Allow me to say a word of thanks to the masked one and also apol0gize
one more time. The appreciation I have for everyone who came out to the
event is great. Each one of you has helped in raising the most money we
have raised in the 5 years of the event.

I have to take most of the blame, even if we want to pass it on to
Jurassic Park. It was, and always will be, my responsibility to have
trained race volunteers, better communications with the entity hosting
the race and making sure that the perks promised for your pleasure after
the race were delivered. I take full blame and will receive whatever
wrath I need to incur. Todd Smoot worked extremely hard to overcome the
barriers that he had to work with Saturday and I am grateful beyond
words for the work that he did.

We want to continue the tradition of a run for adoption next year. I
don't think that we will run it on this course again, but I would ask
each of you to consider coming to the event at the out and back at VSU.
Many of you may not want to give us another chance and I understand that
completely. But I can tell you that we will never mess up because of a
lack of effort. To all who are rightfully upset- I say it one more time-
it is my fault and I apologize. And I do thank you for your support.
Thanks masked one for your insight and compassionate blog.

Gerry Russo
--- In GetActiveSouthGeorgia@yahoogroups.com, "runningmasked"
<gasketx@...> wrote:
>
> Allow me to start by saying it is my own fault for attending the
> race this last weekend against by better judgment. This is due to a
> long standing grudge against our local amusement park (referred to as
> Jurassic Park from here on out), but with 100% of the money going to
> the DT Foundation--I couldn't not do it. It is my own fault for
> racing it like I did, in an effort to find a new running style and
> advancing to the next level (I think I am up to Super Sayian 2 at the
> moment). It is my own fault for KNOWING the course, but following the
> erroneous sign anyways. It is my own fault for running the course as
> a warm up, getting lost, and not speaking up at the start of the race
> adamantly enough to get more volunteers on the course. It is my own
> fault for trying to run down the leaders to tell them they are going
> the wrong way. It is my own fault for acting as I did at the finish.
>
> It is not the Race Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish Line
> Operator's fault we all couldn't follow instructions. It is not the
> Race Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault we
> all followed the wrong red and white arrow. It is not the Race
> Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault the park
> personnel showed up an hour late. It is not the Race Director's nor
> the Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault the volunteers had no
> clue on how to direct racers during the actual race (you got to be in
> place and waving at us or yelling at us directions BEFORE we get
> abreast of you). It is not the Race Director's nor the Race
> Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault Jurassic Park decided to clean
> the only open restroom 15 minutes before the start of the race. It is
> not the Race Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's
> fault Jurassic Park decided to not allow us to ride the Hangman as
> offered. It is not the Race Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish
> Line Operator's fault Jurassic Park decided to clean the sidewalk
> during the awards presentation. It is not the Race Director's nor the
> Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault that certain member's of
> this running group were "miffed" about who didn't run the course, but
> I did, so I should have won the race/age group. It is not the Race
> Director's nor the Race Designer/Finish Line Operator's fault that a
> whole bunch of us just ran whatever we felt like before running
> through the finish line.
>
> Who is to blame for the debacle that was this weekend's race?
> Perhaps you who ask this question should look closer to home. We were
> all adults, who should have heard the prerace instructions and
> followed them. After all, one wouldn't go on a road trip without
> consulting mapquest, why would one run a road race without knowing the
> way?
>
> If that is not good enough for those of us more bloodthirsty and
> calling for someone's head, then look towards the "Polls" section I
> believe we can all agree on who to squarely place the blame on. The
> kicker to all this is, he didn't even show for the race.
>
> Keep in mind that this event was for charity, a lot of good was
> done. That should be reward enough.
>
> Excelsior,
> M Avenger
>