This years opinions.
Not everyone was happy.


Mr. Bobenhouse:
>From the time I found the LHF web site I was excited about taking part in
your race. And you know how sometimes you can get all excited and then
you get disappointed? Well, that certainly wasn't the case here. Your
race was everything I imagined, AND MORE!
>From the initial website, to the race itself, to the post race
activities, to posting results and pictures, this has been a FANTASTIC
experience. I am still excited about it. I take my hat off to you and
all of your volunteers. What a great event. Certainly the high point
of my running year.
See you next year!

John Large




Steve:

I wanted to thank you for putting on such a fine event. This was the
third time my wife and I have participated in this race. We have
enjoyed it every time and this year was no exception. We run about a
half dozen road races each year and this is by far the most anticipated
of all.
As far as the D.Q.s go I believe you did the only fair (right) thing.
Keep up the good work, and we are looking forward to the 21st annual
run. Thanks again.

Paul Goodman



Another GREAT Race On Saturday.. We all owe a great debt to you and all that help out. Thank you so very very much. See you in 99.

Michael Johnston





To whom it may concern,



I would just like to applaud all the people and organizations who make
this great event happen every year. I ran in the race for the first
time, and it was one of the most enjoyable (and craziest!) that I have
ever taken part in. Thank you for the challenging course and for all of
the food afterwards. Also, the LHF web site on the Runner Stuff link is
outstanding!!!! The pictures are one of a kind. Keep up the good work!



David Schmitz

Charles City, IA



Steve:

Thanks for putting on such a great race at Living History Farms. It really is a
fantastic event, and one that I look forward to each year. I am a bit stiff and
sore from the fences and creeks, though. Not enough climbing and jumping in my
training, I guess!

Thanks for your time,
Anne Flynn



Congratulations on another fine x-c race.

Its too bad that you were placed in the dilemma of deciding to
disqualify the group of leaders or not. You did what needed to be done
and I feel you made the right decision.

I've been at the race many times and have often felt lost (including
this year) but that's part of the beauty of the event. A group of us in
Mason City look forward to the race as a sort of seasonal climax and
actually get together for some downright difficult training in the
woods and single track trails outside Mason City.

We believe some of the comments at the awards ceremony concerning
"Boycott Runner Stuff" were unjustified and we wanted you to know your
efforts are appreciated.

Keep up the good work. No one in Iowa does as much as you guys to help
promote the sport!!

Curt Krieger
Mason City, Iowa



Nine runners of the Humboldt Cross Country team recently participated in
the Living History Farms Off-Road Race, and each and every one of us had a
blast! Some of us had ran in it before, but it was also the first time for
some. We couldn't have thought of a better way for us to spend a Saturday
morning together, sharing what we have in common. We noticed we never saw
the 3 mile mark, but that was unimportant. We were there to have fun, and
that is exactly what we got! We are very appreciative of all the work you
have put into the race, and look forward to running again next year!
Thanks again,
Vanessa Lane
Humboldt Cross Country Team



Dear Mr. Bobenhouse,
I was one of the top 15 runners that were disqualified at the Living
History Farms Race. I accept your decision, and agree that this was the
only fair way to treat the other runners. I am writing this letter in
response to your statement that we knew we were off course. I can assure
you that neither I nor the other top six runners I talked to were told
that we took the wrong turn. The first time I realized it was when I
crossed the finish line in only 23 minutes. After this, we also went back
and ran the missed part of the course. However, we could not finish
again, because our numbers had already been taken. Even today, I have no
idea where we took the wrong turn. Sincerely,



Great race! you should have the mountain dew or surge people come out and do
a commercial at it

No name




Thank you for putting on such a fabulous run - I always enjoy running
the off-road race.
Thanks again for putting on such a tremendous race!

Brian Benjamin
Perry, Iowa




My Response to a letter writer who didn’t want to be published.


I received your letter and feel that I need to address each point separately

Actually, with 2000 runners on this type of cross country course, it’s hard to believe that the chances of error aren’t extremely high. I was just happy that nobody got hurt and it went as well as it did. We have a meeting to go over the race each year and this year will be no exception.

In your first paragraph you make reference to the fact that this was not the first time that the leaders had gone the wrong way. As far as your own experiences, I feel that we’ve made every effort possible to solve the problems of years past. One of the solutions was to put red flags all along the course. Other suggested changes were to shorten the 2 mile race, who’s runners also paid their money, to one mile. We have now decided to cancel it all together. I realize this means little to the group you represent, however these people did enjoy their own version of participation. If we don’t encourage beginners, we will loose the sport.

