2008 USATF MN Team Circuit Preview

The 2008 USATF MN Team Road Racing Circuit begins in three longer-than-they-were-before-daylight-savings-began days. Our collective anticipation for sun and sweat will make them seem short. That is, the days of which I speak will pass rapidly, thereby reducing their mass. All things are relative.

Not the least of which is Team Circuit Performance. Most of the previews you'll read will say something like "Run 'N' Fun hopes to win again!" Relatively speaking, who cares? The Team Circuit is not about winning, and it's certainly not about winning "again." No, the Team Circuit is about beating people. Sometimes it's about beating all the people, but usually not. The Minnesota Team Circuit is a collection of undeclared rivalries; individual, collective and existential. For six months each year our private hopes and fears spill into the streets. We train and fret, plot and scheme and measure our happiness and self-esteem against arbitrary targets, usually unaware they have been selected for such a role.

The Team Championship is only one of these battles. It is probably not the most important. Those are likely to be the individual battles we've chosen privately, and that I will not address until I either win a bunch of mine or get angry at someone. In the meantime, here's a look at the team rivalries that will shape the 2008 Men's Open Circuit:

Run N Fun vs The Runners Formerly Known as Edge

Every year about 15-20 somewhat-fast dudes lace up their shoes and compete for either Run 'N' Fun or Another Shoe Store. Until recently Another Shoe Store was Runner's Edge. When Runner's Edge went out of business last year, GEAR absorbed the team...and lost the title. This year the former Edge runners are likely flocking from GEAR to TC Running Co. Run 'N' Fun has won at least a share of four of the last five circuit titles, but TCRC had a solid team in 2007 and finished fourth even without the somewhat-fast Edge transplants. The problem, of course, is that the Runners Formerly Known as Edge are developing a reputation for acting like the aliens from Independence Day. They travel from sponsor to sponsor, exhaust its resources, lay waste to its cities and move on. If this pattern holds, look for GEAR to have a rebuilding year in 2008...and for TCRC to have a rebuilding year in 2009.

Lundgren Ford vs Third Place

As far as I'm willing to research, Third Place has won this battle every year. In spirit if not in fact. Spiritwise, look for Nothing To Change in 2008.

Slab City Running Company vs Collegeville Track Club

Because we at SCRC are (the better) half of this rivalry, it is extremely accurate to say that this is by far the most compelling and complex. Old MIAC triumphs and defeats are relatively fresh, but so too is the realization that nobody is making us run. We are free to run, not run or go to grad school as we please. Our teams are tied at 1-1 all time on the Circuit. In 2007, Collegeville followed Peder Arneson and some strong second-half recruits to victory. Really, though, the winner in this battle will be determined by which team does better against a shared rival: Autonomy.

Collegeville vs Autonomy

Last year Collegeville destroyed Autonomy and managed to find plenty of runners who hadn't yet realized they don't have to run. More importantly, the autonomous forces present on the Collegeville roster proved less influential than the opposing running forces. The team seems poised for another impressive performance in 2008, but Autonomy has a ringer in the form of Mark Rapacz. If his trip to Asia inspires similar departures look for a depleted Collegeville team to lose to both Autonomy and SCRC.

The Company vs Autonomy

Autonomy has always had a charismatic and influential presence on the Company roster. Andy Sherman's leadership on its behalf and Phil Schrader's happy-go-lucky acquiescence have been attractive models for a younger generation of autonomous members. For years, Christopher "Bizyah" Lundberg has been the team's primary bulwark against Autonomy, and he may part Company this season after his law school graduation. If that happens SCRC will have to pin its hopes on Schrader, who recently has shown signs that he is post-autonomous by leading runs with groups of younger Company members.

Team Ortho vs Molar Milers

It's like, who is better when it comes to mouths and running? Probably the Molar Milers, since Ortho is short for Orthopaedic. These teams were separated by just one point heading in to last year's final race. You would think that the orthopaedic team would have an advantage because of its collection of joints, bones and spines. It turns out, however, that what the Molars lack in joints, bones and spines, they make up for by being Milers. Team Ortho is not taking last year's loss lying down. The team website has announced that it will expand beyond joints, bones and spines to include "Every Body." By the end of the season the team might even include essential legs and arms. But if the Molar team continues to Mile, Team Ortho's expansion might not matter.

The Human Race is Sunday, March 16th! Don't worry about winning, just worry about beating people! See you on the streets...