Quote Originally Posted by shadbolt View Post
You're ignoring the point that Mark G has already made that very often the CP marshals do not know how many runners have entered nor their numbers so they will not have a nice little list on which to tick off numbers as the runners go past.
Not ignoring anything. They don't need to know who has entered. The tick list from a marshal can be used at the end of the race to narrow down a search for a runner who hasn't made it to the end. No point looking at the start of a course when a runner has only missed the last check point.
My concern would be where do you draw the line ? Short races ? I'd also agree with others, asking marshals to do anything more than stand there in what is often hostile conditions is difficult and will probably put off some volunteers.
One thing i'd like to see is an insistence on presenting the route in either map form and/or description prior to a race. It gives people the opportunity to get familiar with the surroundings in good weather. It makes people more equipped to deal with potential bad weather on race day. There seems to be a reluctance, in my experience, to reveal a route as if its some big secret by some.
Two issues I can see that might prevent the above is OS map copyright and potential private land (race day only) access.
It's a tough one,but one that needs serious consideration.