I don’t care whether we call it disqualification or an incomplete run. In either case, whether you are at the Living History Farms Race or a group of 6 schools getting together to have XC meet, the runner has to take the responsibility to follow the course. No other participant had seen the course before Saturday. It was not even completely marked until Friday afternoon. I disqualified one of my own team members also and yet somehow 1900+ plus runners ran the correct route past the 5 mile mark.(the point that you were D.Q.ed for).I was made aware of the fact that the leading group was 100 yds off the course when you were told that you were off the route. A conscious decision must have been made to continue. One of the group did in fact tell us this was the case and another has since supported it. This fact was probably the catalyst for my decision!

My statement that not everyone went the wrong way is not correct as a complete statement. What I should have said is that you were the only ones who went the wrong way at the intersection just before the 5 mile mark. This is the place that caused you to be d.q.ed. The whole field in fact went the wrong way at about 2.7 miles because some derelict actually changed the pennants and moved some of the flags. We have no way of knowing when or who did this but we do know that no participant went by the 3 mile marker. Everyone went from the 2 to the 4. Based on this fact, we decided that rather than d.q. the whole field, no one had gained an advantage, and we would just ignore it’s effect on the race.

I have to question that anyone who was running saw anyone carrying the 3 mile marker. One of my employees went out and got it at about 10:05AM. When they picked it up it was being faithfully guarded by a Drake University XC team member, since last year some of these were stolen and at $200 apiece we weren’t about to have that happen again.

–—, I had 158 volunteers out there and none who were actually involved in the race were on the bridge. There was a guy there with a cellular phone talking to someone, but it wasn’t us. Our radio people were underneath the bridge for one purpose only. The runners safety. They were placed to report injuries and report to the medical stations. It is impossible to come up with more volunteers than we had, so if that’s not enough, we’d better just give up. I may have been one of the race officials they heard on the bridge as I drove back from other parts of the course. I drove straight to the finish from the bridge and you guys were through and gone. It was well past too late.

I think that had we told you at the finish line to turn around and go back, by the time the argument was over, the standings would not have been much different than they are now. And none of you would have been any happier. Your reference to this possibility is not realistic. As far as officials at the finish line at the time of your finish, 22 minutes for a difficult 6 mile course is not a foreseen time to have anyone at the finish line. Volunteers took your tags as they had been instructed to do.

If I offended you at the awards ceremony area I do apologize. I was told that the group wouldn't come back next year. I had the feeling this fact meant the decision was made. I said OK. I didn't know that there was anything I could do about the decision.

I am in no way trying to encourage a boycott of the race. I do feel that the race will remain competitive no-matter who decides they won’t come for whatever reason. 2000 runners did have a good experience and I have received a number of supportive correspondences

My store and business should in fact have little to do with this situation, ................. If I was out to make a lot of money, I would be doing something else. Running is a love! This and the recognition (thank you’s from runners who are customers or participants) are why I do the job I do. If anyone wants to question these statements I’ll be happy to share what should normally be very private information. Also, I get no money from this or any other race that I’m currently involved in. I have not been paid for being a race official since 1986!

Your last paragraph makes me sad. I hope the same decision, or a comparable one, never falls on your shoulders. It was not something I had planned on making. Only you know whether you will be back, however I hope you will. I also hope all of you will immediately go out and volunteer to help with a race in your area. I think that you will find that YOU COULDN’T PAY ANYONE ENOUGH TO DO SOME OF THESE JOBS. If you could, the cost of entry into the race would be prohibitive. We all do it for the love of the sport. Remember, all those ‘race officials’ who were out there ignoring the fact that you went the wrong way and not telling you, were volunteers. They were out there so you and all the others, could have a good time.

IN CLOSING, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR PERMISSION TO POST YOUR LETTER, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTIVE ONES THAT I HAVE RECEIVED ON OUR WEB SITE? Hopefully it will help some other race directors in the future.

Steve Bobenhouse.



Steve

Hi! Just wanted to say that I enjoyed the course this year! Even
when I was up to my waist in the creek.

Also wanted to say that I think you made the right decision on the
top 15. If they are going to run at the farm they should know where
they are going! Especially in a race like this where it is just
about impossible to think of all the places someone could make
a wrong turn.

