Notes
I haven't raced much in the past 9 months, so I wanted to get a tune-up race in before Gelston, so yesterday I went to Bitts Park in Carlisle for the 5K/10K Run For Life, a cancer charity race. I signed up for the 10K and it turned out to be the worst race experience of my life.
Both races started together. The course was 80 percent grass/trail and 20 percent road. About 1.5 miles into the race, we had to run on very high grass, (calf height) with uneven footing for about 600m. Difficult to run and really slowed me down. The race went through several confusing loops on grass and at one point, another runner and I took a wrong turn, but quickly figured it out and lost about 6-7 seconds.
I passed this runner and after a small short hill, there were two options - left or right. I was unsure, looked left a saw a Marshal 20 meters away. I ran up to her and asked if the left turn was the 10K course and she said yes. I continued on and then realized this was the same loop I lost 6-7 seconds on not long ago. The runner I passed was no longer behind me, so I realized I went the wrong way.
I came up the short hill again and went right this time, figuring I added about an extra 400m. I was now behind a group of about ten 10K runners. We approached a section, (no Marshal) where there were ribbons setup to go to the finish. The 10K was supposed to do another loop. We all stopped and no one knew if we supposed to continue to the 2nd loop, or follow the ribbon into the field for more running before getting back on the 2nd loop. Some runners decided to go straight for the 2nd loop and other to the field area. Others decided to follow the ribbon going back into the field. There were also some 5K runners going back to the field as they were finishing the 5K.
It was total mass confusion.
At this point, I had enough and just stopped. After about 30 seconds, a Marshal finally shows up and says all runners should have went to the field to the finish area. So, the ones who went straight for the 2nd loop, unknowingly cut off the course. I told the Marshall, someone should have been here at all times. In addition there could have been a sign pointing BOTH 5K and 10K runners to go right on the field to the finish area.
This was by far the the least course organized race I have run. Our little Dumfries Park Run has more Marshal's and better course management.
The positive of all this was £107,000 was raised for the charity. This is wonderful, but a measly couple hundred pounds could have been spend on cutting the high grass to make it runnable. This high grass and uneven surface was also a risk for runners twisting an ankle and suffering an injury.
Not having enough Marshals on the course - no excuse for that.
I emailed the race director with my experience and suggestions on how they can improve the race.