Prompted by discussion on other threads re pre-entered 'no-shows' at races such as Langdale I thought it time for a poll on views on pre-entries, specifically the timing.
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Prompted by discussion on other threads re pre-entered 'no-shows' at races such as Langdale I thought it time for a poll on views on pre-entries, specifically the timing.
I've voted for as soon as the calendar is published but in an ideal world I would prefer no pre-entries - just turn up and run. However organisers need to know they can cope with the numbers turning up - parking, food, marshalls, environment etc, in some cases vet experience and I accept that for this reason some races need to limit numbers and can not justifiably risk too many people turning up for the course or facilities to cope with. If the organiser is happy to take entries in January I am happy to send him or her my cheque, and if I enter I will turn up and race almost without exception (to the best of my recollection I've only missed a couple of pre-entries in over 20 years, much longer if you count the dark side of running on the roads. From my perspective I am prepared to make that commitment. My circumstances have changed and it is now easier for me to do races but I previously worked shifts and also had to do call - I am sure plenty of others are in this position and it can be very difficult to take a day off at a weekend (for example in the middle of a week of nights) with only a couple of months notice, sometimes you cant even do it six months ahead, or at least you couldn't where I worked depending on who else was off, if anyone would cover for you etc. If someone has set their target as Wasdale for example, and gone to great lengths to arrange a day off for it, its a real shame if you find out two months before that your entry hasn't been accepted. I no longer have to work shifts but I think early pre-entries are still useful - I have booked a holiday next August - I am leaving after Borrowdale, doing the Ben (I hope) while I am away and coming home in time for Three Shires. No problem with 3 Shires but I sincerely hope I get in Borrowdale and the Ben, but if I knew in advance that I wasn't in either I might time my holiday differently.
No idea so i'm not going to muddy the results by voting :)
I had real strong intentions of doing Langdale. Not becuase it was a Champs counter, but to complete a Lakeland Classics Series.
I did Duddon to start, but realised that I wasn't ready to do Ennerdale 1 week later and so dropped out a that stage.
I still intended to do Langdale - but it ended up clashing with the first Mid Lancs XC and my co team manager was having a knee op - so I pulled out.
But I did pass on my number to the organisers and allow another runner to take part and I also asked them to donate my entry fee to the Mountain Rescue, which they did.
I think 2 months prior is enough - and even for such as a PPP, it then also allows the appropriate qualification to be gained.
Don't get me going!!
I think that the current trend to open the books on next year's fell races as early as September and October is plain stupid - especially if it's coupled with a feeding frenzy on this forum whereby the start list is cut and pasted into a thread in an attempt to make people enter - "before it's too late".
(I believe it's fashionable to say FFS or LOL at this point, but I don't know what they mean, lol.)
The result is predictable - races fill too fast, people drop out as events overtake their early bookings and organisers end up with twice as much work to do as they would have had with a reasonable pre-entry date.
And I personally reckon that any race that is full before the FRA Calendar is published should not be allowed to be an official FRA Race.
So there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudolph Hooker
exactly
now were is my skyline entry
I'm pre-entering Saturday's Tour on Thursday. Personally I think this is too far in advance of the race.:rolleyes::D
But it does give me a discount on the entry fee.
Devil. Deep blue sea.
I voted for 2 months before, because I feel this gives ample time to get entered, planning for RO, and people time to decide whether they are going to do it, and therefore train up for it.
I'm not up to speed with this issue in fell running, but it pisses me off completely with road running. I want to do a flat, fast Half Marathon in February/March time (What has happened to the Wrexham Half btw?) and I'm left with only a few to chose from, the most likely candidate is Wilmslow (Given that Wrexham seems to have vanished) But I only want to enter it if I'm going to be fit, which I won't be sure of until 4 weeks or less before hand. But it will be full way before that. What's a chap to do?
I voted for the 2 months option as I think it's the best of the three options.
However, it's probably different for different races. For a race like Ennerdale, I would need about 3-4 months to train for this, and this should maybe be reflected in the pre-entry time - I'm not going to train if I don't get in.
On the other hand, shorter races don't require the same training time, so a pre-entry time of 1-2 months seems very sensible.
I thinK Wrexham is still on, heard nothing otherwise, never that well publicised though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gravymuncher
So, solution is to use the FRA Calendar to plan your year and your training, and set a reminder somewhere 2 months before the event (with a load of appropriate training behind you already) to get your entry in for the race.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
If you don't get in the race, you'll still be a lot fitter, so it won't be a complete waste.
This is a personal thing i have to fit my racing around my wifes work as she works lots of weekends and we do not have child cover. So if i want to race i have to know as early as possible in case she is working and giving maximum time for booking a day off etc {where she works swapping holidays is very difficult}. So as early as poss for me but in an ideal world without these hassles a couple of months would be fine.
