Tells me What I Already Know

In a world where live netcasts and live internet commentary Track & Field News does not offer what its name implies... News. As in NEW information. I have been involved in track & field for nearly 13 years... and for a 24 year old... that's a long time. I am your run of the mill track zealot... a Track Maniac. I crave the most up to date information on results, injuries and everyday gossip. For the most part my cravings are catered to by message boards, newsgroups and of course... real live people. However my needs (insofar as getting current information) are not satisfied by this magazine. Why buy a magazine that give me results of a meet 3 mos. after it is run? Especially when I can turn to the internet and find the results as they occur.

At the same time, Track & Field News has excellently written articles and editorials and commentary... they are very accurate and detailed. They cover more meets than I could possibly attend. They give information that every track fan NEEDS... splits. They get interviews... not only from the elite but from the up-and-coming athletes... This sort of info (next to prompt results) is the meat of my existence. It satiates this uncontrollable hunger I have for MORE...

Thus a dichotomy exists... on the one hand we have a publication that gives accurate, detailed, interesting, articulate and intelligent information on a sport that I find essential to my being... but it just gives it to me 3 months late. I can't say that I don't enjoy this magazine... because I do... I just think that in a world where the Magazine has to compete with a myriad of media it has to do something that still makes it a choice that people will turn to.