Sundown was kinda badly organized
Just back from sundown 21km run.
And since not feeling too sleepy, I shall pen down some thoughts that I have currently on the run.
In short, it was a rather unpleasant experience.
Although it was partly a lack of anticipation on my part given the info that I've.
But still, there are some aspects that the organizers can have looked into to make it a better experience for a number of runners (at least for the 21km category).
I think quite a number of 21km runners were pretty badly affected by the seemingly lacking organization.
For sure, I will write a feedback to them and hopefully they will improve for their next race (which I will likely not participate unless I am convinced otherwise).
I will list down some points over here to share which will serve as the basis for my feedback to them:
1. Shuttle bus sevice to Changi Exhibition Center from (ONLY) Pasir Ris MRT.
There was only one pickup point at Pasir Ris MRT which resulted in crowding of participants. Some of the participants were relatively early and would've make it to the race venue on time if they didn't have to wait long and eventually still not be able to get on a bus (I heard those who queued at 715pm wasn't able to get on a shuttle bus).
The organizers should've anticipated that because they had only a single pickup point at Pasir Ris MRT and that the road leading to changi exhibition center is narrow - congestion will likely result. But it didn't seem like there was the effort to minimize this from happening or better manage the situation as it unfolds. They could've had a controller at Pasir Ris MRT and feedback if more buses are needed (if this isn't logistically difficult to arrange). Or for the controller to inform those queueing up on updates of the shuttle service (e.g. that the shuttle bus for the time period has ceased service) - this will provide timely update to the queue-ers and allow them to make better decisions. If they indeed had controllers, they did not seem effective in helping the situation (what were they doing?).
Next, the New Balance Real Run has been held at the exact same location of Changi Exhibition Center for at least twice. How did they not encounter such a situation? For one, they have shuttle buses serving participants at locations across main parts of Singapore. Did the organizers use this as a case study and learn from them? Or did the organizers look at it and thought they could do better with just a single shuttle service point from Pasir Ris MRT?
2. Notice to runners on road closure.
The organizers send a pretty last minute SMS to 21km participants reminding them to be at the race site by 8pm which is an hour earlier from the race start time. They mentioned that the access to race site will be closed with the reference that a certain stretch of changi coast rd will be closed from 830pm to 1030pm.
The lacking aspect in this part of the message is that, it didn't take into account of the people who are NOT willing to spend the extra, possibly, 30mins-45mins of their time just waiting for the race to start (an hour later) at 9pm (assuming a min 15mins to deposit bags and prepare themselves up). Or due to unforeseen circumstances, unable to make it before road closure.
Secondly, the closure of access to race site gave the impression that vehicles will not be able to commute into the race venue due to the closure of the Changi Coast Road. But they did not warn participants that if they choose to come after road closure (or due to unforeseen reasons such as being held up at the Pasir Ris shuttle bus queue and had to take a cab eventually), then they have to walk about 6km (?) to the race venue. This is vital information which will convince participants to be at the race site earlier (say by 8pm) or to have backup plans in case of unforeseen held up (e.g. get their bicycles to cycle in).
3. Second flag off for 21km
In the later part of the SMS, the organizers did mention that latecomers will not start race till after 915pm. Will it not be better to fix a timing for the latecomers instead of stating that it will not start after 915pm? Alright, may be they want to judge from the situation whether a critical mass of latecomers have gathered and so on. Fair enough... but as the second flag off participants were forming up, the organizers, from what I can gather, only mentioned once that there will be a second flag off but not the flag off timing (of 10pm). A big group soon gathered at the start point and there was no mentioned of what time is the flag off and people have to walk to the front and ask. Evenutally just seconds before flag-off, there were unaided voices (no mike announcement or countdown for that short time period) that counted down from 10 seconds (I wonder how many were caught off guarded).
