55 replies to this topic

[No_longer_back_of_the_pack]

Anyone else planning to run in this event?  I have decided to run the 10 km having pulled up pretty well after the Melbourne Marathon.

[crowpower]

Yes, I'm in. I've even been doing interval training in preparation, nothing flash though. I also ran Simlin's 5km course at the Uni Loop a few times. Realistic target - 46 minutes.

[stacytoby]

crowpower, on Nov 4 2010, 10:40 PM, said:

Yes, I'm in. I've even been doing interval training in preparation, nothing flash though. I also ran Simlin's 5km course at the Uni Loop a few times. Realistic target - 46 minutes.

I'm in for the 10, aiming for sub 55

[No_longer_back_of_the_pack]

stacytoby, on Nov 7 2010, 09:45 PM, said:

I'm in for the 10, aiming for sub 55

All I am after is a season's best (01:10:00) which i should achieve then its back home to mark exams.

[LINAR]

I've registered for the 10km.  I've gotten a bit slack since the City to Bay so am just hoping to do a sub 60.

[stacytoby]

Itsfunatthebackofthepack, on Nov 9 2010, 12:02 AM, said:

All I am after is a season's best (01:10:00) which i should achieve then its back home to mark exams.

I have tomorrow off to do my year 12 marking Perhaps I will fit in a run too

[crowpower]

stacytoby, on Nov 9 2010, 09:04 PM, said:

I have tomorrow off to do my year 12 marking Perhaps I will fit in a run too

My son has his final Year 12 exam tomorrow. That's my "excuse" for doing Sunday's run!  

[Ames43]

I'm in for this one guys. Hoping for a sub 50.

It's going to be weird - the course is one of my regular training runs, so I'm going to have to make the switch from 5.40kms to sub 5. Body is ready, brain might not be!

Edited by Ames43, 10 November 2010 - 03:10 PM.

[Soundasapound]

Back home from this one. Lovely day, great course, but some confusion in the organisation? This didn't bother me as my sole aim was to run 10km (ok I wanted a sub 1hr 10k); but it seemed the 5k and 10k runners got mixed up at the start, and some of us (not sure how many) were marshalled down the seafront for an extra 1km and had to cross Military Rd with no Marshall! I remarked to a couple around me that seemed a long 9th km, not knowing  its was!

Anyway a good run and I did (11k) in 1.02.

[crowpower]

The best thing about the Glenelg Classic (insert the distance you think you ran) Km was the great weather. Just right. Also catching up with old friends and meeting new CRs Stacytoby and LINAR as well as Itsfun and one or two others whose names I didn't catch. The food at the finish was good too.

As far as my run goes, well for those who remember FORTRAN programming:

COMMENT REVISE 10 KM TIME IN MINUTES
REALISTIC = 46
STUPID = REALISTIC
REALISTIC = STUPID + 4

I'm not sure if I have the syntax right but you get the idea!

Reached 8km in 39:54. The last two took forever.

[stacytoby]

Soundasapound, on Nov 14 2010, 10:36 AM, said:

Back home from this one. Lovely day, great course, but some confusion in the organisation? This didn't bother me as my sole aim was to run 10km (ok I wanted a sub 1hr 10k); but it seemed the 5k and 10k runners got mixed up at the start, and some of us (not sure how many) were marshalled down the seafront for an extra 1km and had to cross Military Rd with no Marshall! I remarked to a couple around me that seemed a long 9th km, not knowing  its was!

Anyway a good run and I did (11k) in 1.02.

If I'd known you were running this one I would have looked out for you!

Figured out that I have a PB of 57mins on the 11km run, seriously though what a shambles. I stayed for the presentations and it was embarassing to watch, they had no idea who won what!!!

And apparently this happened last year too?!?! Poor form I think !

[Soundasapound]

crowpower, on Nov 14 2010, 10:51 AM, said:

The best thing about the Glenelg Classic (insert the distance you think you ran) Km was the great weather. Just right. Also catching up with old friends and meeting new CRs Stacytoby and LINAR as well as Itsfun and one or two others whose names I didn't catch. The food at the finish was good too.

As far as my run goes, well for those who remember FORTRAN programming:

COMMENT REVISE 10 KM TIME IN MINUTES
REALISTIC = 46
STUPID = REALISTIC
REALISTIC = STUPID + 4

I'm not sure if I have the syntax right but you get the idea!

Reached 8km in 39:54. The last two took forever.

