The Ben Race

[Iken Fityemean]

I think there is a case for reserving a small number of entries, but only for a limited period of time - you have to keep your eye on the ball to know when some of these entries open.

How long would you class as limited? Is this not the same as saying get your enties in now or you wont get in. Would you send out an invitation by e-mail along the lines of " An entry has been reserved for you, if you don't reply within 4 weeks, the organisers will assume you do not wish to run?"
Incidentally Marvin, as well as trying to beat previous times, don't we also have a scan of 'faces' running alongside and just in front of us to look out for regulars that have similar times or better so that we mentally see them as targets to beat?

[Enid Gumby]

I agree - I think they way to do it would be to restrict entries to those who can do under 2:30 which is ample time to get up and down the thing.

[Iken Fityemean]

Last year the host club Lochaber entered 80 runners in the Ben. 61 actually ran. Now then,does that mean that 25% of their runners were cancellations i.e. notified the organiser they weren't going to race so that some in the reserve list could take their place? OR did a large percentage just not bother? Have you seen how many Lochaber have entered this year?
Still on percentages, 500 runners were down to run on race day but only 377 turned up. If my maths are correct that equates to 24.6% "missing in action/ no shows". Therefore Lochabers figures suggest that is the average and is there a need to to send e-mails to the Clubs around June/July asking them to remind their members to contact the Ben organisers with names of those unable to run. If the figure of 25% is the 'norm' then 125 runners on the reserve list (if its that big) could get an entry!

[The Famous Grouse]

I agree - I think they way to do it would be to restrict entries to those who can do under 2:30 which is ample time to get up and down the thing.

and..pray tell us Enid, how does one know whether one will achieve 2.30 on this particular visit? I know many veterans of the Ben race who may do 2.15 or 2.45 in their dotage. I also know many first timers who didn't make the 2.30 mark.

[Iken Fityemean]

I agree - I think they way to do it would be to restrict entries to those who can do under 2:30 which is ample time to get up and down the thing.

Great idea just think of all those fat lying bast***s who line up for the London Marathon every year and start in the sub 3hr 30 enclosure, we could be like them! As well as having qualifying races before we can enter, maybe we ought to ban first timers or make them take a lie detector test that they can beat 2hrs 30 even if theyve broken their leg on the way down. Lets put an age limit on as well. We don't want the Ben cluttered up with all these old slow far*s! Better still its a Scottish race lets restrict it to Scotsman and ginger hairy ones at that!

[Enid Gumby]

Having thought about it you're probably right it would be difficult to administer and there's too many rules and regulations out there anyway.
I think a general appeal to all those who expect to do over 2:30 to do the right thing and withdraw so that we can have the meaningful race that you're after might be the best way forward?

[Tomsk]

Iken, you have certainly opened up a can of worms here. If we restrict to 2:30 Hrs, what about those who are chasing the 21 races completed. Many of the guys in this cat will be outside your restricted time. How do you account for them?
What about opening a pre-entry table on the day for the following year, so those racing this year can guarantee a place for the following year if they so wish.
This debate could run well into Sept 07 !!!!
I am sure Mapper & Alsoran will have something to say aout this.
Keep the thread alive.

[Stan]

Better still its a Scottish race lets restrict it to Scotsman and ginger hairy ones at that!

I think, in the interests of equality, that ginger hairy Scotswomen should be admitted.

[mapper]

Without knowing the numbers of received / rejected entries it's difficult to make an informed decision, but what if it was still pre-entry but without a limit?
If, as Itken says, about 25% of the pre-entrants don't show up then would numbers be massively over 500 on race day anyway?

Does anyone from Lochaber have any stats?

[Iken Fityemean]

The figures I gave dont tell the whole story. It would be interesting to hear from any 'Ben' runner in the past five years who was on the 'reserve' list and was notified they'd been given an entry; where they were (i.e. what number) they were on the said list. ???
If you accept that a percentage of conscientious runners contact the organiser to say that they won't be running, the equivalent number of runners will then be 'promoted' from the reserves to the list. On race day the 25% of no shows will be made up of newly promoted runners and original listed runners who don't turn up and don't tell anyone beforehand.
As with most stats, who cares?
I know the organisers don't because despite superb organization, 350 to 400 runners is what they expect despite the ceiling of 500 because anymore would stretch anybodys resources especially on a mountain like the Ben where broken bones, cuts and gashes are a regular feature and sometimes rewarded with a helicopter finish to casualty.