Comments on: LOHI 5k 2009 http://runcolo.com/blog/lohi-5k-2009/ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:19:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://runcolo.com/blog/lohi-5k-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 Mark Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:42:10 +0000 http://runcolo.com/blog/?p=1981#comment-1029 Even before $100 Garmins, there is no excuse for having a short (or long) course. I ran my hometown course a few years ago. The finish was set up in front of the long drive up to the high school, so it could be easily moved forward or back probably 400 feet. But the race was off by around 300 feet, invalidating my potentially sweet time. It was just sheer laziness in that case. In the case above, it sounds like it was a matter of police and route planning. Even before $100 Garmins, there is no excuse for having a short (or long) course.

I ran my hometown course a few years ago. The finish was set up in front of the long drive up to the high school, so it could be easily moved forward or back probably 400 feet.

But the race was off by around 300 feet, invalidating my potentially sweet time. It was just sheer laziness in that case.

In the case above, it sounds like it was a matter of police and route planning.

]]> By: 4chi http://runcolo.com/blog/lohi-5k-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-968 4chi Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:27:54 +0000 http://runcolo.com/blog/?p=1981#comment-968 I emailed the RD before this race because I could tell by looking at the map on the site that it was short. This was more than a month before the race. He was very friendly in response, but essentially said yes, its short, they know its short, but its for a good cause and a fun run and he hoped I would still run. I wrote back and told him people looking for PRs would not want to run this and they really should do everything they could do get a real 5k course. He again politely said thanks and maybe we'll do that next year. I did not run it. I just can't accept knowingly putting on a short race without letting people know in advance. I emailed the RD before this race because I could tell by looking at the map on the site that it was short. This was more than a month before the race. He was very friendly in response, but essentially said yes, its short, they know its short, but its for a good cause and a fun run and he hoped I would still run. I wrote back and told him people looking for PRs would not want to run this and they really should do everything they could do get a real 5k course. He again politely said thanks and maybe we’ll do that next year.

I did not run it.

I just can’t accept knowingly putting on a short race without letting people know in advance.

]]> By: Administrator http://runcolo.com/blog/lohi-5k-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-959 Administrator Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:49:39 +0000 http://runcolo.com/blog/?p=1981#comment-959 Yeah, I almost wonder if they spent so much money on the police that they didn't have any money left over for other expenses, thus they were not able to hire a timing company and do some of the little things needed for race management. An accurate course and timing carry about 80% of the weight, in terms of whether or not the race is a success. The others are just intangibles, the t-shirt, food, etc. Yeah, I almost wonder if they spent so much money on the police that they didn’t have any money left over for other expenses, thus they were not able to hire a timing company and do some of the little things needed for race management.

An accurate course and timing carry about 80% of the weight, in terms of whether or not the race is a success. The others are just intangibles, the t-shirt, food, etc.

]]> By: Nick http://runcolo.com/blog/lohi-5k-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-958 Nick Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:32:23 +0000 http://runcolo.com/blog/?p=1981#comment-958 That's pretty poor, I have to say. From reading JM's report it seems they dropped some cash to get the police working the course, then to have a stopwatch with 100 lap split as timing and come up 10% short - makes you wonder. And then they go to the trouble and expense of getting a trophy for the winner. Hmm, let's not bother with the important stuff, but cover the rest of the bases. Hope they get it figured out for next year - looks like a good cause: "education"? Anyway, congrats on a strong run and your silver finish. That’s pretty poor, I have to say. From reading JM’s report it seems they dropped some cash to get the police working the course, then to have a stopwatch with 100 lap split as timing and come up 10% short – makes you wonder. And then they go to the trouble and expense of getting a trophy for the winner. Hmm, let’s not bother with the important stuff, but cover the rest of the bases. Hope they get it figured out for next year – looks like a good cause: “education”?

Anyway, congrats on a strong run and your silver finish.

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