A Running on Old Legs Race Review Bukit Jalil Half Marathon
EVENT. NAME: Bukit Jalil Half Marathon
VENUE: National Stadium, Bukit Jalil
DATE: 12 March 2017 Time: 05:40 [05:45]
Headline Event Owners: Taman Bukit Jalil Running Club (TBJRC)
Event Organising Company: TBJRC
Race Director: Requested 5 Nov 2016 no reply. W. K. Chan.
Timing company: Requested 5 Nov 2016 no reply. Results on Sporthive Events.
Registration company: The Marathon Shop
THE EVENT
EVENT SCORE CARD SUMMARY
PRE RACE.
Entry and information:
Initial event information and updates: The initial entry and event details on the registration site were detailed. The two Facebook pages were just the bare details, just a link to registration and to runnerific? They were never updated. 6/10.
Contact: There were phone numbers on the registration site, unused by me. Other information was only available through their two Facebook pages, but, unfortunately, neither were used by the organisers. All questions posted went unanswered unless by another participant. 4/10.
Catagories: This event is very unusual here in Malaysia. Over and above the standard Male [female] Open categories there were also age groups, veteran 40 [35] plus, men’s snr. veterans 50 plus and golden age 65 [55] plus. A great step forward for Malaysian running helping to make the older runners in Malaysia feel more inclusive.
Originally advised as trophies for the first five places, but, only three for the Golden ages. This trophy allotment was later improved to the first ten places, but, still only three for the golden ages. Do the organisers think that because we are old we do not have to train hard or run hard, we paid the same amount to enter this event, yes, knowing there was only three trophies in my age group, but when the trophy allotment was increased somebody must have made a deliberate choice to leave us older folk out. I feel hurt and let down. 8/10.
Value of entry: The price of RM65 [early bird] was a very low fee for a half marathon. 17/20.
Race registration and kit collection: Collection point, ease of collection: The lack of a postal service is bewildering as it is easy, cost effective and it encourages entrance from a wider field as with a postal service there is no need for out-station runners to stay overnight just to collect kit. The kit collection venue was changed at the last moment to the sales gallery of the title sponsors, which I am sure displeased all those living in central Kuala Lumpur. Pick-up on the day prior to the event was very smooth even though there were a good number of participants exchanging shirts due to incorrect sizing having been given out. An over-charge on the registration fee was repaid at pick-up, I doubt anyone even realised that they had been overcharged. There was very little in the way of parking space at the pick-up point, it was still way better than fighting your way to Mont Kiara. 13/20. 48/70
Race site Facilities:
Venue, space and amenities: I cannot understand why only one car park was open. This only led to the area around the start/finish being very cramped and it also made it very difficult for anyone who wished to leave early. Additionally, when leaving the venue I was asked to pay a parking fee. I am not sure if this was a scam or that there actually was a charge. Whichever it was, a scam should have been stopped by the organisers, legitimate then it’s just wrong, free parking at an event is a must as there are no alternative forms of transport at that time in the morning.
Due to the car park taking up just about all the available space warming-up had to be done on the fringes where people were congregating or outside on the road. Water pre-race, if available was not found, perhaps because there was no signage, perhaps because there was no water available. 5/10.
Toilets facilities: Thirteen toilets, approximately one porta-loo to one-hundred and eighty people [180], that explains the longish queues. They were however in a good and clean condition. There were also a couple of potty points on the course which is always a good thing. 9/10.
Start area: Staffing around the start/finish was adequate and although there was no information point the sponsors point was staffed with knowledgeable people. The timing tent was overflowing with people. 8/10.
Parking and transport: Covered above. 4/10. 26/40
Care of Competitors:
Starting time and control: I believe there was some sort of organised warm up, but, I think I must have been away from the start area doing my own warming up. The control of the starting chute was, as is usual, non-existent. The start time was delayed as the starters were waiting for traffic control and marshals to be in place, if they had been deployed at the correct time then there would have been no delay. 6/10.
Medical facilities. Start/finish and on course: There was a full contingent of medical staff on duty including mobiles on the course, but, none at the aid-stations. 18/20. 24/30
THE RACE.
Organisation:
Course management: The traffic control and safety aspects of the race were generally to a good standard. One or two small improvements could have been made, such as placing bollards in front of pot holes rather than just advising runners to be careful. Space and signage on the course were fine. 27/30.
Enjoyment factor: Excellent - High – Med – Low I and all those I spoke to enjoyed the good challenging, hard enough to test us but not trying to beat us. 18/20.
Marshaling: There were sufficient marshals on duty to cover all the turn points of the course, they seemed well trained and were generally in good humour. 12/15.
Feed stations: The number of aid stations [eight] was impressive, so much so I actually run without my own hydration, a very rare item. The volunteers that manned the stations were up to scratch and for the most part very happy and encouraging. All the stations were very well stocked when I went through and I heard nothing to the contrary from later finishers. 15/15. 72/80
POST RACE.
Finish line: Picking up the medal was unusual, normally they are placed around your neck on the line, but not a problem. Food collection was both far from the finish and not well advertised. The choice of food was very limited, just water melon and some tofu thing. Not what I would call a post race feast. Hydration was limited to water and Milo, I found no isotonic. 5/10.
Resting and cool down areas: Good – Sufficient – Lacking. 3/10.
Finishing information: Top placings were posted behind the prize giving area. Announcements were made at the prize ceremony, which was too long winded as each of the ten trophy winners were announced and presented with their trophy. It would have been move appropriate, and enjoyable, if just the top three were presented and the minor placed runners could have collected their mementos elsewhere. 7/10. 15/30
AFTER EVENT
Results: Full results were posted by Sporthive Events within just a few hours. 20/20.
Post event communication: Good – Limited – None. 0/10.
20/30 A Grand Total of 205/280 giving an overall score for this event of 73.2%
COMMENT: It seemed to me that the event was run on a shoestring budget. It would be a real pity to lose this event from the calendar, especially for us older runners who have very little chance to compete on a level playing field.
I am sure that there must be a higher profile headline sponsor that would be pleased to be associated with this events future.
One further comment, I do wish that the organisers, not just those from TBJRC, but just about all of them, would be more open and maintain their avenues of communication better.
Would I return to this event: No – Unlikely – Possibly – Yes hopefully next year to claim a top three position in the Golden Age group that will have the same ten trophy winners as all the other age groups.
Happy Running
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
My personal race.
1:58:19
5th. of 24 Veteran [65 plus]. 146th. of 1308 Overall.
No excuses, I had a bad day at the office. A disappointing run, I just couldn’t get going. The only satisfying things are that I did run a negative split and through adversity I overtake the guy who finished sixth, three times and the guy who finished forth, twice.
