Minutes are now posted, thank you again to everyone that took part in Goodwood Roller Marathon. It is safe to say it was a HUGE SUCCESS!! This is a lovely idea! Little free libraries at the end of your street http://t.co/RqJesYfC Seriously considering building one. - Twitter Status
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Sorry Drakey I was tired when I did these I\'llNEVERpostontheforums
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TIM
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Re:Goodwood De-brief Minutes 02 Aug 2006 - 21:15 19 Aug 06Was going to make a couple of suggestions on the comments made in the minutes but before I do I was wondering:
a) What is the maximum number of entrants the Marathon could cope with on a single start?
b) If my post is quite lengthy, and I am a bit of a windbag at times, would it be better if I emailed it to someone?
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Re:Goodwood De-brief Minutes 02 Aug 2006 - 11:32 20 Aug 06Bagpuss wrote: b) If my post is quite lengthy, and I am a bit of a windbag at times, would it be better if I emailed it to someone?
Well you could always email me, Merry or Dogsbody if you think it's going to be too long.
My email address is on my profile.
However, if it's bullet points etc., and less than a screen I would imagine it would be OK to post here. (Mr Webmaster what say you??)
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If you do do a post then make sure your site/forum session doesn't time out. Take a copt before you hit submit, just in case! This is a lovely idea! Little free libraries at the end of your street http://t.co/RqJesYfC Seriously considering building one. - Twitter Status
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TIM
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Re:Goodwood De-brief Minutes 02 Aug 2006 - 00:04 21 Aug 06If any of this does not make sense it is because it is nearly midnight and this saggy old cloth cat is yawning (and we all know what happens when Bagpuss goes to sleep).
Please do not take offence at any of my comments, I have tried to be not only constructive but also honest on what I saw on the day and also what I have experienced at other events be it as a participant or an organiser. Should clarification be required on anything I've commented on then please ask. I don't bite: don't even have any teeth.
Overall I for one, really enjoyed the day.
I have put the point from the minutes first followed, where relevant, by my comments.
· No Straps in race pack for skaters with own chip
Although it could be stated that those skaters competing with their own "Chip" should be responsible for their own "attachment". That of course would not be in the spirit of things. However do "Chips" come in a standard size? A quick fix may of course be zip/cable ties if the straps are not suitable or additional straps are unobtainable.
· Provide better instructions on getting to Goodwood Motor circuit and advise to follow Brown tourist signs into Goodwood
The specifics of getting to the circuit were rather veiled but unfortunately the Brown signs are not that helpful either: Cheryl and I where trying to follow them. A better system would be for the placement of direction signs at strategic junctions indicate the direction to the "Event" and not the circuit (additional free publicity). Living in and around the likes of Aldershot, Camberley etc, I’m sure you must have seen the Tac signs used by the military.
· Provide better information about where the burger van is located
If people were finding it difficult to find the Burger Van then perhaps its location was not the best. This of course could have been subject to placement by the circuit management but there did not seem to be a collective area/focal point.
· Inform skaters via FAQ, website and e-mail prior to marathon that they need to count their own laps and/or work out some way to count laps.
Definitely, I made this mistake myself but then again, perhaps Dogsbody was making me do an extra lap for forgetting the bodge tape. Try beads on a piece of string, and I don’t mean a Rosary.
· Second person needed on chip timing to help answer questions and operate lap board.
More help would obviously help to make things smoother but the location/layout could be improved upon to facilitate enquiries. Something like a remote terminal away from the mat area. This is something that can be expanded upon. Some form of updated remote display for the spectators to view; have a distinct channel for those finishing, be it at any stage, with an additional mat, perhaps even into the pit area; use of a commentator throughout the event and to top it all off a good old fashioned Chequered Flag · Look at having it on a Saturday
Cannot really comment on that apart from ask if it has only ever been held on a Sunday?
· Look at how much it will cost to have it not as a charity event
Would this be an event with or without sponsorship i.e. The Flora London Marathon? If it was sponsored then fine but without backing you could end up with a significant bill. An alternative would perhaps be to hold an event that serves multiple purposes. More on that later on.
· Advise people about the chicane This could be construed as part of the "racing line" thing and blue flags etc. Again as this ties in with some other points I shall expand latter.
· 2 water stops not just one (in the pits)
Yes. · 3 people needed on the water stop for the first 90 min.
Perhaps utilise both sides of the track aswell.
· Announce at the beginning of the marathon where to dump cups
Yes and include a catch fence for those who perhaps were not listening.
· Investigate the cost of bottled water.