I remember COBOL? My adjusted time would be 56-59:59 (well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it). Anyway, its always nice to do something extra without even knowing it AND get a pb (sort of). I saw Its Fun but no other CRs - were you and Stacytoby in your gear?

[stacytoby]

Soundasapound, on Nov 14 2010, 11:05 AM, said:

I remember COBOL? My adjusted time would be 56-59:59 (well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it). Anyway, its always nice to do something extra without even knowing it AND get a pb (sort of). I saw Its Fun but no other CRs - were you and Stacytoby in your gear?

I was in my Lorna Jane gear today - Pink LJ Singlet, Black and Blue LJ Shorts, Black LJ Visor What were you strutting in?

[Soundasapound]

stacytoby, on Nov 14 2010, 11:10 AM, said:

I was in my Lorna Jane gear today - Pink LJ Singlet, Black and Blue LJ Shorts, Black LJ Visor What were you strutting in?

Navy 2XU top and black shorts. I was running near 3 girls with red tops from Chi hairdressers. I would have spotted you in your gear  

[Soundasapound]

stacytoby, on Nov 14 2010, 11:04 AM, said:

If I'd known you were running this one I would have looked out for you!

Figured out that I have a PB of 57mins on the 11km run, seriously though what a shambles. I stayed for the presentations and it was embarassing to watch, they had no idea who won what!!!

And apparently this happened last year too?!?! Poor form I think !

Yes it was abit dodgy; I went just as the prizes started. Good time Stacytoby. I wouldve done 56 if it was 10K!

[lock73]

Hi all,

Photo's from this morning are now appearing on smugmug.

http://sarrc.smugmug...g-Classic-2010/

Regards

LM

[crowpower]

I had a busy afternoon so haven't had time to reflect on the event much, but it's sad to see the SARRC deteriorate into rank amateurism as far as getting the most important part of the event right - the correct distance, and that includes not only the course that they wanted everyone to run, but ensuring they had competent marshalls at the crucial turns so that everyone did run the correct distance. It was strange to see a good mate of mine, being several minutes ahead at the turn, coming up behind me near the finish. Clearly there were problems at more than one place. Ironically they got it wrong in the marathon at almost exactly the same place on the course. The cynical side of me suggests that's not a coincidence.

I hope the SARRC gets a barrage of criticism over this.

Soundasapound said:

I remember COBOL? My adjusted time would be 56-59:59 (well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it). Anyway, its always nice to do something extra without even knowing it AND get a pb (sort of). I saw Its Fun but no other CRs - were you and Stacytoby in your gear?

COBOL - only the programming hevvies at work could figure that one out!!

I don't have any CR gear, I guess because I'm just too lazy to order some.

[THE LONE RUNNER]

glenelg classic. mmm, we may have to come up with another name for it.
maybe there is a good reason why the marshalls disappeared at the turn for home point at about the 7.5km mark. i am sure at least half the field kept heading towards glenelg. i did about 13km. at the presentation there were runners still comming in from the way we went out.
so,i dont want to be too harsh until a reason is given.
does anyone know what happened?
the presentation is usually well done. that fell apart also.
saying number such and such won, not knowing the name of the person. maybe a problem with computer?
the course is quite good and challenging,the small hills and up and downs at the bridge turn around. good scenery and quite safe.
as we know in all running events as people tire they need marshalls to "direct" them and "yell" instructions.
it was still good to catch up with fellow runners anyway.

[celtic runr]

Yes I was running back south in the 10km and realised that I was close to 10 km but not at the finish so I did a U-turn back to the sewerage works road (Anderson Avenue) and back to the cross over the bridge. Not happy as I slowed down by 20 sec on this km. Then I spent the rest of the morning with the timing processing computer. The "results" had nothing to do with the timing computers, although there was a data transfer glitch, which was resolved before we packed up.  The 5km data is fine and all the different start times are synchronized and updated.  However there are 109 late entries to be added by hand to the race database. We have all the finish data but what am I going to do with it? The 10km finish positions mean little for most runners as people did different distances. The age groups for 10km are rather meaningless. For example I finished 2nd as I ran further.  Getting volunteers is always a hard thing as most people join the club to run/walk not marshall. I should have studied the race map closely myself so I only have myself to blame for going the wrong way. We will have a fun night at the next Board meeting.

[Ames43]

What an interesting morning!

