Checklist for Running and Ultra Distance Walk
There are a lot of things you need to keep in mind if you are to successfully run an ultra-distance event. It is not the sort of thing that you just do without some previous experience. I suggest that you first hang around some ultra-distance events and study them critically. Pick out the things that are well done and the things that are poorly done and store it all away. Try to emulate the successful parts and try to ensure that you do not fall into the same traps as you saw in unsuccessful events. Most of all, remember that your event is there for the competitors and not for yourself.
With all that said, here is a checklist that may be helpful. This checklist is for an event which is to be held on a circuit of fixed distance (say a 400m track).
- One of the first things you do is try to get
some sponsors who will support the event. Over to you on that one!
- Make sure you check out the venue well in
advance. Ensure it has suitable night lighting, canteen or kitchen
facilities,
showers, indoor facilities for massaging and such like, loud speaker
facilities,
tables, chairs, etc. It sounds obvious but ensure that you can actually
run
a 24 hour event there and that night time activities do not contravene
council
or local regulations or upset close neighbours.
- Once you find a suitable facility, ensure
that it is covered by some sort of Public Liability Insurance. Once
this
is confirmed, book it and pay your booking fee. You are now ready to
start
your advertising campaign.
- Produce your advertising brochure and entry
form. Make a decision on the time the event will start, what distances
you
are offering, what the entry fee is going to be, where entries should
be
posted, what sort of awards and trophies you will be offering,
when
entries close, etc.
- Suitably distribute your brochures and entry
forms. Some of this will be by hand to people you know are interested.
Some
will be by posting on billboards in sporting clubs. Some will be by
postal
services. You might post details in your club homepage on the Internet.
The
specifics are individual to you. However, this is one of the most
critical
steps in the process. You must get it right if you want to get a good
starting
field.
- Try to arrange for St John's Ambulance or
similar First Aid group to attend the event.
- Try to get a masseur to volunteer his/her
services.
- Make up lap scorer sheets (one set for each
competitor) or arrange for some sort of automated lapscoring system
(there are plenty around, some cheap and some quite expensive).
- Produce an entry booklet close to the
event. This should show the starting list, boigraphs on competitors,
etc.
Have participation certificates printed and available on the day.
- Ensure you have facilities for your officials.
You need hot water and tea/coffee facilities, food for them, an
area
when they can have a rest during the night.
- Ensure you have enough officials to rotate
them and give them regular breaks. 24 hours is a long time to go
without
a break. Give someone a roving commission to be the main man. His/her
job
is to oversee everything on the day and make the tough decisions as
appropriate.
It will probably be you!
- Arrange for a Protest Panel to be available to oversee any protests or competitor complaints.
Here are some things you should have ready for the day:
- A measuring wheel (for intermediate distances such as 50 miles and for measuring how far everyone has gone when the gun goes to finish the event).
- Stop watches for officials, lap scorers and such like (the more, the merrier)
- A large digital clock for trackside
- Competitor numbers and plenty of pins
- Lap Sheets for lapscorers (or computer entry system)
- A large board to show progressive results (I like to update it hourly to show how many laps each competitor has done at each hour)
- A general notice board for miscellaneous info -starting list, history of previous events, photos, etc.
- Clipboards, biros, etc for the lapscorers
- Tables and chairs for the lapscorers and other officials
- Trackside tents in case of inclement weather.
- First Aid equipment
- Mobile phone and contact phone numbers for doctors, ambulance, etc.
- Towels, blankets, general bits and pieces as appropriate
- Sponging table (big plastic rubbish bins and sponges)
- Water Station (tables, plastic cups, water, area for competitors to put own drinks)
- Feeding Station (tables for competitors to put their own feed and drink items)
- Computer and printer for updating results as event progresses and for final result sheet soon after event finishes
- Portable toilet trackside for competitors
And finally after the event has completed...
- Collect all lapsheets as they are completed
and have someone check them for accuracy. Make sure that at the
completion
of the event, you have all lap sheets from all competitors (only if you
are using this sort of manual system).
- Have your Presentation ceremony as soon as possible after the event. Make sure you keep to your advertised ceremony time. Make it brief and exciting and have the full results available for distribution at this time.