A Runner's Wish

After reading an article in Baldrunner’s blog on a runner’s wish list for 2009 written by Lito Evite, I thought I knew the author. True enough, he was my classmate during our high school days. He got into running way ahead of me together with one of our batchmate. We had a chance to run together in several races last year. After exchanging emails yesterday with him regarding races we planned to join this year, i asked his permission to post his wish list on this blog. According to him this was written before Christmas of 2008 and posted in pinoyrunners yahoo group. It's his dream for us pinoys to have a world class road races.

"Para naman maiangat natin ang quality at magkaroon din tayo ng patakbo sa darating na panahon na sikat at dinarayo ng mga foreigners tulad ng New York Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon at iba't iba pang kilalang running events sa buong mundo. Sa pagtutulungan ng runners at organizers mararating din ng Pinoy running community ang araw na iyon."


Here’s his wish for 2009:

Dear running organizers,
I hope you won’t mind if I ask you a wish (magpapasko na kasi). These wishes are based on the experiences I’ve had in the past races I’ve joined and some comments/blogs I’ve heard/read:

1. Race schedules- Schedules must be coordinated with all race groups so we don’t have simultaneous races with the same race dates

2. Registration- there should be multiple registration centers- race packets should be given upon registration- race day on-site registration should be allowed but should close 15 minutes before thescheduled race starts (sometimes the race gets delayed because there are still on-siteregistrants queuing)

3. Singlets/T-shirts (walang kokontra sa nakalista, wish nga eh!)- T-shirts should be pure cotton (malamig sa katawan)- singlets should be ‘true’ dri-fit or climacool (masarap sa katawan)- singlets must not have ‘tahi’ in front as this causes flaking and wounds theerr..uhm…nips…

4. Age Cheating- there should be a way to check for age cheating- for races with age category, there are those who register to an older race category(ex. the runner’s real age is 48, but registers with the 50-59 age group orthe runner’s real age is 16, but registers with the 10-13 age group)

5. Race Time- races must start on-time (runners wake up early to make it on time during race day,this must be respected by organizers plus the sun would already be hot if the race getsdelayed)- let us do away with the ‘Filipino Time’ instead let us be the ‘Filipino on Time’- should there be speeches by guests and/or programs, these must be done before bescheduled race time- guest speakers must be given specific time limits for their speeches

6. Runner Check-in- runners that check-in should not be allowed to leave the holding area(there are others that sneak out and position themselves few meters away from thestarting line, so that they would have a headstart when the race begins. Cheaters!!!)

7. Release of runners on race day- Runners must be released by race category (3k, 5K, 10K, 21K, …)- there should be no classification of elite, advanced, beginner runners

8. Marshalls- marshalls must be strategically located in all turns from start to finish- marshalls must control vehicular traffic to protect the runners- marshalls must direct the runners to the proper side of the road- marshalls must have a communication equipment and list of emergency contactnumbers- marshalls must be briefed of their roles and responsibilities- marshalls must apprehend or report cheating runners- escort marshalls must not only be escorting the lead runners but should there shouldalso be escorts for the last runner (leave no one behind)

9. Ambulance and medical services- there must be a first aid/medical services available- at least one ambulance/emergency vehicle must be available and strategically locatedin the middle of the race route (ex. for a 21k race, the ambulance must be located atthe 5K post not at the starting line for quick response in the shortest possible time)

10. Water stations- there should be ample water stations located at least every 2.5km- there should also be enough plastic cups and ‘clean’ cold water- there should be trash bags to throw the used plastics cups/containers(we runners should not litter our streets)

11. Route Markers- the whole stretch of the race route must be properly marked(this is especially true for marathons, some runners get lost)

12. Finish line- there should be ample race chutes for each race category to prevent long lines- race certificates and other giveaways must be given as the runner exits the race chute(do not let him/her line up again just to get those souvenirs)I’ve been good this year so I hope that my wish gets to be granted.