Thanks for putting on the race!

stephen fyfe




I didn't see my race results in your listing. What happened? My name
is Michelle Westland. I don't remember my race number. My time was
around 54 minutes. Let me know. Thanks!
P.S.
Great race! I had a ball!
Michelle Westland

She accidentally went through the men’s chute. We added her in the final results. - S.B.



Steve

Another great LHF race. This is an Iowa classic that I've run for
years. Now that I live in Nebraska, I'm building a group of loyalists
who'd rather run LHF than watch the Huskers play football! As for the
15 runner's you DQ'd - you did the right thing. I'm a "middle of the
pack" runner and we run for the fun. This race is about the other 1900+
runners and while it would be a shame for anyone to not return because
of their own mistake, so be it. Running is for the masses, not just the
elite.

Keep up the good work and see you next year!

Bob Schoby



This was my first time running the race and I enjoyed it completely.
However I did have one minor question. Why isn't more done to prevent
runners from cutting the corner at the cornfield? I counted at least 50
people who should have been DQ'd for not following the course. The only
reason I'm asking is I'd like to know where I actually finished overall, in
my age group, etc... I'm sure you're aware of the problem after running 20
of these, I was just curious why more wasn't done. Too bad people can't be
relied on to follow the honor system.

Congrat's on 20 years of racing at LHF.

Greg Goodman
Ames, Iowa

Reply;
We deliberately drove a pickup out into the field and literally chased down a great number of these runners. We then wrote down their race numbers and, if they actually crossed the finish line, we did not include them in the results. Obviously, we know this happens, but most of the ‘criminals’ don’t care about their time, they just want to take part. I think this has come about because of the lack of a sense of accomplishment in doing the 1 mile. We are constantly trying to solve this and other little problems with the event.


Dear Steve Bobenhouse,

I've just visited the Living History Farms Race website and read through
much of the material posted there and I thought I should include some of my
thoughts. I hope you will post this on the website so that the other race
participants can read what I have to say.

The controversy is really unfortunate because I believe the LHF race is a
very unique and rewarding race. The strength and determination that the
coarse requires can bring out the best in all of the competitors, no matter
how fast the scenery goes by. It is also a great opportunity to meet up
with friends and enjoy a little competitiveness in a beautiful setting. I
think that it's great that so many people can come together and enjoy what
can be a gruelling and brutal experience. This is why I come to LHF to
race.

After the race I admit that I let my emotions get the best of me and I am
sorry about saying some of the things that I did. I take my running very
seriously and the situation really caused me a lot of anxiety.

I am a competitive runner and I don't like to lose. But! I would never
cheat. My disqualification from the race this year angered me because I
had been running in good faith and wouldn't have cheated anybody. I wasn't
intending to cut the course, sneak in early, or avoid more pain. I was
only racing the guys ahead of me. When they made a wrong choice, I
unknowingly made the wrong choice too. Even as I approached town I had no
idea that we had taken the wrong turn. I honestly thought that we would
return out to do the last loop through the rolling meadow. My heart sank
(really) when I saw the runners ahead of me approach the chute and stop. I
knew then that something was wrong and that I wasn't going to finish the
whole race. I still have no idea where the red flags went, only that I
should have known.

I think that there are a lot of people that feel that the DQ'd runners were
just whining, but I'd would like people to understand that this race meant
a lot to me. I had been looking forward to this race for months and my
fall training and workouts were planned around this race. I came to race
against guys I raced against in college. I came to test my physical
condition on a tough course. I came to enjoy the struggle and to be
satisfied and be glad that I got through it. I came away with the
cheater's penalty. There was no sympathy for an honest mistake and no
respect was shown towards the DQ'd runners. This is what distressed me the
most. I honestly felt like my effort and struggle and pain during the race
had been for nothing and that the feelings of the DQ'd runners had been
ignored and that we weren't welcome back.

The whole situation was unfortunate and it doesn't do any good to point
fingers now. I'm sorry that I lost my head, but I hope people can
understand how I felt.

Very sincerely,

Matt Thomas

p.s. I am also grateful for the race volunteers at this and every other
race I compete in. They do a great job and are often underappreciated.


In reply;

I at no time meant to convey that anyone (of the front pack had tried to intentionally cut the course).
These athletes are much to competitive to cheat to win. All I was trying to get across is that they inadvertently went off course and didn’t in some cases go back. Again, I felt that had we followed any other corurse when it came to the awards, it would have jepardised the integrity of the race. (I
actually believe that the mess in 95 did possibly bring this about. S.B.