Gratitude

Does anyone bother to go out of their way to thank the officials? To thank the person at the registration table? To find the promoter and thank them for their sacrifice?

Despite how i may sound at times, offering thanks in person to people is my big goal at races. Be it Jamestown, Dayville, where ever.

Reading the archives i came across an email or three from Bill Dolan. Freaking gem of USAC. Not that there are any lumps of coal officiating races it seems. But Bill has always stood out to me, even as a newbie to the New England Scene (well aside from my collegiate days running the program at a small college in CT). Back in 2001 he wrote that usually at a race one or two racers will thank him. Wow? One or two? THATS IT?

I was floored. Sure in '01 there were fewer racers than racing now. But, holy crap. I didn't know it was that bad. I try to make it a point to thank every course marshall i see at any race, even if i'm NOT racing.

A thank you is a small gesture.

But it is not trivial. And like smiling at people, it is a verbal hug. An acknowledgment that you recognize they had a choice, and they made a choice to help out the bike racers.

Show some gratitude next time you are at a race. Many people probably do, i hope. I hope, but not enough do. We don't need a freaking wedding receiving line set up for it. But if you walk/ride past someone who is working hard at the course and you don't thank them, well, that's wrong. Sure you can probably not worry about offering thanks when you are racing. Why do i say not enough do? Well. I'm constantly, esp with the USAC officials, getting a response of surprise when i thank them. Surprise as in something unexpected, out of the norm.

Express your gratitude this weekend and every time you race. Thank the guys putting on the training races if you go to them. Thank the officials scoring the race. Don't do it while they are maddly scribbling down numbers, be patient. Wait till the field has passed if you want to thank the folks sitting at the table.

peace
G