I ended up doing 10.9kms according to my Garmin. Silly thing was, I knew I should have turned at the Hamra Rd intersection 'cos I'd studied the course map to make sure my partner was at the corner of Military Rd and Africaine Rd with my fur-children (two Boxers) to help cheer me on within the last km. But, being a sheep, I followed everyone else!

Very happy with the run though, weather was perfect and made for a great run. My goal was to do sub50 and I managed to smash my 10KM PB I set back in August by 4:11 and ended up with 47:15 at the 10km mark (51:23 at the finish).

It's a pity the 10k-ers were sent the wrong way, but afterall the marshalls are volunteers and without them we wouldn't have a race at all. It was a bit silly of them to start the 10km before the 5km though - I'm pretty sure the 5km front runners would have been dodging and weaving quite a bit.

Hope everyone still had fun...

[No_longer_back_of_the_pack]

celtic runr, on Nov 14 2010, 10:01 PM, said:

We have all the finish data but what am I going to do with it? The 10km finish positions mean little for most runners as people did different distances. The age groups for 10km are rather meaningless. For example I finished 2nd as I ran further.  Getting volunteers is always a hard thing as most people join the club to run/walk not marshall. I should have studied the race map closely myself so I only have myself to blame for going the wrong way. We will have a fun night at the next Board meeting.

Good luck in deciding what to do with the data celtic runner.  I will be interested in my time but I have decided that today's efforts will not be recorded in my running log as a race, it will be a 10.9 km training run.

I guess the thing that annoys me most is that I did know where the course should have gone and when I saw runners being directed in another direction I asked the question "Are you sure?"  The answer from the marshal was yes and so I followed the crowd along the wrong route.  This occured just after the 8 km mark and at that stage I was borderline PB.  As I have no idea where 10 km was on the course that I ran I have no idea how close I got to a 10 km PB.

At this stage I am grateful that the next SARRC event at Glenelg occurs when I am overseas next year.  It makes my decision about whether to run it or not very easy.

[Simlin]

Disclaimer: I am the vice president of SARRC, was not at Glenelg on the weekend and have had nothing to do with its organisation.

After some communication with the Race Director...who I might add was directing his first ever run... it is clear that a number of things went wrong on the day with regards to the course marshalling.
It should be noted that SARRC provide detailed sector maps and instructions to all marshalls and an offer of a site visit if instructions are still unclear. However, mistakes and misunderstandings do happen, we are all human, Unfortunately the back-up of having a lead cyclist also failed as they too went the wrong way.

The Race Director apologises whole heartedly for the misdirection and thanks the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed males for great sportsmanship in determining the overall placings. He is proposing additional signage next year and SARRC will be looking at what else it can do to ensure courses are well marshalled and marked...speaking from experience runners sometimes miss signs as well and it only takes one person to miss the sign those behind will generally follow.

Constructive feedback/ideas are always welcome

[LINAR]

Hi all,

Photo's from this morning are now appearing on smugmug.

http://sarrc.smugmug...g-Classic-2010/

Has anyone ordered photos?  Does anyone know why we are paying $6.00 to have the photo shipped from the United States?

[Simlin]

Linar, SARRC has no special photo printing etc set-up on the site (just the default US one) and I have been slow turning off the option to buy photos on the gallery Lock put up. (It is off now... so the option to buy will no longer appear)

If you want a photo printed I would suggest contacting lock (I beleive he placed his email int he gallery description for this purpose) and asking him if you can have his best resolution photo and printing it yourself...either online at snapfish or the like or at harvey norman/big W/camera places etc.

Edited by Simlin, 15 November 2010 - 12:23 PM.

[LINAR]

Wow.  That was fast.  Thanks Simlin

[Ssheep]

Any idea when results/times will be posted?

I'm not concerned about the placings at all (I was well and truly at the tail end... it was my first run in years    ), but I'd love to know my official time.

[LINAR]

I don't know that official times will be posted.  With everyone running a different distance, it will be almost impossible to attribute times.  I was towards the end and, if you know what time you finished at, send me a PM and I can try to work out with you what distance you covered.

[crowpower]

Simlin said:

The Race Director apologises whole heartedly for the misdirection and thanks the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed males for great sportsmanship in determining the overall placings. He is proposing additional signage next year and SARRC will be looking at what else it can do to ensure courses are well marshalled and marked...speaking from experience runners sometimes miss signs as well and it only takes one person to miss the sign those behind will generally follow.

