MileStat.com

How lame is MileStat.com to charge to view pictures that amateur photographers take and post for free on their website only to want others to sign-up to pay an annual fee just to see them? The term "rat-bastards" comes to mind.

This kind of extortion went out in the 90's. Not only is this practice unheard-of in 2010, but their web developer/designer must've left after he created the site in 1998. How about updating the site to a more modern-looking interface and consistent reporting of race results? Is it too much to calculate the pace of each runner for every race?

@PhotoFinish It's very simple. IF you don't like it, don't use the site. Take your own pictures and view them at will. Anyone who uses milestat for what it is intended to will agree that $35 is a vry small price to pay for all of the work Brandon does.

There are alot of terms i would use for the site, but none have any connotation like "rat bastard" that would be one i would save for someone that would say something like that about a site that is worth much much more than most give it credit for. The income that is generated is far less than deserved for Brandon so we need to be grateful for his hard work.

Rat bastards and extortion, eh?

Gee, I'm glad someone finally said it. The Milestat people are criminals who deserve prison for all of the pain and anguish they are causing in the world. I put them next to Al Capone and Idi Amin. The calamity, the calamity!!!!!

Oh one more thing...you have GOT to be kidding. Go look for people who are actually creating problems for others, versus picking on obviously hard-working and well-meaning folks like Brandon.

@PhotoFinish I believe...there are...many...more intrinsic, and extrinsic...additions to this website...other...than...pictures of runners'....before This website was established.....VHSL Running results...was truly...in...the..."dark ages.".....of Sports' Reporting..........

@tderr

At least they don't charge per ellipse....tderr.

I'd like to see a few posts from the amateur photographers to show their support for the site. They are well aware that they are contributing to a subscription site. They are probably subscribers themselves.

Like others have said, if you don't like it, don't subscribe.

....thank you:...I am a subscriber+ supporter of milestat.com.....I have never charged anyone for my "ellipses,"...or contributions...to...this website...

klov

@tderr

At least they don't charge per ellipse....tderr.

@tderr "...I have never charged anyone for my "ellipses,"...or contributions...to...this website..."

...am i the only one who found this funny? lol.

@klov I wish that Milestat subscriptions cost several hundred dollars for basic access. Maybe then I would get some work done and stop spending all my time posting pictures and memorizing race times. Meant that to be funny but unfortunately all too true. I enjoy putting pictures of the kids on the site. Started doing it for my son's team and try to even take a few of some of the lead kids that aren't on our school team. It's kinda nice it its own way to see your pics used as a graphic for an article or to see that some athlete has tagged him/herself in one of those photo's.

Although I don't recall any particular blogs about the matter, I'd have to guess that recruiters take a look at these sites to help in their early decision making. Outstanding data base of statistics dressed up with some actions shots. What's better. By the way...please keep the subscription at it's already affordable level.

I’ve been a Milestat subscriber for 6 years. For the amount of money spent on my annual subscription, I can’t think of anything that I personally get more value out of year in and year out. Heck…I forked over $40 to the VHSL to take my family to the state meet…and then was only allowed to see about 500m of the race. Now there’s value.

After six years of looking through Milestat and the other associated sites across the US, it seems pretty clear to me that the Virginia site is head and shoulders above the other sites. The quantity, quality and participation is a testament to the time and effort which Brandon puts into the site. I’ve seen some other state sites with virtually no articles, meet coverage, photos or athlete participation. Brandon could not put the time into this if he were not able to feed and house himself.

Over the years, I have contributed thousands of pictures to Milestat. I am happy to contribute my pictures for free…even while paying for my subscription. People access Milestat primarily for the stats, but if getting access to the pictures helps in some small way to pull in more subscribers…so much the better. Ultimately, it is the kids and the sport that benefit by having a high quality means of showcasing the sport. I know I have encouraged many up and coming young runners to become active in the sport. My experience is that when young runners and their families see what the site has to offer it sparks increased interest….growing the sport even more.

@The4Hagens

Boy, I hate to do this....but I have to agree with a Potomac Falls person. Everything he said is true. I happily pay the subscription as a coach to see everything, but I am also a parent of a runner and I would be paying to see his stuff also. I have even given both sets of grandparents a subscription so they can keep up with my son.

People act like the $36.00 is a large sum for what you get.

Brandon puts a tremendous amount of work into what is a very affordable and informative site, dollar for dollar, click for click, photo for photo, ellipse for ellipse. How else would I be able to see such great pictures of my kid, whose every smile, grimace, and drop of sweat is a PR to me, but who crossed the finish line somewhere after the first several dozen runners.

