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Date Posted: 14:30:11 08/22/03 Fri
Author: The Dallas Morning News
Subject: Marathon Conflict Likely to End Event's 11-Year Run


Marathon conflict likely to end event's 11-year run
08:32 PM CDT on Thursday, August 21, 2003


Andy Beach's streak of 11 consecutive Dallas Trails Marathon finishes could be in jeopardy. Dallas Trails Marathon race director James Thruston said he's not sure if he will hold the event in 2004.

Mellew Productions' Lewis George, another area race director and event promoter, scheduled a new marathon, the Big D Texas Marathon, for March 28, the date Thruston had planned for his event.

"I'm in limbo," Thruston said. "I don't have the money to lose. I have the same expenses, but I would probably have a fourth of the people I usually get to pay those expenses. Then, I'd have to greatly raise the entry fee, and that would drive more people off. I've had 25 years' experience. I know it won't work."

Beach is among 15 runners who have completed the Trails Marathon every year within the five-hour limit. He and others are eligible for the $1,292 Trails Marathon "Survivor's Pot," the prize for the last runner to keep the streak going.

"It's given me a goal to be sure that I can actually break the five-hour mark," said Beach, 45, of Garland. "The last couple years, I might have stopped running marathons if it weren't for the Dallas Trails Marathon. It kept me going ... because of the streak."

Beach and others still want Thruston to hold the race. However, Thruston said he will probably divide the $1,292 pot by the 15 survivors and tell them "we got snookered by the other marathon."

George said he wanted three months separating his event from the Dec. 14 Dallas White Rock Marathon. He said he could not schedule it before the Rock. March worked best logistically.

"I'm sad and sorry if it might affect James," George said. "That was never my goal."

This isn't the first time that George has scheduled an event about the same time as a previously scheduled one. Thruston said he canceled his longtime Cupid's Chase race, held near Valentine's Day, and his Shamrock Run, held near St. Patrick's Day, because he couldn't compete with other races George produced.

"There used to be ethics in this business," Thruston said. "The ethics seem to be going by the wayside. He doesn't seem to care. I have a conscience that wouldn't allow me to do something like that."

Like Thruston, Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club officials also have had scheduling conflicts with George's events. In 2002, George scheduled CAREfest at the Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine the same day as the club's Hound Dog Hustle 5K in Grapevine. The events have been the same day, six miles apart, the last two years.

"There are some of us who are not thrilled with his approach to doing business," said Ray Harris, who was president of the Grapevine club at the time.

Lewis said he hasn't given much thought to how the timing of his events affects others.

"As a business person, my focus has always been on the product I create and how I promote it," Lewis said. "I have clearly worn blinders. My attitude is that on every weekend throughout the year, there will be other running events. My job is to put on a better show and promote it earlier. The day will come when someone will try to do the same to me."

Briefly ...


Michelob Ultra and Runner's World magazine have partnered to sponsor five events nationally, including the Dallas Vampire Run on Halloween night in the West End. ... James Thruston's Jogger 5K Summer Series at Bachman Lake drew an average of 130 people per week, with 112 runners completing at least nine of the Wednesday night races and 16 runners finishing all 13.


E-mail dfetterman@dallasnews.com



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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/sports/columnists/dfetterman/stories/082203dnspofetterman.58636.html

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