Bit pricey but workable if you go down the sponsored event especially if people are hoping for the event to expand.
· Advise novices on pace lines and how to deal with them at the beginning of the race
I honestly do not think this will be of any benefit or use especially as different pace lines were asking and expecting different things. Unless there was standardisation through out it will not work which also takes us back to this blue flag thing etc.
· Arrange to have the cafe open next year.
Yes and try to entice some other stands especially from the subject Charity i.e. what they do etc.
· Arrange some activities or something to keep children amused.
Yes, most defiantly even if they are not skating related; bouncy castle, face painting etc.
· Possible have 2 chip timing mats next year
As covered additional mats would be useful. Are vertical sensors (Gates?) available?
· Blue flag marshal to warn of pace lines
Oh dear Blue flags this is where we start to get away from the concept of a charity event in to the realm of a race. If it is a charity (fun) event then NO!!!!!!
· Market more to local skate clubs, skate parks, and local press/radio.
Advertising to local skate clubs etc is only of effect if people are in fact aware of the clubs in the first place. The expansion of this event is not just related to advertising, enticement and opportunity unfortunately are also key factors. · Attract more families
Achievable though a variety of ways but I think it would have to be a combination to get them there. · Have a person in charge of marketing
Yes, but perhaps include someone in charge of sponsorship of the event specifically.
· Do the pre-marathon announcement in the middle of the skater pack so all can hear.
PA system/commentator not megaphone.
· Have a prize giving at the end - podium etc for winners.
Yes, but bear in mind that there is going to be a several hours delay before everyone has finished unless you split the event up and have staggered starts. (oops what have I started here).
· Put some chair on the circuit entry for skaters to put their skates on.
Benches, less chance of someone’s chair falling over and you getting sued.
· Produce some trackside rules and regs
Already mentioned in previous answers.
· Provide better chip instructions.
Sorry, but for what? The instructions that where supplied where quite clear.
· Ask for a firmer chip timing mat
Or Vertical readers as mentioned.
· Do a micro marathon for children or a 10k
Multiple events/different starts. Perhaps even go away from calling it a marathon: 10 Km, 20 Km and 40 Km Race. Or 10 Km, half and full Marathons. Perhaps the children’s event could be help am. Then again what about redefining the whole event. Maybe in the future it could be seen as both a charity event, get a minimum of £150 (or so) in sponsorship and there is no entry fee; fun participants pay a proportional an entrance fee but do not compete for the race prizes and then competitors who pay an increased entrance fee but are eligible for place prizes. Prizes 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the following categories, both male and female, Junior 18>, Senior 19 - 34, Veteran 35<. Then there are the most sponsored, fancy dress, oldest competitor, youngest competitor, furthest travelled, the options are fairly extensive. Support for the prizes would possible have to come form outside of the event, manufactures and that sort of thing.
· The medal next year needs the year and a different coloured ribbon.
Yes.
· Provide bin in the spectators area
Yes, and would the spectators area be more suitably placed overlooking the finish area?
Post edited by: Bagpuss, at: 00:05, 21 Aug 06
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The importance of the de-brief meeting was to capture places that we could improve and not try to fix them. It is pointless us trying to fix them now as things are likly to be different next year and as you say in your notes many of them have knock on effects to other items.
You do assume in your notes that we had more control over certain things than we did, I'm afraid that some things are non-starters. And your other suggestions all cost money which is something we don't have!
As I say, thanks for the feedback, it will all get bought up next year for next years race. Please feel free to get involved next year, we really need more people to share the organising. This year almost killed me. This is a lovely idea! Little free libraries at the end of your street http://t.co/RqJesYfC Seriously considering building one. - Twitter Status
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TIM
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Re:Goodwood De-brief Minutes 02 Aug 2006 - 15:57 23 Aug 06It would appear that the intent behind my overly long post has been lost: emailing it would have been the better option.
I am not making any assumptions and aware that you (the organisers) were working within "boundries". Call me Captain Cliche, but there's more than one way to skin a cat. This is also a public forum so sometimes things have to be held back from open discussion.
The comments I made are purely my opinion/interpretation of those points included in the de-brief minutes. Which, I hasten to add, are preceded by The following items are tweaks we can make for next year They were made to provoke discussion and to get people thinking about how improvements could be and where. They were also intended to get some people to remember that for every action there is a reaction.
I would not pressume to tell any of you how to organise this event or any other in the years to come. My link to the association is tenious at best and only then by virtue of my relationship to a member of the association.
I for one, apprectiate all the effort that went in to the event and the only thing I would ask for as an improvement is a portable wind break to make it easier for me.
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