Simlin, you are a true gentleman and this is appreciated but the Race Director ought to be doing his own dirty work. The best thing the SARRC can do to make amends is to offer free entry to one of its events in 2011 to all 10 km entrants (I'd accept excluding the marathon). The cost of entering this event for a member has nearly trebled since 2004 from $7 to $20.

News of this fiasco has spread far and wide. Someone from the cycling community was talking to me about it today.

celtic runr said:

We have all the finish data but what am I going to do with it? The 10km finish positions mean little for most runners as people did different distances.

Also people I was ahead of at what would have been 10km passed me in the latter stages as I jogged in with my mate who said he ran about 13 km. I suggest you publish a list of recorded times in alphabetical order and people can work out roughly what their 10km time was.

One thing I can be grateful for I guess: this was on track to be my PW for 10km (previously 49:42) but that will now have to wait.

[LINAR]

Ended up running past the treatment works again on the way back and turned left up Anderson Avenue (I think?) which meant that the treatment works were on my left.  I hit the 10km mark on Anderson Ave.  I then turned left to get to the bridge that took me across the Pat.  According to my Garmin I ran 10.95km.  I hope this helps anyone who ran the same route who is trying to work out how far they ran.

[lock73]

Simlin, on Nov 15 2010, 12:51 PM, said:

Linar, SARRC has no special photo printing etc set-up on the site (just the default US one) and I have been slow turning off the option to buy photos on the gallery Lock put up. (It is off now... so the option to buy will no longer appear)

I will make sure I turn this option off in the future if that is preferred.

Simlin, on Nov 15 2010, 12:51 PM, said:

If you want a photo printed I would suggest contacting lock (I beleive he placed his email int he gallery description for this purpose) and asking him if you can have his best resolution photo and printing it yourself...either online at snapfish or the like or at harvey norman/big W/camera places etc.

Yep, I have passed on originals to LINAR and obviously happy to do that for anyone else. A quick plug for http://blackandwhitephoto.com.au/ if you are looking for well priced enlargements.

[Buakaw]

I don't get to many events and to pay $35 for what ended up a normal run where I just happended to be surrounded by other people is a bit rough. I understand that people make mistakes but lets be honest, how hard is it to point in the correct direction? I would expect that to be the least likely mistake to occur at an event. I must say that all the other people did a great job and I do appreciate their time.

Does anyone know how the lead runners missed the turn around cone? Did the cyclist ride past it and they followed or was it missing? There wasn't much distance between them and the next few runners (me included) so I couldn't work out how that happened. One minute I had 6 guys in front of me and then there were 4?

[cakeboy]

Irrespective of how the event is run, I looked at the entry fee and gagged....$35 for 10kms....35 cents per 100m....you are kidding me??

But if you think we are dear here, the new melbourne CTB is $55 plus $3.58 admin fee.....early bird a bargain at $45 plus the admin fee.....for 10kms.....what the??

Racing has simply become too expensive for me to do regularly. My kids pay $60 a year to do a whole season of little athletics. This is 6 months worth of activities, includes coaching and every friday night event s are run. I spend hours each week helping out, as is expected of all parents,  but I don't mind; it's a great community run event.

IMHO we have headed down the wrong path.

Suggestions: my friend does veteran cycling. Costs are low but you need to volunteer at X number of races per season. No volunteering = no racing. Thats how they control costs and they enforce the rule. Secondly, give out shoes or trophies to placegetters. 98% of us are never going to get a chance to snare the cash on offer, so why should we pay for it in entry fees?  

I simply can't afford to run these races regularly anymore, esp. as I have 3 kids who now want to particiapte. We will run city to bay but the rest is too much to pay.  They can stick to little aths unless this new $ phenomenon takes a U turn.

Rant over, cheers Dave

[danadelaide]

Hi All,
It has taken me a while to cool off after the debacle on the weekend. Myself and another runner called Dylan were leading and when we got to the turnaround the lead cyclist kept going straight on... I yelled out "hey mate isn't that the turnaround??" and he said "No, keep going".
He then proceeded to ride away (maybe desperately looking for another marker?) and we yelled out three more times before realising he had no clue whatsoever as he rode further and further away from us!

Mind you this is after he pulled off after the 3k mark and when we asked him what he was doing he answered "keep going straight, I'm just getting a drink...". Should have realised at that point we are on our own.

I was on track for a PB, doing it fairly easy for once and probably would have won too. This is so disappointing especially given the $35 entry fee. The second stuff up on the way back is just icing on the cake.

