Participatory running: Comments on the Adidas King of the Road 2010

Context

I don’t usually write reviews of races because of various reasons. One, because I don’t feel experienced enough to comment considering that I only started running last year and have not been involved in race organizing so I'm afraid my comments might miss components I'm not aware of. This brings me to my second reason which is just to leave it to other bloggers who I believe have more right than me.

I have attempted a few times to comment on races but I decided to just to let go. I thought others would do it anyway. But I think that maybe it’s time to say my piece than to forever hold it. Not that I gained the authority to comment just because I’ve added a few months to my running life or been into organizing race, because not yet still, but simply by being a consumer or a participant who has a stake, more than the fee I paid but as a responsible member of the community of runners. Consistent with the participatory governance framework that we espouse in Transparency and Accountability Network, which is expressed through amplifying those small voices and providing spaces for involvement, may I make this constructive criticism about yesterday’s Adidas of the Road with the hope that I'd be able to contribute to the improvement of races. I also would like to be a responsible blogger that no matter how small my reach is, I hope to be able to share the sentiments of a few friends who asked me to do so.

As one of the most anticipated runs, the Adidas KOTR lived up to the expectation of a sophisticated singlet. There were also enough kilometer marks. I think it’s also a good point that trash bags were provided near water stations so there’d be lesser trash. The cheerers and inspirational quotes were also good. The breakfast, although not a buffet, was also nice. The provision of a medal was a plus point although I expected a better design.

It was a good race but could have been better which I think it should have achieved given the kind of expectation it raised through its publicity. Although all races are expected to be well- organized, I think that there were higher expectations of and therefore, less tolerance for mistakes in the Adidas KOTR because of how it’s been projected and the fee that was paid.

Here are my few comments, for whatever it’s worth.

Baggage counter

I got to the race venue a bit late. Not later than gun start but late in reference to the ideal time that I think I should be in any race which is at least an hour before the start to have enough time to do my errands. I went to the baggage counter and saw a long queue. What I did was look for the table for the 21K runners as provided in other races but I found out that there was no such thing. A thousand baggage were mixed up. What made it worse was the number of people in the counter. There were a few of them having to entertain a huge number of runners. I think that the rush was partly because some runners especially those in the half marathon category, like me, came late. But I heard that even those who have been there earlier almost did not make it in time for the gun start because they waited on the queue for almost 30 minutes.

Good thing that those in other categories whose gun start was later gave way to 21K runners since the start was nearing.

While running back to the start area to check in, I told myself, it would surely be chaotic picking up the baggage after the race. As I crossed the finish line, the first thing I did, aside from drinking and stretching, was get my baggage before the other runners came. And reality did not frustrate me. What I imagined to be chaotic turned out to be a riot. Tired runners who probably wanted to get their towels from their bags to be refreshed or get their phones to reach their friends, had to spend more energy looking for their bags in the ocean of baggage so they could point it to those in charge since the bib number scheme was no longer working. I also pitied those manning the counter who were starting to get cranky because of being pressured by thousands of voices asking for their bags. My impatience was starting to set in but I thought I should understand those in the counter. While I hated how the system worked, I also did not like it that some runners were shouting at them.

It was like buying meat in a wet market or putting bet in a cockfight that morning. And by wet I mean, wet and muddy.

Suggestion: Have a space and people for each race category. This way, one would not have to sort from thousands of bags but only through a lesser number of baggage. If possible, to have it arranged based on the bib number, not necessarily in order but maybe by first numbers in the bib, etc.

Route

The route was nice because I found it challenging. I thought it would be a nice course until Km 13 or 14 when 21K runners had to compete for space with a battalion of 10K runners coming in from the High Street to Buendia. The flyover was so narrow to accommodate the number of runners. I personally had to slow down and find a space where I could run. Not only that I was aiming for a PR but I felt I had all the energy and adrenalin to run faster which comes so rarely in a long run that I wanted to take advantage of but I could not. I don’t know how to explain it and express in exact words how frustrating it felt. I could understand that happening when we were aiming for a world record when we welcomed walkers to participate just to reach the required number but I thought we could have done better yesterday. For runners, like myself, who really looked forward to the race for a PR or train for any upcoming marathon, it was painful to hear them say goodbye to PR and walk.

Safety was a more serious issue. It was almost suffocating to be in that narrow space and rub elbows with other runners especially that the sun was then beginning to show up. If one was claustrophobic or asthmatic, he/she could just faint gasping for air.

Suggestion: A better route or maybe a longer gap between gun starts

Hydration

Picking up bottles of energy drink and water lest by other runners along the course was not tolerable in an expensive race like the Adidas KOTR. I saw a few who did it just to get hydrated. I think that above all, hydration is non-negotiable. The singlet was probably worth the registration fee but it’s not an excuse for insufficient hydration. I’m sure that the organizers anticipated the number of runners joining and should have prepared enough.

I don’t usually wear a hydration belt because I don’t like to add weight while running so I always have to pray that organizers would provide for sufficient hydration and luckily, very, very few races have frustrated me. I knew that I could have that worry in other races but not yesterday. I thought I could be secured of enough water, at least or of energy drinks as a bonus because it’s “THE” Adidas KOTR but I was wrong.

I forgot which part it was exactly where I had to wait for almost a minute just to have the chance to drink because no water was on the table and the bottles were just being unpacked. I thought of leaving but I badly needed to drink so I waited. Never mind those seconds lost to have a PR than to die in thirst but it was so frustrating.

If I may add, I also did not like it that that plastic cups were used rather paper cups. Even if there are still arguments as to which one would really be beneficial to the environment, I think that in many counts, it’s still better to use paper cups since they decompose easily. As runners, it would be good to also be environmental friendly. This one can be considered an over reaction by some but the hydration, as I said, is basic.

Suggestion: More water stations or more water in the stations.

I’m sure it’s difficult to organize races especially big ones like the Adidas KOTR. Having said this, I still commend the organizers for all the efforts to make it as orderly and fun as possible. The rooms for improvement I hope would be noted.