On Monday, November 24th the Slab City Running Company delegation to the USATF-MN Team Circuit Planning Meeting successfully passed a number of key measures expected to help The Company in 2009. The delegation also ate, like, 900 pieces of pizza. First time delegate, Dan "Chapel" Church, observed, "That was awesome!" The meeting featured votes on several proposed revisions to the Circuit's scoring procedure, and also all-you-can eat pizza for $10. Slab City's five-person delegation helped pass a measure that will allow teams to drop their worst race from their total score and one that cuts the number of runners on a complete scoring team from five to three for races 15K and longer. The Company displayed intimidating strength by voting together on these measures early in the evening, and also by eating, like, six whole pizzas before the early votes had even been tallied.
The Company delegation was only outnumbered by the Molar Milers Caucus, but the meager difference in voting strength is preserved in the form of Grandma's Marathon's inclusion on the 2009 Circuit. Slab City's delegation, meanwhile, was successful in tipping several votes that prevented the early-season calendar from becoming too cluttered. Slab City's delegation was also successful in tipping several trays of pizza onto The Company's table. Asked for his feelings on losing the Grandma's Marathon vote, first time Slab City delegate, Ross Rankin, explained, "Sure, I would have preferred to have Twin Cities be the Circuit marathon, but I also would have preferred less salad at the buffet. I mean, salad? C'mon."
Veteran delegate, Matt Gehring, echoed his sentiments. "I think the important thing to remember is that even though the Rice Street Mile isn't on the 2009 Circuit, we still ate a ton of pizza." In fact, Ben Ho suggested that by winning the evening's early voting The Company was able to focus on its dominant pizza-eating during the scheduling votes. "We'll be able to field teams relatively easily for most of these races, and even if we can't we'll be able to drop our lowest score. On the other hand, tonight was our only shot at this pizza. I think some of these teams may have miscalculated."
The scoring rules adopted for 2009 are:
New Scoring System for 2009
a) Points awarded based on the number of teams competing at each race. If nine (9) teams participate in a race, the first place team will receive nine (9) points, 2nd place will receive eight (8) points, and so on, until the 9th place team receives one (1) point. Every complete team will be award at minimum one (1) point. The minimum winning point total for open teams will be five (5) points, for masters, four (4) points, and for grand master's, three (3) points, regardless of number of teams that officially score.
Example:
Race #1
Open Men (11 teams)
1. Team A - 11 points
2. Team B – 10 points
3. Team C – 9 points
11. Team K – 1 point
Master's Women (2 teams)
1. Team A – 4 points
2. Team B – 3 points
b) Each team will be allowed to discard the lowest score earned throughout the circuit. If the team circuit is composed of ten (10) races, the end of the year totals will reflect the nine (9) highest places earned.
c) The final USATF Minnesota Championship Race in 2009 will count as double points.
Definition of the Open Scoring Team
An open team will consist of 5 scoring members for distances under 15 kilometers. For distance of 15 kilometers and over, a scoring team will consist of 3 scoring members.
The 2009 Circuit Schedule is:
March 22 - The Human Race 8K - USATF Minnesota Championship
April 25 - Get In Gear 10K - USATF Minnesota Championship
May 7 - TC 1 Mile - USATF Minnesota Championship
May 25 - Brian Kraft Memorial 5K - USATF Minnesota Championship
June 20 - Grandma's Marathon - USATF Minnesota Championship
July 25 - Lumberjack Days 10 Mile
August 2 - Hennepin Lake Classic 5K
August 9 - MDRA Minnesota 15K - USATF Minnesota Championship
September 13 - City of Lakes 25K - USATF Minnesota Championship
The Circuit's pizza source should be restocked here.
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