I didn't hang around for the presentations as I was annoyed at how much of my family's time I had already wasted on a 11.97k tempo run so I have no clue what the end outcome was or if I there were any prizes.

What a shame to end the year of races in this way.
I guess the lesson is next time ignore all marshalls including lead cyclists and go the way you saw indicated on the map?
Hilarious.
Dan.

[THE LONE RUNNER]

the events are certainly getting costly.  i thought it was just me thinking like that.
i wonder. why does it cost so much ?
very costly for a family. its getting like afl footy. it should not be like that.
Dan. can understand your feelings. was a real balls up of a day.
the lady at the presentation mentioned something about the people who ran further that were leading at the problem point, may get free entry into the normanville event, because these guys or ladies may have been in the final placings if the race was run without the problems.
like you said,it was a costly tempo run.
the sarrc report will be interesting

[Soundasapound]

Everyone seems to be a bit down on SARRC which is a shame because as a newbie to Adelaide it seems they pretty much run everything!

There doesn't seem a great deal on the calendar here either, unless you are a trail runner, so I guess its back to training runs.

To keep a Glenelg theme going I was talking to Stacytoby about the cycle path next to the tram track and she thinks its possible to run the length form the Parklands to Glenelg - has anyone doen it and can it be recomended (I work at Unley and live at the Bay so it would be a good post work route of about 9km). Is there much trafiic and can the bane of our lives the cyclists behave themselves?

Soundasapound, on Nov 21 2010, 09:22 AM, said:

Everyone seems to be a bit down on SARRC whihc is a shame because as a newbie to Adelade it seems they pretty much run everything!

There doesn't seem a great deal on the calendar here either, unless you are a trail runner, so I guess its back to training runs.

To keep a Glenelg theme going I was talking to Stacytoby about the cycle path next to the tram track and she thinks its possible to run the length form the Parklands to Glenelg - has anyone doen it and can it be recomended (I work at Unley and live at the Bay so it would be a good post work route of about 9km). Is there much trafiic and can the bane of our lives the cyclists behave themselves?

Edited by Soundasapound, 21 November 2010 - 08:56 AM.

[Soundasapound]

and I look crap in the photo....didnt have time to suck my belly in or rearrange my new shorts whic my wife bought and are one size too small! (well done on the speed of the photos anyway)

[crowpower]

Soundasapound said:

Everyone seems to be a bit down on SARRC which is a shame because as a newbie to Adelaide it seems they pretty much run everything!

I think you've hit the nail on the head Soundas. With their monopoly comes their power to raise entry fees sky high.

[Soundasapound]

dont so much mind the price if it is good value, but a disorganised 10k wasnt worth $35.....i'd be very annoyed if it was the HM or marathon!

[lock73]

Soundasapound, on Nov 21 2010, 09:32 AM, said:

and I look crap in the photo....didnt have time to suck my belly in or rearrange my new shorts whic my wife bought and are one size too small! (well done on the speed of the photos anyway)

What race number are you?  I might be able to find another pic that you were breathing in on    I have 2-3 of most people and some it was just down to what I could crop an individual from the best.

[Soundasapound]

lock73, on Nov 21 2010, 04:22 PM, said:

What race number are you?  I might be able to find another pic that you were breathing in on    I have 2-3 of most people and some it was just down to what I could crop an individual from the best.

Ha thanks! I think im 346, blue top, black shorts

[Simlin]

How about this...SARRC member...entered before 24th October...entry fee $25...DAG returned for $5 refund...total cost t you $20. Quite simple maths really.

[Soundasapound]

I'm not a member and can't see me rushing to become one!

[runbeachgirl]

Soundasapound, on Nov 22 2010, 07:27 AM, said:

I'm not a member and can't see me rushing to become one!

Hi by joining up it would cut the price down per race by big saving,  depending on how many runs your thinking about doing over the year.

I have done a few SARRC runs and have enjoyed all of them,  

Me & kids did the 5 km & that went well,  would be nice to see the times up on the web site as kids keep asking me to check, not sure whether I want my time as all my 4 kids beat me this Year LOL.

I also helped marshal last Year and SARRC gave me lots of info and very clear instructions,  not sure what happened this Year with the 10 km.

