Race Review Larian Keamanan Pengakap
EVENT. Larian Keamanan Pengakap 2016, 10 Kms.
. Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur
17 July 2016 Time 07:00 [07:09]
Headline Event Owners: Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia Race Director: Undisclosed
Event Organising Company: Undisclosed
Race Review SCORE CARD
PRE RACE.
Entry and information:
Entry into this event was made very easy by the impressively helpful scouts.
All questions were answered quickly and fully, my usual question ‘could I get my kit delivered’ was met with a positive ‘no problem, we can do that’. With that obstacle negotiated everything was very straight forward.
The entry fees were set at very fair levels and represented very good value. The initial information was quite expansive and all questions posted on the face book page were answered swiftly.
Race kit collection was not set in concrete, for those who had a problem with the collection point or date, the organisers were adaptable and offered every assistance.
The event information was updated consistently, however, there was a major change that was not generally reported. It was for the open category so it is possible that those affected were contacted directly but I am unable to confirm this. From what I have been able to assess; at a very late stage the local authority had a change of mind and withdrew their approval of the fifteen-kilomtre course. The organisers reacted by reducing the fifteen-k open event to the same ten-k as the veteran’s course. They also refunded in cash the difference in the entry fees. A first class reaction to an awkward situation, subject to them having advised those affected.
19/20
Race site Facilities:
Padang Merbok is a very well used start finish area and for good reason, there is plenty of room for participants warming up and cooling down, it would be improved greatly if arrangements could be made for the public toilets to open earlier as early queues built up consistently at the four portaloos.
One possible criticism, if there was water available pre-race I didn’t find it.
Parking is limited at the start venue, but, to their credit, the organisers advised such and directed participants to nearby parking points. Regardless with just ten minutes to the start cars were still trying to force their way into the full parking lot.
Care of Competitors:
Warming up to Marumba is becoming the done thing at many events and those that join in seem to enjoy their experience. I would however say that organisers should look at the numbers, I doubt that there were more than forty competitors who took part.
The starting control was its usual non-existent self with little in the way of self-control on show but what made things far worse was the announcement made just moments before the start time “Due to people late arriving the start will be delayed” When will organisers learn there is a start time, if you are not there at the start time, you don’t start.
The actual start was just a little chaotic but quite amusing: “Two minutes to go” ten seconds later, “count down, 10, 9, 8, 7 Go, Run, Run, Go everyone go” 19/25
RACE.
Organisation:
Course management:
Traffic control, marshalling quantity and quality were all good. The good course was hilly and testing, as is normal for anywhere starting from Padang Merbok.
Feed stations seemed sufficient and well stocked and I was not made aware of any problems further down the field.
There were no medical facilities on the course. 23/30
POST RACE.
There was little on offer in the way of food but the free flow of water, isotonic and Milo was good.
Top placings were only announced at the prize ceremony, and if you were in the top-ten prize winners you had to find out yourself by checking the list at the finish line, I cannot understand why only one, two and three were handed place cards. 14/20
AFTER EVENT
Results were promised but never made available. Only your own time, by way of an e-certificate, was given. What is the point of chip-timing if no times are going to be published?
This was a competitive event, and therefore many of those who took part are competitive and would want to know how their performance stacked up against others on the day.
Post event communication dried up when questions were being asked regarding the lack of results. 1/5
This event has been one of the most difficult for me to score as it was one of the most welcoming and friendly events I have run in quite some time. The organisers were helpful and accommodating but they fell down on some of the technical parts of the race organisation along with some of the finishing touches.
My overall score for this event is 76.0%
Although a lowish score, overall I think the Race Director and all who have been involved can be very proud of the atmosphere they created and how they dealt with their ‘unforeseen circumstance’
Happy Running
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
My personal race.
My run was a good return to the roads, an acceptable time of 0:51:41 on a tough course and a satisfying tenth place against the young forty-year olds.
Congratulations to our Champions: I am unable to name you due to non-publication but well done.
It was very good to see a good number of budding Malaysian top flight athletes at this event. I believe that the success of road running is beginning to bring up the standard of our younger, and not so young, Malaysian runners.
