mile course, were "dropping out like flies," Stanley said.

Adding to the confusion, according to Stanley, was the tobacco farmer who held police at bay for two days after driving his tractor into a pond on the Mall and refusing to surrender. In such a climate, Stanley said, holding a marathon seemed dangerous. He said if something happened to anyone participating in the race, "they would sue H20, not the city . . . my insurance doesn't cover acts of terrorism."

"Do I regret my decision? No," Stanley said. "It's not a popular decision. People are upset, but at the end of the day I made it based on protecting the safety of the runners."

But some runners say they feel misled by Stanley.

A week before canceling the race, Stanley addressed about 100 runners taking part in one of H20's training seminars at George Washington University. He was asked whether war with Iraq could interfere with the race. According to Chris Basso, who was in attendance, Stanley declared that the race would go on as scheduled, "no matter what."

Another source of frustration for many runners is H20's refusal to refund money. Stanley said he couldn't because much of the money had been spent on race supplies and equipment. Stanley also said that the company lost close to $500,000 last year.

Sam Rosen, a class-action attorney from New York who had planned to run half the marathon with his daughter, said he is planning to file a class-action suit to force H20 to refund fees. Stanley said he couldn't comment on a suit that he hasn't seen yet.

� 2003 The Washington Post Company

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D.C. Runners Keep Moving On Their Own -- washingtonpost.com, 08:07:54 03/24/03 Mon