[No_longer_back_of_the_pack]

Soundasapound, on Nov 21 2010, 09:24 AM, said:

To keep a Glenelg theme going I was talking to Stacytoby about the cycle path next to the tram track and she thinks its possible to run the length form the Parklands to Glenelg - has anyone done it and can it be recomended (I work at Unley and live at the Bay so it would be a good post work route of about 9km). Is there much trafiic and can the bane of our lives the cyclists behave themselves?

I know this path well as I run along it at least once a week. The 8 km Glenelg to Goodwood were the final 8 km of my long pre-marathon runs on a Saturday morning.  It has improved considerably in recent weeks with new sections of path near South Road and between Cross Road and the racecourse. If you are running solo the cyclists normally give you warning and appreciate you moving as far to the left as possible.  It does get rather busy when you run it on a week day because it is popular with both runners and cyclists.  My biggest problem is the amount of time it can take for the traffic lights to activate particularly on Marion Road and Morphett Road.  Most of the cyclists ignore the lights and go when the road is clear.

[Arfadent]

Soundasapound, on Nov 22 2010, 06:57 AM, said:

I'm not a member and can't see me rushing to become one!

Hi Soundasapound,
I understand your frustration about that day, I too was there and I too was sent the wrong way.
Like many others, I went away quite grumpy that day mumbling to myself how they should have all done a better job as I paid my hard earned money and deserved better BUT the important thing to remember (in my opinion anyway) is that SARRC is not a huge money making company with a huge staff of highly paid event organisers.
As far as I understand it, most, if not all events are organised and run (and set up and pulled down and marshalled and drink-stopped etc etc) by volunteers. They are runners and also friends and family of runners who freely give up huge amounts of their time to make these events possible.
Despite all the best efforts and intentions, things are going to go wrong occasionally. In fact I remember reading here on CR that in 2009 the Melbourne Marathon 5km and 10km courses were both measured incorrectly, and by quite a large amount too. And I think this year, they ran out of medals and the slower runners had no water for the last part of the course AND i think some were also directed the wrong way at end as well and so even in the huge events, things can go horribly wrong.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be critical of the things that happened at the Glenelg event but what I am saying is that its not fair to judge the whole of SARRC by just one event.
Its probably also important to note that if the event had been organised and staffed by fully paid staff members then we would all have paid a whole lot more money for our race entries as well.
If you want to make these events better then please consider joining SARRC (then you'll pay less for your race entries BTW) and maybe even volunteer occasionally. If you want to have even more say in things, become a race director for an event or join the committee and make the big decisions.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth.
Arfa,

[Soundasapound]

Itsfunatthebackofthepack, on Nov 22 2010, 11:36 AM, said:

I know this path well as I run along it at least once a week. The 8 km Glenelg to Goodwood were the final 8 km of my long pre-marathon runs on a Saturday morning.  It has improved considerably in recent weeks with new sections of path near South Road and between Cross Road and the racecourse. If you are running solo the cyclists normally give you warning and appreciate you moving as far to the left as possible.  It does get rather busy when you run it on a week day because it is popular with both runners and cyclists.  My biggest problem is the amount of time it can take for the traffic lights to activate particularly on Marion Road and Morphett Road.  Most of the cyclists ignore the lights and go when the road is clear.

cheers Itsfun - so are there a lot of traffic ligght stops, and apart from the potential cyclists is it a safe run?

May see you on there

Arfadent, on Nov 22 2010, 01:22 PM, said:

Hi Soundasapound,
I understand your frustration about that day, I too was there and I too was sent the wrong way.
Like many others, I went away quite grumpy that day mumbling to myself how they should have all done a better job as I paid my hard earned money and deserved better BUT the important thing to remember (in my opinion anyway) is that SARRC is not a huge money making company with a huge staff of highly paid event organisers.
As far as I understand it, most, if not all events are organised and run (and set up and pulled down and marshalled and drink-stopped etc etc) by volunteers. They are runners and also friends and family of runners who freely give up huge amounts of their time to make these events possible.
Despite all the best efforts and intentions, things are going to go wrong occasionally. In fact I remember reading here on CR that in 2009 the Melbourne Marathon 5km and 10km courses were both measured incorrectly, and by quite a large amount too. And I think this year, they ran out of medals and the slower runners had no water for the last part of the course AND i think some were also directed the wrong way at end as well and so even in the huge events, things can go horribly wrong.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be critical of the things that happened at the Glenelg event but what I am saying is that its not fair to judge the whole of SARRC by just one event.
Its probably also important to note that if the event had been organised and staffed by fully paid staff members then we would all have paid a whole lot more money for our race entries as well.
If you want to make these events better then please consider joining SARRC (then you'll pay less for your race entries BTW) and maybe even volunteer occasionally. If you want to have even more say in things, become a race director for an event or join the committee and make the big decisions.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth.
Arfa,

I see you points Arfa - by the way do you have 2 sheds???

