Two races you haven’t heard of
May 21, 2006Hello world! [Tap, tap.] Um, is this thing on?
Before introducing myself, I wanted to introduce two little-known Internet-based races that are open to everyone regardless of geographical location. First, there is the Million Mile Ultra Run, which is essentially an online database for recording your training mileage, except that you can also check everyone else’s mileage and try to beat them to certain milestones (10,000 miles, 20,000 miles, etc.) The “race” started on January 1st, 1997, but you can enter your data retroactively if you’ve kept good records.
If running a million miles doesn’t fit into your schedule, you could instead participate in the Titus Van Rijn Invitational One-Hour Distance Classic. The name of this race is a mystery to me, but the concept is simple: run around a track for an hour, record the distance that you covered, and send your result to the race directors. There is no race website that I know of; below are the details I received via email.
You and yours are invited to participate in the Eighth Annual
TITUS VAN RIJN INVITATIONAL ONE-HOUR DISTANCE CLASSIC
WHAT: A one-hour footrace
WHERE: Your local track
WHEN: Anytime between April 22 and May 29RULES
* Your performance must take place on a standard 400 meter/440 yard track. Include partial laps in your final total; estimate distances as accurately as possible within reason.
* Send results to andrew.roth@sonoma.edu by midnight, 29 May 2006. In your results, please note name, total distance completed (in meters or yards), age, date, and location. We encourage you to include a brief report of your experience for the official race report.
* You may run the event more than once if desired, but only submit your best performance.
* You are encouraged to invite others to participate in the event. In many cases, our address list of past participants is incomplete, so we especially appreciate your forwarding this invitation to past runners not included in the original mailing.
* Complete results and race report will be sent to all participants.
TRADITION
World champions in football and baseball celebrate with champagne; the victor at the Indy 500 gets a bottle of milk. At Titus Van Rijn, the celebratory beverage of choice for all participants is black cherry soda. We encourage you to maintain the tradition.
ONE-HOUR TRACK RECORDS
World, women: 18,340 meters (~11.4 miles) — Tegla Loroupe (Ken), Borgholshausen, Ger 8/7/98
World, men: 21,101m (~13.1 miles) — Arturo Barrios (Mex), La Fleche, Fra 3/30/91
U.S., women: 17,273m (~10.7 miles) — Nancy Conz, Amherst, MA 6/25/81
U.S., men: 20,547m (~12.8 miles) — Bill Rodgers (GBTC), Boston, MA 8/9/77
TVR, women: 12,453m (~7.7 miles) — Sarah Brooks (MN), Northfield, MN 2002
TVR, men: 17,360m (~10.7 miles) — Dan Church (MN), Northfield, MN 2005ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please contact Andy Roth (andrew.roth@sonoma.edu) or Mike Persick
(mpersick@comcast.net), TVR Race Directors.
My Track Record 
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