That aside, apparently most of us in the second flag off wave were drenched in sweat, having walked such a long distance (taking 40mins-1hr) to the race venue. Did the organizers make the effort to get one or two personnels to bring cups of waters to offer to the runners (shouldn't be difficult to arrange I suppose)? It will have been a sign of some sincerity and respect that can appease frustrated runners. And the organizers should be aware that runners need sufficient hydration to maintain cardiac output volume to have a safer and better run. Do they not know that 6km of walking can make people lose quite an amount of water? Time is required for water absorption into the system (maybe that explains in part the start time of 10pm) and the first water point is almost 3km away from the start site. Where is the safety concern that some late runners may not have the opportunity to have sufficient hydration? Was there any reminder to the participants to hydrate while waiting for the second flag off? They seemed to take safety rather unseriously.
4. Race route for second flag off group for 21km
About 3km into the run, there was a diversion point, but there was no one to guide the runners to turn to the right direction and sure enough some runners ahead turned to the wrong direction i.e. the left side (they may have thought that the organizers had made alternative arrangements due to the road closure issues). Or indeed, the organizers had intentionally not allowed the right right turn, making it a 18km 'half' marathon.
5. Road closure
I wondered what was the rationale behind the road closure restriction for the stretch of Changi Coast Road - i reckon it was to create an additional 3km of running distance for the 21km runners (which participants from all other categories did not have to run through if i didn't rem wrongly).
It shouldn't be the concern that the vehicles make the air quality bad for the runners since vehicles were plying the roads with the 42km runners alongside (this is reaonsable since it is fair to let finishers go back as soon as they want and that the 42km runners had to endure for about only 3km to share the road space with the vehicles).
Is it difficult for the organizers to avoid that 3km of closed Changi Coast Road? To me, it seems not too challenging had they make up for this 3km distance by pushing the second U-turn point further (behind) and having a running stretch around the really huge 'exhibition square' in changi exhibition center. I will rather not have the participants to walk 6km to reach the race venue because of a (seemingly unnecessary) road closure.
Perhaps should share my opinion in spaces that more will see, to hear their feedback (which possibly can include defense for the organizers - understand they may, too, have legitimate constraints). I will also feedback to the organizer (as I mentioned earlier). I will keep an open mind and hopefully hear their address on it.
And since not feeling too sleepy, I shall pen down some thoughts that I have currently on the run.
In short, it was a rather unpleasant experience.
Although it was partly a lack of anticipation on my part given the info that I've.
But still, there are some aspects that the organizers can have looked into to make it a better experience for a number of runners (at least for the 21km category).
I think quite a number of 21km runners were pretty badly affected by the seemingly lacking organization.
For sure, I will write a feedback to them and hopefully they will improve for their next race (which I will likely not participate unless I am convinced otherwise).
I will list down some points over here to share which will serve as the basis for my feedback to them:
1. Shuttle bus sevice to Changi Exhibition Center from (ONLY) Pasir Ris MRT.
There was only one pickup point at Pasir Ris MRT which resulted in crowding of participants. Some of the participants were relatively early and would've make it to the race venue on time if they didn't have to wait long and eventually still not be able to get on a bus (I heard those who queued at 715pm wasn't able to get on a shuttle bus).
The organizers should've anticipated that because they had only a single pickup point at Pasir Ris MRT and that the road leading to changi exhibition center is narrow - congestion will likely result. But it didn't seem like there was the effort to minimize this from happening or better manage the situation as it unfolds. They could've had a controller at Pasir Ris MRT and feedback if more buses are needed (if this isn't logistically difficult to arrange). Or for the controller to inform those queueing up on updates of the shuttle service (e.g. that the shuttle bus for the time period has ceased service) - this will provide timely update to the queue-ers and allow them to make better decisions. If they indeed had controllers, they did not seem effective in helping the situation (what were they doing?).
Next, the New Balance Real Run has been held at the exact same location of Changi Exhibition Center for at least twice. How did they not encounter such a situation? For one, they have shuttle buses serving participants at locations across main parts of Singapore. Did the organizers use this as a case study and learn from them? Or did the organizers look at it and thought they could do better with just a single shuttle service point from Pasir Ris MRT?