[Arfadent]

Soundasapound, on Nov 22 2010, 03:51 PM, said:

I see you points Arfa - by the way do you have 2 sheds???

No but then again, either did Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson  
I'm more of a Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy fan myself.
Cheers,
Arfadent

[Soundasapound]

Arfadent, on Nov 22 2010, 04:15 PM, said:

No but then again, either did Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson  
I'm more of a Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy fan myself.
Cheers,
Arfadent

of course; its the dementia...you would have 42 sheds.

[backpacker]

Arfadent, on Nov 22 2010, 01:52 PM, said:

Hi Soundasapound,
I understand your frustration about that day, I too was there and I too was sent the wrong way.
Like many others, I went away quite grumpy that day mumbling to myself how they should have all done a better job as I paid my hard earned money and deserved better BUT the important thing to remember (in my opinion anyway) is that SARRC is not a huge money making company with a huge staff of highly paid event organisers.
As far as I understand it, most, if not all events are organised and run (and set up and pulled down and marshalled and drink-stopped etc etc) by volunteers. They are runners and also friends and family of runners who freely give up huge amounts of their time to make these events possible.
Despite all the best efforts and intentions, things are going to go wrong occasionally. In fact I remember reading here on CR that in 2009 the Melbourne Marathon 5km and 10km courses were both measured incorrectly, and by quite a large amount too. And I think this year, they ran out of medals and the slower runners had no water for the last part of the course AND i think some were also directed the wrong way at end as well and so even in the huge events, things can go horribly wrong.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be critical of the things that happened at the Glenelg event but what I am saying is that its not fair to judge the whole of SARRC by just one event.
Its probably also important to note that if the event had been organised and staffed by fully paid staff members then we would all have paid a whole lot more money for our race entries as well.
If you want to make these events better then please consider joining SARRC (then you'll pay less for your race entries BTW) and maybe even volunteer occasionally. If you want to have even more say in things, become a race director for an event or join the committee and make the big decisions.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth.
Arfa,

Thanks for that Arfadent. I am glad that at least you can see it from that point of view. The comedy of errors that occurred at this event was truly unfortunate and regrettable. I can understand the frustration that has resulted and I would have felt the same way if I hadn't experienced what is involved in running the SARRC events. The more I get to know the organization the more I am in awe of the time some people devote to the club. It is mind boggling. SARRC offers around 18 official races. Add to this the numerous weekly running groups, monthly trail runs, social events, start running groups and social runs which are all organised at no cost. All of this is put together by volunteers, other than what equates to the equivalent of ONE paid employee! I could not possibly list all of the clubs expenses though they are many and varied and ...huge! I could not even possibley list all of the volunteers jobs though they are many and varied and......huge!!!! I am humbled by the efforts of a few for the benefit of so many. SARRC has a long tradition that has grown out of the mutual passion for running that we all share. It is NOT a company profitering on poor runners because it has some sort of monopoly on the market share. The club IS runners, providing a service FOR runners. Many events run at a loss. Marshals are so hard to recruit these days that the board has started to implement a strategy of paying marshalls just so the runs we all enjoy so frequently can actually go ahead at all! A regular team of volunteers come into the office almost every day to help out with the many mundane admin. tasks  that need doing. I don't know why they do it though boy am I glad they do. To all the Race Directors out there. Thank you for stressing so I can enjoy a race. To all the marshals that stand out in the wind, rain and baking sun so I can pour water over you on my way past. Thank you. To the IT heros who put entry forms up, update the website, send e-mail newsletters, put race times up so I can run. Thank you. And how do you do all that for me and still keep your jobs? How do you find time for that? It must take time away from your families and your lives. Thank you for that!!! To all the patient people that sit on a commitee or board to make descisions that keep the club functioning at all so I can run. Boy am I glad I don't have to do that. Thank you for that!
As we have seen it dosen't always go to plan. We are all human and mistakes sometimes happen. Sarrc is doing everything it can to make amends for the debarcle including offering a race entry voucher for another event if you feel very hard done by.

[LittleDCJ]

I've just noticed that the race times are now on the SARRC website.