Winds of Change: The Collegeville Circuit Revolution

Slab City Running Company's spiritual rivals, Collegeville, have always been famous for the amount of wind they generate. This fall Minnesota running fans are asking themselves, is it just wind? Or, is it wind of change?



Collegeville finished fourth on the 2008 Road Circuit for the second consecutive year, but they closed with series of strong performances including an impressive second-place showing at the MDRA 15K. The motley collection of jovial ex-MIAC runners finished the season just three points out of third-place. Representatives of the Circuit's ancien-regime were nervous, but they also assumed that colder weather would weaken Collegeville's resolve and quash any attempted November Revolution.

Instead, the ancien-regime fell on Sunday, November 8th 2008. Collegeville recorded a convincing victory at the USATF-MN Cross Country Championships and won the USATF-MN Cross Country Team Circuit. Of course, the quality of competition on the Cross Country Circuit is compromised because Slab City does not participate, choosing instead to spend the fall gaining weight and otherwise preparing to hibernate. Even without The Company's weighty presence, however, Collegeville's victory must be recognized as a significant moment in Circuit history.

We at Slab City therefore take this moment's pause from our November weight-gain to salute Collegeville for blowing fresh winds of change in the faces of the Minnesota running community. And while it is true that Slab City would very likely have won the Cross Country Circuit by much, much more if we had been in shape to do so, the Collegeville Revolution ought not be overlooked. Our sincere congratulations.

Now, brace yourselves to experience the crushing weight of the 2009 Slab City Running Company Counter-Revolution.