To some extent I agree with Ruddy. Entry for races shouldn't open before the calendar is published. The skyline won't be full before that happens so it won't effect any one who wants to enter later. two months is plenty although there could be a paper mountain on the RO doormat on thae day that an entry date opens in something like a lakeland classic
Its a good way to make a bit of cash though. If you look at Skyline race - entries open now for a race in March £9 per person max 300. So organiser stands to get £2700 in a bank account for 5mths. Then on race day say a 1/3 don't turn up thats...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudolph Hooker
I tend to just avoid races that fill up early - I can't be bothered bowing/scraping to blag a late/swapped entry - there are plenty of other races out there - I'll be doing Ras Yr Aran on Edale Skyline weekend - £4 EOD only :)
Gravymuncher - Wrexham Village Bakery Half Mara will be on Feb.21st - entries haven't opened yet ;)
Two months is plenty if you get every weekend off or can take a day off at the weekend without too much hassle - its not if you cant do this, especially if wife/family want to see something of you on your one weekend off a month. Its amazing how few of the races you want to do coincide with your days off and how much holiday you have to use to try and do them. I'm happily no longer in this position so I'm going to shut up on this point and let those who are make the point if they want to, but I can remember what it was like, hence my fairly strong views on it. Perhaps many of the shift workers in the FRA are not in jobs where they can surf the internet during work or breaks and might not be as active on this forum as others, so cant always make their views known this way.
a little unfair I think but I see your point.Quote:
Originally Posted by novice
but you don't get 300 entries on day 1:rolleyes: and as for the interest rate....
I guess it might a few extra bottles of Rescue Ale for Prize giving;):D
Not having pre-entries is a nice idea but just impossible. What if 1000 people turned up to race in an environmentally delicate area like the Rhinogs, or swamped the facilities on Jura.
Sweet. They should list the race on ukresults.net or race-results.co.uk or somewhere google can find, perhaps even their own website.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazTheSlug
For anyone that's not done it, this is pretty much the flatest, fastest course in the country :-)
Isn't it also the shortest half marathon in the country...:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gravymuncher
People do run surprisingly quick times here, think I'll do it next year...
Correct - this has been measured as 12.3 mile so well short?Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
you mean this course?:
http://www.runningahead.com/maps/5d5...ec26a405639528
If you've done the race you'll know it isn't 12.3 miles. Who has measured it at that distance? I assume they used the appropriate equipment?
The course is dead flat and very well sheltered, with no tight corners to slow you. Of course people are going to run fast times there.
It just seems scarily fast times, people I run against, sometimes beat, have ran times there I don't think I'd get near.
Like Liverpool half, another one that seems suspiciously fast....
I ran 74 there feeling tired, then 73 at Wilmslow a few weeks later feeling fresh, which seems about right. Without checking past results, I can't remember any ridiculously fast times for people at the front and I don't know what standard you are at, but the effect of being dead flat would be exaggerated further down the field. Give it a go if you've not done it before.
Good one, you must have been well up then. Well my pb is 1:21 something, the day after a 10k pb, but I should be comfortably sub 1:20 now, but guys I tend to race with (you know that regular pack who you end up against most races) all do 75-76 there. Just seems a bit fast. Done the 10k there too and ran a PB by a good minute so it is a fast area.
you will do 76 mateQuote:
Originally Posted by IainR
That reminds me, I did the 73 the day after a hard 5km relay, which makes me more sure it is just a fast course. If you've done the 10km there and that was fast, would you think that could be short as well? I honestly don't know about the course, but assume it's been well measured as evidenced by the map linked to above. I'm pretty sure if it had been very short I would have been able to tell.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
The map shown has got naff all to do with how road races are measured for accuracy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gravymuncher
Did this race this year, have to say it was one of the dullest races I've ever done, twice round an industrial estate and a few lanes. Had to resort to running in the puddles to amuse myself!! Thought distances up to about 10miles was right, but according to my splits, it was about 10th or 11th mile I did in about 6 and a half mins!! The next mile was back to about 8m50!! I did all of it in about 1hr50, so I'm not a speed merchant. The comments on it being short don't surprise me. Not a race I'm likely to do again, as I said just dullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllll.
I know that, but it does show that the probability of the race being only 12.3 miles is tiny.Quote:
Originally Posted by dominion
Back to pre-entries... :rolleyes:
Now that I'm old and grouchy and have done most of the "classic" fellraces at least once I simply tend to avoid races that are over popular, over subscribed, prone to fill up early etc..
For 2010 I may adopt a policy of doing only low-key events and avoid anything that has pre entries..... it will be bliss :p
being a season ticket holder at aston villa games are always being rearranged and seeing i have forked out a lot of money i tend to put the football first and do not bother doing races that need pre entries