'T.R.A.C.K. Live!' masters track reality show may be dead
Email flying across the country suggests that finances and turnout for Phase 2 of the T.R.A.C.K. Live!" masters track TV show are a disaster. Athletes are paying out of their own pocket, and show organizers are incommunicado. I've sent a note to Julia Dudley, the show producer based in Fresno. No reply. Perhaps she will after reading this blog entry. If you're taking part in this venture, feel free to share your own experiences.
One entrant wrote fellow entrants:
Hello all, I was one of the people who drove to Fresno on the original schedule on Monday to find that no arrangements had been made. Plans were being redefined: no hotel, no meals, no meeting, no track, no high jump facilities, no guidance, no schedule. Over the next two days Rey Brown and I received negligible contact while sharing a hastily arranged room. Still no training facilities.Many other notes have come my way, all with similar complaints and concerns.The Wednesday night meeting (postponed from Monday) was intended to be a notable kick-off, but only about a dozen athletes were present and the stale sandwiches were unimpressive. Although, T-Sports was an excellent facility. I had tried to remain patient, but when Wednesday night sleeping arrangements came through at 9:45 Wednesday night, I reached the frustration point.
I had made numerous adjustments to my business at over $1000 personal cost, to attend this 2 week segment of training and elimination meet to find no training arrangements were made, no HJ coach was around (never got any training plan by email), the meet had been moved to July, and I was pretty much on my own in Fresno.
I called Julia late Wednesday night and she actually answered (a rarity). She was flustered, told me how much trouble she was having with flights, put me on hold for about ten minutes, then told me she needed to end the call to move cots because the hotel arrangements were temporary and everyone would be moved to a house. "Everyone" meant fewer than 30 people total for the entire show versus the 45 qualifiers, versus the 100+ hoped for athletes.
My observation was that Julia was in over her head, didn't know how to use her resource, including the athletes, and didn't recognize an athlete in crisis when I called late Wednesday night. I saw no signs of conditions improving now or in the July session, so I drove home . . . . through Wednesday night. I play too much poker to throw good money after bad, so I just cut my losses and withdrew from the show. TrackLive is an excellent concept, but the implementation is unlikely to succeed. Sorry to those I met during the event, but I hope we meet in other meets.
The show may not go on.
Comments
I am writing from Fresno, California where cameras are rolling! Stay Tuned!
Marjorie Milligan Jackson
Posted by: Marjorie Milligan Jackson | June 13, 2008 9:15 PM
Hi Ken!
Julia here...yes we had a few bumps in the road as with anything new would when it comes to production, but it's all coming together. I know you may have questions about the production out here in Fresno; you are welcome to come check us out, (however we can't allow you to report on the events of the show...:-) Thank you again!
Julia (forever committed to track and field!)
Posted by: Julia Dudley | June 14, 2008 8:44 AM
Ken, I applied for the show and was notified that I had been accepted; however, I withdrew after watching the website and trying to sift through the unorganized information provided. It just seemed too unorganized and strange. Glad I pulled out.
Posted by: Martha Mendenhall | June 14, 2008 8:54 PM
I'd like to know how anything so unorganized and unfocused was ever able to make it off the launching pad. No surprise if and when it folds.
Posted by: Seriously | June 15, 2008 8:32 AM
Marjorie here writing from Fresno, home of T.R.A.C.K. Live! I am so glad I am on this project. I find myself enjoying the challenge. The beginning was a bit bumpy. Yet most of the competitors have stayed positive. I think I can speak for many in our group when I say that we are truly enjoying our time on T.R.A.C.K. Live!
Posted by: Marjorie Milligan Jackson | June 15, 2008 4:46 PM
Good luck Majorie! I wish I could have been there with you. Maybe another year.
Posted by: Susan Wiemer | June 16, 2008 12:11 PM
Hello Ken,
After completing phase II of this show, I was really impressed by the dedication of the athletes to make it a success. We had such a variety of people from the best long distance to former Olympian High Jumpers and Coaches. I am the USATF Fla Women's Dept Chair, and I was very interested in this show since I first heard about it in March of this year. The show did experience some bumps in the beginning, however it really pick up the pace in phase II. It was definitely worth me traveling from Fla to CA to be in the ground phases of this show. I received some of the best training that I have received in the past year, since I personally decided to start throwing again under USATF. I think everyone will also be impressed with the show and the contestants. Let's just say, in the four weeks that I was there, I have shortened the gap of making the next Olympic Trials & Games and World Championship(smile). I was on the verge of making a decision to continue or stop my training. But, thanks to this show, it really lifted my spirit in my training and I was able to see a great future again. It will only get better from this point on to the next season. It shed real light on what Master's Athletes go through in life while training and handling diversity on a team. There are also some real surprises coming out on the show. Julia and staff did a really good job making the best out of what was provided by the sponsors and they handled the situations as they came about, which showed me that they were totally dedicated to Master's Track. If you are a lover of Track N Field and especially Master's Track..stay tuned for more. The athletes who stuck with the show (congrats), only the strong survives. Everyone is not cut out for team, dedication, diversity and hard work. Hats off to everyone...JOB WELL DONE!
Posted by: Wanda Johnson | August 4, 2008 1:21 PM