Arlington Marathon runs into difficulties

The newly proposed Arlington Marathon has hit a speed bump 16 weeks before its scheduled inaugural May2.

An error by veteran event director Jay Wind may jeopardize the race’s efforts to secure liability insurance, which in turn could jeopardize the race.

One source said Arlington County is requiring $3million in liability insurance for the race. Road Runners Club of America, an Alexandria-based organization representing many of the nation’s running clubs and events, offers $1million to each of its member clubs.

But when Wind submitted his RRCA application on behalf of his newly reorganized Arlington Co. Running Club after he submitted his proposal to Arlington County, RRCA interim executive director Ed Demoney refused it. He said he was concerned that Wind made several misrepresentations to the county including stating on his marathon proposal that his club was an RRCA member when at the time it was not.

“The Arlington Co. Running Club recently applied for membership in the Road Runners Club of America as an ’event member’ for the Arlington Marathon,” Demoney said. “The application was for the purpose of obtaining liability insurance and nonprofit status under the RRCA group exemption. The application for membership in RRCA was not granted due to various significant misrepresentations by the organizer of the Arlington Marathon in his proposal [to Arlington County officials] for the event.”

Wind’s misrepresentations, according to Demoney, include that the marathon claimed nonprofit status for the Arlington Co. Running Club, that the club was registered with RRCA and that Arlington County was covered by RRCA insurance.

“None of the claims are true,” Demoney said. “RRCA believes [Wind] acted irresponsibly in submitting the event proposal, especially using the reputation of RRCA to promote approval of the event. RRCA has informed Arlington County regarding its concerns and to make clear to Arlington County that RRCA is not associated with the Arlington Marathon.”

Wind admitted yesterday that he had made an innocent mistake and was sorry for it.

“I am sure Ed Demoney is doing his job,” Wind said. “I think it’s unfortunate that I made an error in planning, that I put in for a permit with Arlington County before joining RRCA. All I had to do was call him the day in advance or write a check [for $361] in advance. It never occurred to me that my failure to do it in advance rather than after would result in a denial by RRCA.”

Wind said he is appealing to RRCA to reconsider, and Demoney agreed that his executive committee will review Wind’s application at the end of this month. Meanwhile, Wind said he will be looking into other options for liability insurance, such as USA Track & Field.

Demoney said that the additional $2million of insurance on top of the $1million that RRCA provides would cost approximately $4,000, if an underwriter would approve the policy.

“If the organizers of the Arlington Marathon meet all the conditions that apply, it will be a go,” county spokesman Charles Taylor said last week. “There is support within the county, as long as the conditions are met.”

Wind said yesterday that most of the conditions have been met and with 191 pre-registered entries as of yesterday, he is able to make the $7,000 payment to police. However, he said he is still light on volunteers, confirming only 23 of the needed 66 people.

“The rest of the conditions will be met as we get closer to race day,” Wind said.

Additionally, concern was voiced at a Potomac Valley Track Club meeting Jan.8 that because some members have taken issue with Wind’s assertions, it may have led people to believe that PVTC is organizing the marathon — in large part because PVTC’s Web site has been host to much of its news and information in the past month.

“Some people feel that the PVTC Web site contains elements that may lead folks to think that PVTC is sponsoring or even directing the Arlington Marathon,” PVTC Chairman Bob Briggs wrote to members in a follow-up to the meeting. “PVTC is not involved in the organization of the Arlington Marathon [our contributions so far have been to host the marathon information and registration on our Web site and to write a letter of support for the idea of an Arlington Marathon], and though we have been asked to contribute in several ways, no commitments have been made by the club.”