Don't like the way Brandon does MileStat? Start your own Web site. With as much or better information. Part-time. While you're working or going to school at the same time.

Want better information on MileStat? Go ahead and calculate the pace of each runner yourself and submit it to MileStat.

Want more-complete coverage of your region? Write it up and send it in.

Speaking of living in the dark, from what I've been reading, we're all going to have to start paying for reliable information on the Internet in the years to come.

Brandon...please ignore these inappropriate comments by PhotoFinish.
Your great website is a wonderful source of information for enthusiasts of Virginia High School cross country and track and field. It is well worth the subscription price....not to mention the extensive information available to non-subscribers. I hope you will not make any significant changes, but only follow a course of gradual developmental improvements. Keep up the good work and thank you for your Herculean efforts during periods of peak activity. If you are making significant income from this website, it is well-earned.

[quote=PhotoFinish]How lame is MileStat.com to charge to view pictures that amateur photographers take and post for free on their website only to want others to sign-up to pay an annual fee just to see them? The term "rat-bastards" comes to mind.


@PhotoFinish
yeah "rat-bastards" is a PERFECT term for amateur photographers who travel to places like Burke Lake, Va to take professional quality pictures of your children and put them in a simple place online so you and everyone can see. HAHAHA But hey, if you dont't want to pay thats fine. Go to Walmart, wait in line, buy a $2 disposible camera, go to CVS, wait and hour, and view your "free" pictures yourself.

I LOVE that those fine folks take and share their photos on here. I'm not a very good photographer AND when my dd is running, I just forget to snap the picture! I presonally want to thank all of them and Brandon for this website. My dd is def. a Milestat addict....and I don't mind paying the small fee toward funding her "addiction", considering that she is such an amazing kid in every way!

Again, thanks photographers, especially to Mr. Locasio and Mr. Skelton, the resident River Ridge District chroniclers.

I'm an amateur photographer who happily posts my photos to MileStat (when I have time and have taken some decent shots). I'm involved to support my son, his teammates, youth athletics, and youth in general. I know the kids and parents like the photos, so I'm happy to provide. MileStat provides at tremendous service at a VERY inexpensive price. It has made Virginia high school running a real community, where people know the kids from NoVA like they know the kids from Richmond, Tidewater, or any other area of the state. Brandon and the contributors do a great job of providing this for everyone. A tiny fee to cover administrative costs is VERY reasonable to ask.

Is anyone here familiar with what an internet troll is?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

@bigabdi

internet troll = hotdawgscusn

Your serve, dawg.

I have heard rumors of a competing site taking shape. I won't mention names, but they are considering several ideas on how to make it 100% free for users. My guess is that a new site would take a while to gain name-recognition and support from coaches, but capitalism is based on competition, which tends to increase quality, so I'm all for it.

This in no way is a knock on Brandon or Milestat. I've followed this site for years and am always impressed with the improvements and the content on here.

@PhotoFinish

If it's so easy to do a better site then do it. Make your web site with all of this information and free pictures, stats and articles and make a fortune doing it.

I'm sure MileStat would like suggestions, but they can be made in a helpful way.

The service Brandon is doing for the state is invaluable. We don't even have data from 15 years ago on much of anything because there was no MileStat out there.

MileStat brightens almost every one of my days.

@RothRE

Recruiters definitely follow this. One girl I know had no college interest. One good race result in a big meet here and she gets several contacts within the week.

@BoKnows

Competing sites usually fail. I worked for VirginiaPreps.com for years and competing sites were always popping up. They usually had big budgets from some corporation and would go out and hire "professional" sports writers from the newspapers. Thing is, none of them ever caught on or made it. In a couple of cases they even inked deals with the VHSL to be the official site. Still on Friday nights you had to be on Virginia Preps and the rest of the week that's where you found the best articles.

I think it's the same here. I just don't see a site overtaking this one anytime.

Milestat is an institution, like ESPN etc... It has elevated Virginia High School track and xc - case closed. If you don't like it, start your own website and see what it feels like to be constantly scrutinized. Miles started this site when he was in the 10th grade, I can't imagine the sport without it. We're lucky he stuck with it.

PhotoFinish, excuse my language, but who in the hell are you? To begin with, your not even a member. Unless you start your own high school xc/track website, shut up. Miles does an outstanding job.