Diary of an Old Pair of Legs Training Log for Aug 2016
Running - 162 km this month [1864 km. total for the year]
Ascent 202 mtrs. [2988 mtrs] ave Training pace 6:00.4 mpk.
Cycling- 229 km [625 km]
My Event Calendar [Sept] Event: Venue: Target time:
Back 2 Endurance 12-hour race Kuala Lumpur 12:00:00
Dumfries Half Marathon Dumfries, Scotland 1:47:30
This month was certainly my most competitive, in the number of events [5]. It has also seen me break into a new version of our sport, Duathlon. My first ever attempt, in any form, of a cycling race, and what a thrill it was.
My favourite Marathon turned into a so-so run for me but a total disaster for Kuching and Sarawak.
So, what new for this month I hear you ask, well, that would be my virgin Ultra Marathon attempt at the Back 2 Endurance 12 hour race. That is an ultra if I manage more than forty-two kilometres in the twelve hours. I have a target, the gold medal awarded for distances over eighty-five kilometres, but, I also have a yearning to hit the hundred, only time will tell.
Good luck and Happy Running to all my friends who are taking part in any event this month. But a special round of good wishes goes out to Evelyn Ang Loo [Missyblurkit] on her virgin One-hundred Miler in Singapore, just tick them off one at a time, we all have faith in you, stay healthy and happy running.
Is it possible to organise the organisers?
Many of you will have read, or been involved in, the Facebook string that discussed possible guidelines or rules for the organisation of events here in Malaysia.
So, how do we feel about the possibilities of something happening?
Are we just keyboard worriers typing our frustrations to each other knowing that our audience is of a like mind?
Can we make a difference, even a small difference?
Well, during the course of August and last week I have had the very great pleasure to have had three highly constructive meetings and message discussions, requested by race organisers. I will not name the organisers, nor their events as in one of the cases the organiser is not the event owner and as such is obliged to do certain things as the event owner would want rather than they way they would like to see it done.
Each of these meetings of minds were requested for the same reason, to more understand what it was in their event that we, us runners, felt could be improved on to give us a better experience and want us to come back for more of the same.
A myriad of items were discussed, some suggestions were made, indeed one or two demands were made, but, at no time did any one of the organisers suggest that they would not implement, or, in one case, request consideration of the event owners to implement many of the changes.
Just to outline the main areas that were discussed in depth:
Safety, predominantly traffic control and road closure. Other areas were discussed which included on course medical assistance, ensuring sufficient water supplies for back of the packers and properly enforcing cut-off times.
Value, uppermost was pointing out how much the entrance fees for events has increased over and above everyday item costs, pointing out that we do not want an elitist event scene here in Malaysia, the cost must enable our sport to remain all encompassing. Other areas that were discussed were xenophobic pricing and eligibility policies, protectionist policies that stop the top Malaysian athletes from progressing to the world [or even the next] stage, offering race entrance only options with event and finishers shirts as optional extras, limiting prize money, incentives for 'elites', Malaysian and foreign.
In addition to the above general items each individual event was discussed, each side giving our own perspective. Some of the situations that event organisers were faced with shed some light on why some events have such a hard time of doing the simple things, like communicating with participants, effectively.
One instance that was outlined to me was; that with just three days to event date a public authority moved the goal posts by demanding a major change to their requirements for the use of a certain stretch of road. The change would involve quite a large cost on the organisers part, they would have to cancel orders and find suppliers of a large quantity of a new item within next to no-time. Plus the authority demanded double the original number of marshals for the stretch which would have meant reducing safety elsewhere.
The resourceful organiser quickly arranged a meeting with police, RALA and the event owner and suggested instead to change the route to avoid the stretch of road in question, this was agreed by all parties and the event went ahead without many, if any, of the participants realising their route had been changed.
It would seem that we need also to place an amount of the blame for unsatisfactory events at the lack of expediency of the authorities and perhaps a lack of will?
It is all very well for a minister to support the growth in good exercise and health offered by sporting events but if their support is not matched by a willingness to accommodate those who wish to organise then there will always be casualties and they are normally the participants.
My view is, if we have managed to start a dialogue with a few in such a short time we can make a difference, we can work together with the better organisers.
So, keyboard-worriers, keep typing because it would seem that someone, somewhere out there, is listening to what we have to say.
Running on Old Legs to PJ Half Marathon 2016
21 February ·
I have joined this event because I have heard many good things said about it BUT RM100 EXTRA because I am not Malaysian is excessive and unnecessary. there can ONLY be one or two motives for this 'tax', either to squeeze every bit of profit from foreigners as possible OR to protect the few Malaysians who may win a prize by restricting their competition. At sixty-seven years of age I am certainly no threat to anyone who may win a prize so I feel like I have just had RM100 stolen from my wallet!
The above Facebook post was, of course, unanswered by the organisers of the event. However, just this morning the whole question of charging a foreigner extra to enter an event has become quite a hot topic. Again it was the same event that sparked the fire with the following post:
My wife commented today. (My wife is Malaysian & not a runner)
"WHAT DOES CITIZENSHIP HAVE TO DO WITH RUNNING?"
I mentioned PJ Half Marathon which was RM60 for locals and RM160 for international runners.
