First year for Flynn as Alliant 8K race director

CEDAR RAPIDS - The last few months have been more frenzy than actual fun for Colin Flynn.

Of course, it might be expected while directing Cedar Rapids' biggest road race in a year of transition.

Flynn, of Cedar Rapids, has overseen a number of changes in his first year as race director for the 26th Alliant Fifth Season 8K that will be held on July 4. The traditional event will have a new course and packet pickup area as well as reverting back to the old way of awarding prize money this year. He replaces Mike Regan, who resigned last year after seven years in the position.

"With anything like this there is a lot of work," Flynn said. "There were a lot of changes that were brought upon us."

As the race nears, Flynn is faced with the demands to prepare for holiday event. All the details have to be addressed and the "ton of volunteers" are at the right place at the right time, according to Flynn.

"There's a pretty large checklist of things you have to go through with all the pieces that have to go into place for something like this," Flynn said. "It's huge."

Flynn, who has participated in the Fifth Season race most years since moving to the area in 1993, has volunteered for the race the last three years and has been a member of the Cedar Valley Running Association, which organizes the event, for the last five. He was the race director's assistant last year. Flynn has an affection for this event, recognizing the importance to Cedar Rapids calling it the city's best annual event.

"I've run the race many times," Flynn said. "It's a favorite for me to run. I like the tradition of the Fourth of July. It's the biggest race in Cedar Rapids and it was always fun to be involved with it."

Rumors circulated about potential issues, forcing major changes to the race. A tough task for anyone, especially a first-year race director. Flynn said it wasn't clear at first how the changes would affect the race.

"We were realizing there were things that were going to happen," he said. "We frankly didn't think that everything was going to happen as quickly as it did.

"It's been more, certainly, than we thought possibly would change."

The biggest change is the new course for the 8K, 5K and youth races. A major challenge was presented came when Second Ave. in SE Cedar Rapids closed for construction of a medical mall. The stretch had been the traditional final leg of the race. Then it became apparent Third Ave. would be an unlikely option, eliminating the idea of starting downtown and maintaining the path through historic SE Cedar Rapids neighborhoods and turning around at Bever Park.

The new out-and-back course will begin by the Chrome Horse Saloon near Czech Village, which will also be the new packet pickup location, with the turnaround at Prairie Park Fishery, including a long scenic stretch along the Cedar River. Flynn said the course will be flat and fast. Keeping some of the characteristics of the old course was important.

"The out-and-back feature was something we really wanted to hang on to," said Flynn, noting people enjoyed seeing the elite runners finish while running toward them. "We didn't want to throw hills at people or make the course too difficult, so we really tried to keep it flat."

Race officials have also decided to offer prize money to international runners, reversing a decision from a year ago to only pay United States runners. The race is expected to pay out $14,000 in prize money. According to the news release, the Fifth season race has paid out more money than any other 8K contest in the country while also being the nation's longest running 8K race.

"We tried it for a year and just didn't like the way it felt," Flynn said. "We also saw the overall level wasn't as strong as previous years. We decided it was a better idea to go back to the international field and look for a higher caliber runner than what we saw overall last year."

The race also has a new Elite Athlete Coordinator in Ryan Scheckel, who replaces Bill Bails. Flynn said the top 10 runners in 2007 all had better times than the 2010 champion. Race officials have established standards for the elite field. Runners are considered "A" standard athletes with a verified 8K time less than 23 minutes for men and 26:30 for women. The time for "B" standard men is less than 24 minutes, and Flynn said there are six "A" and five "B" runners confirmed with more likely to come. The prize money is a key factor.

"It's worked pretty well," Flynn said. "We have a pretty strong field coming in."

Flynn also said participation levels across the board are higher than at this time last year.  He said he hopes entries remain constant through race day.

"Our registration numbers are up in a major way," Flynn said. "I don't know what to exactly attribute that to, but in the same time frame this year versus last we've seen a definite increase in interest. Hopefully that trend continues."