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Early Historyby Kevin Tiller |
Prior to 1995, the World Wide Web was quite a new phenomenon, mainly limited to the computer and scientific fields. But the Web flourished during the year, mainly among computer professionals who were dabbling in their part-time hobbies. Towards the end of the year, two fledgling web sites were created : one for the Australian Running Calendar (started by Ian Kemp from Wollongong) and the other was for the first running club to have their own web page, the Sydney Striders (by Kevin Tiller, Sydney). We were both employed in the IT industry and started looking for other running web sites in Australia, but didn't find any.
As the year progressed, both mine and Ian's sites became more professional, as everyone was quickly learning about this new medium. In fact, more Australian Running web sites were being launched, not really in droves, more like dribs and drabs.
By the start of 1997, there were many more sites but these were either dedicated to individual running clubs or are purely regional in content. It was obvious that there needed to be a good web site that catered for all runners as a whole, and was nationwide in scope - this would clearly entail a lot of work for somebody.
Kevin Molloy was coming back again to visit his family and discussions had started up again for a Cool Running Australia. It was obvious that 1997 would be the year that SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE would get the energy to start a nationwide site. I guess the competitive juices started flowing and I was growing to like the idea that I COULD DO THIS THING.
When Kevin was in Sydney we discussed a lot of options, but it was fundamental that the site needed a good calendar - but that was already being done excellently by Ian Kemp, down near Wollongong. We decided to ask Ian to let us host his site as part of Cool Running. When Kevin Molloy explained the concept, Ian liked the idea and said that he would be a co-partner.
The original plan, agreed in a Sydney pub at the Rocks in March, was to launch a bare-bones site in August. We would be like a "sister" site to the US version, loosely based on the same principles and often sharing ideas or computer code, but still separate entities in their own right. If you have browsed the web much, you will see a lot of content from America, and we don't need to replicate that here in Australia, we want our own Australian version !
Anyway, there was a flurry of activity and the site was launched on 16th April 1997, way ahead of schedule.
As soon as the site went live, the REAL work started as we made a million improvements and additions, like the Search function (12th June) and the Expert's Alley (9th July). The Ultra section was incorporated in by the 21st July.
The Calendar was improved, as more and more runners were getting net access throughout the year. We also hosted a number of web sites for races throughout the year - it looked like everyone was finding a way to our wite !
As 1997 progressed, we have added to the team with helpers in the ACT and Victoria (but are on the lookout for people in other states, so apply here if you are interested)
Early in 1999 Ian upped from NSW and headed off the Wellington in New Zealand. After some thought he decided to set up a NZ page to see if the site is sustainable in New Zealand. The running community is stronger here than in Australia, but as yet internet use is be lower. However Cool Running New Zealand is growing rapidly and is here to stay.
Sure, there are sites about running written by journalists, and unfortunately there are running sites built by people who know nothing about running. However, within the small Cool Running team we run or organise and help at races every weekend of the year or we are on the committees of running clubs and of course, we run every day ourselves.
We built Cool Running because its the type of web site we want to read ourselves !