2. Notice to runners on road closure.
The organizers send a pretty last minute SMS to 21km participants reminding them to be at the race site by 8pm which is an hour earlier from the race start time. They mentioned that the access to race site will be closed with the reference that a certain stretch of changi coast rd will be closed from 830pm to 1030pm.
The lacking aspect in this part of the message is that, it didn't take into account of the people who are NOT willing to spend the extra, possibly, 30mins-45mins of their time just waiting for the race to start (an hour later) at 9pm (assuming a min 15mins to deposit bags and prepare themselves up). Or due to unforeseen circumstances, unable to make it before road closure.
Secondly, the closure of access to race site gave the impression that vehicles will not be able to commute into the race venue due to the closure of the Changi Coast Road. But they did not warn participants that if they choose to come after road closure (or due to unforeseen reasons such as being held up at the Pasir Ris shuttle bus queue and had to take a cab eventually), then they have to walk about 6km (?) to the race venue. This is vital information which will convince participants to be at the race site earlier (say by 8pm) or to have backup plans in case of unforeseen held up (e.g. get their bicycles to cycle in).
3. Second flag off for 21km
In the later part of the SMS, the organizers did mention that latecomers will not start race till after 915pm. Will it not be better to fix a timing for the latecomers instead of stating that it will not start after 915pm? Alright, may be they want to judge from the situation whether a critical mass of latecomers have gathered and so on. Fair enough... but as the second flag off participants were forming up, the organizers, from what I can gather, only mentioned once that there will be a second flag off but not the flag off timing (of 10pm). A big group soon gathered at the start point and there was no mentioned of what time is the flag off and people have to walk to the front and ask. Evenutally just seconds before flag-off, there were unaided voices (no mike announcement or countdown for that short time period) that counted down from 10 seconds (I wonder how many were caught off guarded).
That aside, apparently most of us in the second flag off wave were drenched in sweat, having walked such a long distance (taking 40mins-1hr) to the race venue. Did the organizers make the effort to get one or two personnels to bring cups of waters to offer to the runners (shouldn't be difficult to arrange I suppose)? It will have been a sign of some sincerity and respect that can appease frustrated runners. And the organizers should be aware that runners need sufficient hydration to maintain cardiac output volume to have a safer and better run. Do they not know that 6km of walking can make people lose quite an amount of water? Time is required for water absorption into the system (maybe that explains in part the start time of 10pm) and the first water point is almost 3km away from the start site. Where is the safety concern that some late runners may not have the opportunity to have sufficient hydration? Was there any reminder to the participants to hydrate while waiting for the second flag off? They seemed to take safety rather unseriously.
4. Race route for second flag off group for 21km
About 3km into the run, there was a diversion point, but there was no one to guide the runners to turn to the right direction and sure enough some runners ahead turned to the wrong direction i.e. the left side (they may have thought that the organizers had made alternative arrangements due to the road closure issues). Or indeed, the organizers had intentionally not allowed the right right turn, making it a 18km 'half' marathon.
5. Road closure
I wondered what was the rationale behind the road closure restriction for the stretch of Changi Coast Road - i reckon it was to create an additional 3km of running distance for the 21km runners (which participants from all other categories did not have to run through if i didn't rem wrongly).
It shouldn't be the concern that the vehicles make the air quality bad for the runners since vehicles were plying the roads with the 42km runners alongside (this is reaonsable since it is fair to let finishers go back as soon as they want and that the 42km runners had to endure for about only 3km to share the road space with the vehicles).
Is it difficult for the organizers to avoid that 3km of closed Changi Coast Road? To me, it seems not too challenging had they make up for this 3km distance by pushing the second U-turn point further (behind) and having a running stretch around the really huge 'exhibition square' in changi exhibition center. I will rather not have the participants to walk 6km to reach the race venue because of a (seemingly unnecessary) road closure.
Perhaps should share my opinion in spaces that more will see, to hear their feedback (which possibly can include defense for the organizers - understand they may, too, have legitimate constraints). I will also feedback to the organizer (as I mentioned earlier). I will keep an open mind and hopefully hear their address on it.