I thought I might put this suggestion to the organisers of the GNR but thought I would ask your opinions first....
Obviously people have complained about slower runners taking up prime space at the front of the starting grid, myself included. How does this sound...
At the start the grid is organised into blocks of predicted times either side of the motorway central reservation.
Could we not, for example, start all the faster times (in ascending order) on the left hand carriageway, and continue with the slower times on the right hand carriageway. That way, when the two sides meet further on, the faster runners have had, hopefully, time to get away, leaving all the slower runners behind them. This way the faster runners can get away, and the slower runners are not looking for people constantly trying to get passed them and everyone could enjoy the race even more (if that's possible !!).
What do you think...?
All the best
Dean
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Comments
I felt overall the organisation was pretty good, though I'm glad it's not my job!
I know that 40k+ runners is a lot of people, takes a lot of organising and I respect every organiser in the event for making it it truly a most memorative occasion, but I would like to think that if it was possible to make it better, they could and would.
Every respect to all the runners and organisers.
Dean
The start procedure definatley needs to be looked at. From past experiences I start in the 1hr 20 section, knowing fine well my target is to beat 2 hours (which I managed to do with a 1hr 55mins run), simply because of the slower runners up ahead, and even startin so far foward, I was still passing people who were obviously not runners at the half mile stage and they looked absolutely knackered. It s a problem that I think will never be sorted out but the organisers could go some way to improving it by splitting the motorway - beu then you are faced with the problem of - do you know for a fact that people who say they are fast runners, genuinely are, without going off previous times.
But apart from that - cracking idea mate!
Here's to next year.....
To get back to the main thread, no matter how many gripes we may have, we will all be back next year, the problems will still be the same and we will again have a fantastic day.
Keep on running
Anyway I'm very happy, had a great day (great fish and chips on the walk to the Metro), but I don't think I'll do it again in a hurry - just too much traffic.
Millipede
Well done to all involved in the GNR, organisers, runners and sponsors - you make it the day it is. See ya there next year.
I can appreciate that no matter what pace you run/walk at everyone will have a target for their race. I don't know what the answer is, but it would be a shame for people to not want to do these events because of this. I know people, myself included who would rather do smaller races because of tripping over slower runners and not being able to get into a decent pace. I'm sure there are runners slower than me who still trip over slower runners and it goes on.
Maybe having a start where you have to have proof like at London might help, I don't know!
Flew back from Newcastle today and to top it all saw the Red Arrows take off from there this morning, must have stayed up there over night.
However, the point of my message was merely just to simply suggest a way that we might make it even better than it already is. If it upsets people, or puts them off coming to the GNR then it is not a good idea and should be scrapped.
For me, the GNR is THE race and no matter what, I will still be there year on year.
Congrats to everyone who finished and every respect to the organisers for yet another tremendous effort.
All the best
Dean
P.S. A lot of races could do to take a leaf out of the GNR's book !!
i think its obvious why some of the costumed fun runners go near the front..
so as to be on television..!!
it is a problem at the start,and even more so when "runners" are walking after only a mile.
i dont deny that they are raising money for charities etc,and well done to them too,but club runners should have the opportunity to perhaps run PB's by having a reasonably free run through the field.
GSR is less crowded and starting isn't really a big problem.FLM get round it by having pens with estimated time on it and each runner has a number to represent which pen they should be in. Sure some do jump the barriers but this helps to reduce that effect and FLM also has championchip.
GNR remains the only race I'll never do again and never recommend.You will always have slower runners starting at the front, it was made worse in the year I did it when those who had run 5 or more started behind the elite (irrespective of time).The fact that half the M-way was closed for repairs added to the woes. Add to that the inefficient orgaisation of baggage buses, buses at the finish,collection of goodies post race and uninspiring course ....
However it is a matter of opinion, GNR is an event rather than a race, and well done to all those who ran it .
I am interested to know what the inefficiencies, specifically, were though ?
I personally would say the GSR is uninspiring as it is flat, 3.1 miles shorter than the GNR and only has a fifth of the participation.
As you say, it is a matter of opinion....but I would suggest an opinion that can be justified is more highly regarded.
Dean
I thought in my comment I indicated several inefficiencies regarding starting positions, baggage buses , buses at the finish , starting positions of 5x GNRers, unco-ordinated collection of T-shirts,water,and so on at the finish.
I could go into detail but I think if you care to read other threads on this topic that I'm probably not the only one who thinks that organisation is lacking.
I'm happy to elaborate so I belive that my opinion can be justified. Furthermore I never said the GSR was great - however it does have two distinct advantages : no material problems crossing the start (which was my comment in answer to the previous thread), and a course where it is possible to run a pb.
Might be an idea for the organisers to think of. The do put a lot of effort into it and this could work.
We put down a time of 2 1/2 and only took three minutes to get over the start line.
I can only assume that it wasn't this year you did the GNR because the t-shirts, etc. were all in one bag - just like this year's GSR. There was also plenty of water both at the finish and all the stations along the way. The GSR also has just as bad traffic problems as the GNR as anyone who did it last year and vainly hoped they had improved things this year, will bear witness.
But a fantastic experience. I still have the last of a very bad cold and stumbled across the line in 2hrs 52 mins. I was aiming for 2:15 but hey-ho.
Next year will be sub 2hrs!