The IronBaby Running Experience

Merrell Adventure Run

Wow! Merrell's yearly trail run made my day, for this was my second trail run, and the best one yet. It took me about a month from recovering from my previous injury, and I am proud to be at my best shape for this run.

The race itself was at the brink of cancellation due to the stormy weather, it was a blessing that the heavy rain stopped a few hours before the event. The weather afterwards was good for running, a few minutes of very light rain and a clouded sky. 


The course was tough, a few river crossings, a lot of mud, rain, razor-sharp grass and some obstacles. The event was successful, there were sufficient medics all-over the course, sufficient hydration and equipment such as ropes.


I saw some areas for improvement that the organizer should take into consideration.

1. Time/punctuality
- They stated that claiming of race kits will be on May 19, I went to get my kit on May 21, but I got mine on May 27
- Shuttle from pick-up point was supposed to leave at 4:00am but it departed at around 4:35am, and arriving at the destination exactly for gun start, most 21k participants did not have proper warm-up and stretching.

2. Organization
- When I bought my race kit, the store manager explicitly stated that the availing of shuttle service to and from event will be purchased on race kit claiming. However, upon attempting to claim my kit, the tickets for the shuttle were already out of stock a day before. Initially, there were only 60 tickets. It seems that they miscalculated and received a lot of complaints.
- Upon arriving at the finish-line I looked for the person in-charge for handing out the medals, but they were nowhere to be found, I asked a marshal where to get the medal and he did not know where, I went to the tent for claiming the finishers kit and still no avail, the security/bouncer pointed me to the secretariat/organizer's tent, and they pointed me back, this happened thrice.
- There was supposed to be a shower for everyone since it was a trail run, but the water trucks were insufficient and there was uncertainty that more water trucks will come over.

3. Traffic

- Since this is a trail run, and most of the course will be a one-way, the organizer did not plan on how to divide the categories in order to ensure a smooth flow of runners. They released each category every after approximately 5 minutes, building up traffic along the early stage of the race.


Pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.371587292903186.83663.310131699048746&type=1&l=9434d92d6e