Comments? (Please keep the comments constructive, positive & relevant)
Comments and opinions came thick and fast, however, there was still no word from the organisers as to why they felt that they should financially restrict overseas, local foreign residents, expats and tourists from entering their event.
We all know that most of the big city high profile events that would fill up no matter the cost place financial penalties on foreign entrants, but, just because it happens does not make it right nor does it mean we should not make a noise about the injustice.
It is not because I am a foreigner, because I am only a foreigner outside of my own country, and if I found this happening in my country I would be just as vociferous in my condemnation of the practice. I am however happy to say that I personally have never come across this practice in my own country.
My worry here in Malaysia is that the practice is not only at the big name events it is growing favour amongst smaller events too.
The problem can be, fairly and squarely, put at the door of the organisers as it is they and they alone that set the entrance fees.
We all know that there are different types of organisers;
there are a sadly diminishing number of dedicated sports organisers that are involved in our sport, yes to make a profit, but also to serve the running community and give value for money.
There are those that have jumped onto the bandwagon of running’s popularity and put on events ad-hoc and hope for the best.
And then there are the businessmen organisers that are trying to take over our sport for shear profit.
Groups two and three are usually where the problem lies, often in group two there is the misconception that if no foreigners are allowed, they are generally trying to keep out the African contingents, more social runners will join and swell their numbers.
Social runners are not stupid, we enter events to enjoy the run, we have little or no chance of ever winning, with or without foreigners.
Less than one-percent of any race field even think they have a faint chance of winning so why do organisers think we care if the best runner wins or the best of those who are allowed to run wins.
If a number of foreigners enter a number of Malaysians will not but my best guess would be that there would be little change in the total number of participants involved.
As for group three it is just money driven, we can charge more so we will.
It is a sad thing that the relevant government bodies can’t see that the actions of those who restrict, financially or otherwise, foreign participation is actually damaging the country, by reputation and by reducing the numbers of foreigners from visiting Malaysia as a running destination.
From a personal point of view I worry more that there are so many Malaysians that cannot see the wrong in this type of discrimination and that does not bode well for my adopted home country.
I have a simple solution, a simple solution that is practiced all over the world, with the exception of the big city events.
Our sport is actually an amateur sport so why prize money? The vast majority of runners are true sports men and women and do not run for money, they run for the sheer joy of our sport, to be better, fitter people to be better today than they were yesterday or purely for the great social side of running.
Do away with, or restrict, the prize money, let us run for the glory, the glory of winning for those who are the fastest and the glory of getting to the finish for those who are the slowest.
Weed out the, so called, elites that just run for the cash, do we need them? Those that rise to the top will get their sponsors to encourage us mortals to buy the same shoes or shirts as they wear in the futile hope that we will run faster or longer.
The real winners will have the glory of representing their club, school, state or country and if that isn’t enough then they are not fit to compete at any level.
A selection of comments from the Facebook thread:
A small group of opportunist is spoiling the spirit of sport everywhere 😑
I don't know why there should be any difference in entry prices. A runner is a runner regardless of their origin....
This is why now the poor like us cannot participate in any big events anymore.
What is so weird abt that? International or not the fee is charged according to citizenship. It is common.
Even some local events charge the locals expensive and we get low quality t shirts & etc. They make money by charging high and same time getting sponsors for their event. Damm it
Seems like some choose to charge more as "get rich quick" scheme...
Sent them an email with the same complaint... They never replied.. So disappointed 😔
International big name events like SCKLM is standard practice to have local rates for citizens and higher rates for foreigners. Other races around the region like Angkor wat marathon also does the same thing so it's not uncommon . However pj half marathon hardly qualifies as well known race internationally . It's more of a local community race than anything else so yes, it is highly unfair to have different rates for participants based on their nationality . Ideally should be a flat rate for all participants
Join if you want. Dont badmouthing them just because you dont like it
It really is a problem. If you don't see it as a problem
For rm 160 u don't get to run on a red carpet .......nor u get special privallage at water stations .....or u get a silver cup to drink water
Running on Old Legs is thinking of running PJ Half Marathon in a shirt that says; ALL RUNNERS MOVE ASIDE BECAUSE I PAID FOR MORE OF THE ROAD THAN YOU DID
I thought is better way to bring up this issue direct to organiser and ask them for explanation..I have registered to run at Overseas and no issue about the fees because i know I'm not local..there is different fees between local and foreigners..everywhere is like that..I don't think this is big issue..don't badmouth if you don't like. If you like you register if you don't like just shut up...if not happy don't join...
There are many large scale events around the world that do charge additional fees for foreign participants. I am absolutely sure there are no additional costs incurred by organisers it is just a form of tourist-tax that goes straight into the organisers coffers. This is a world-wide problem with most of the big name events that will fill up no matter what, there are some exceptions, the London Marathon for example has a flat rate but that event is over-subscribed four fold every year. The problem we have here in Malaysia is that it is far more widespread, you can hardly call the PJ Half Marathon a big name event but even smaller events discriminate financially or with outright 'no foreigners' for financial gain or to ensure Malaysian's win. Remember when you enter an event it is you and me, the true sportsmen and women with little or no chance of winning, that pay for the prizes.
Happy Running pada kaki tua, atau muda..
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
