Across the Years News

Several people who have learned that they can send messages to runners during the race have written to ask what email address they should use. The answer is that it isn't email, so there is no such email address.

Anyone wishing to send messages to a runner may visit the Web site any time 24 hours a day during the race and click on the link at the top that says Send Greetings. Select the runner's name, identify yourself, write your message, and press Send.

It's regrettable that this feature has come to be called "email," though it's understandable why it has because outwardly it is quite similar. What else would it be called?

When I wrote the package I originally thought of calling it I Can't Believe It Isn't Email. But for our purposes this package is actually quite a bit better, because it's faster, tidier, and allows us to manipulate and print messages in a way that would be difficult to do with ordinary email.

When a user presses the Send button, his message is deposited immediately in a database and never has to go out over the Net. An auxiliary administrative program allows race officials in the timing tent to view, sort, print, and otherwise manage messages.

Another part of the package allows anyone visiting the site to view all the messages sent to every runner. This is a feature that we like, because it adds to the spirit of the race to see all that electronic cheering. But those sending messages should be aware that what they write will be viewable by the whole world, so must be discreet about saying personal things in these messages. Just remember that what you send is not email! Across the Years does not have a means to handle real private email messages to runners.

It's almost time for the festivities to begin! See you all in a few days.

Lynn David Newton
ATY Webmaster