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Re: Mission Inn Run 2011 Reviews

guest — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:07:05 GMT

I do not think I have ever been so frustrated by a race ever. My 21st half marathon was not an actual half marathon so at this point I am angry let me tell you why:

1.- The course was about a mile short. Why because at the turn around point someone screwed up we should have ran about another half a mile and then turned around. If we had been told hey were having issues unlocking this gate I would have gladly turned back near the finish or some other point on the course and ran the missing distance. The fact race officials had no clue and insisted the course was not short then fessed up via Facebook that the course was short, a USTAF certified course no less is unacceptable. The organizers really just dropped the ball here. There is just no excuse for not being able to read a map and making sure the course that was certified no less was accurate.

2.- There was no water at the finish. What the heck people who just ran a supposed half marathon need at the very least some water.

3.- At some points on the course aid stations were few and far between. At some points you had to run about 3 miles before you could get water.

4.- There were barely any officials on the course. Besides that we were on a narrow bike path and there were cyclists there a few nearly ran over my daughter. The course should have been closed off to cyclists. This is a serious safety issue.

5.- The lack of porta potties especially on the course, I recall seeing only one. I feel real bad for anyone who really had to go especially the ladies you had no choice but to hold it. Anyone who had a case of the runners trots was were literally up the creek without a paddle.

6.- The course was advertised as flat and fast, usually that is bs and here that sentiment it is true. In the end the elevation loss and gain were even so I guess they thought that constituted as flat. The issue is parts of the course especially the first 4 miles and the last few were basically rolling hills at some points that is not flat.

7.-The 10k merges with the half for the last 2.5 miles. Nuff said.

8.- =The course for the most part was very boring and uninspiring.

Overall this was a poorly organized and executed race. I am also hearing the elites were stiffed on their prize money. At the very least I think the organizers need to fix the course issues and offer all 2011 half marathon participants free or a reduced price entry fee to show they can hold a good race and make it up to those of us who were basically sold short.

Re: 5th Annual Freedom Run at the Ranch Reviews

guest — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:51:37 GMT

Todd I think it is great you are lending some constructive criticism. Personlly I would rather run a race that is close to home than drive to Laguna Niguel and particpate in the YMCA's race. You have to understand you can't label this a fun run for a few reasons. There is chip timing, awards, and finally it draws in some cross country runners from the local schools who finish pretty quickly. There seems to be much competition at this race. With that said there will always be a mix of seasoned runners and the weekend warrior types. While the RD cannot regulate stupidity he sure as heck used his bullhorn to keep people off the course, which is stupidity in my book. He could have used that same bull horn to enforce the suggestion made on the races website that strollers stay to the side. I'm not trying to agrue with you or anything but you are stating something that could easily be taken care. It's simple follow the rules or get off the course. I had some run in with strollers, saw some and heard about some here. I think its great if you want to run with a stroller but please follow the rules stroller runners. It's simple this race needs a big sponsor to provide water and snacks and fix some other issues. This race also needs to send out some officals on bikes to see what is going on like the bigger races do, observe and report and improve. The biggest issue here is that the race itself is disorangized, I think that Ladera Legs needs to hire someone with experice to consult. You made some excellent points. I like the fact this race is smaller and do not want to see it go. Yet I tried for 3 years to like this race and made what I thought was wrong known and nothing has changed. I even emailed the RD to ask a simple question about the results and got no reply. It's simple communication is a two way street and until the RD and organizers start to communicate with those who have attended this event and who do not want to see it go things will stay the same. I think it will be back last year for the sheer fact race attendance is up nationally and as long as there is a race people will show up. May I add that on the site for the race there is no link to the offical results. Look I want to run this again but unless the RD starts talking and telling us what they are doing to improve things I will not be back.

Re: 5th Annual Freedom Run at the Ranch Reviews

guest — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:48:32 GMT

Todd this is not that big of a race so putting a strict time limit on each event would have solved the problem. The event is small there are not a lot of runners I do not even think there was a need for seperate starts. If so the 5k could have started 10-15 mins after the 10k. I've lost track of how many races I have particpated in over the past few years but I know its about 30-40. You are right you cannot control the weather but you can control other factors, one being that during the summer start times should be as early as possible. I get it you like the event but still you need to understand that not everyone who enters these races are seasoned runners and that it is irresponsible not to warn others of an issue that poses a valid threat to ones health. Some people just run these things not knowing better and end up getting sick or injured. It would be wrong not to warn others that starting an event late during the heat is a bad idea.

Re: 5th Annual Freedom Run at the Ranch Reviews

guest — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:57:09 GMT

J. that statement is offensive. Plenty of the 5k runners are in excellent shape. The only diffrence between the 5k and 10k particpants was the distance they chose. Even 10k's,half marathons and marathons have their fair share of out of shape runners. I agree the races need to start earlier and best of luck to you.

Re: 5th Annual Freedom Run at the Ranch Reviews

guest — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:54:19 GMT

I really wanted to like this event. I ran it in 2009 and thought it was pretty bad but gave it another shot in 2010 and disliked it even more. Its a shame because this race is close to home. I was hesitant to run this event again this year but I had heard that the race organizers had made some improvements. If they did it was not noticeable. Nothing has changed this year was terrible. This race is poorly organized. The 5k and 10k race started late again (3rd year in row the races started late) they changed it so the 5k starts after the 10k. I usually run the 10k but I do not like the fact the course is a loop with the first mile and a half being almost solely uphill. We had to wait for all of the 10k participants to finish before the 5k could start. By then it was hot. No one lined up according to pace and a woman with a running stroller ran into me and my daughter. According to race etiquette and safety, strollers should line up in the back. No one enforced this and no one with strollers stayed to the side as it is posted on the race website strollers should stay to the side. Water at the aid stations was in buckets and put into cups by volunteers sticking their bare hands into the bucket of water. There were no bottles of water at the finish line the girl told me there was no water luckily I saw someone with a cup and found a table where there was water. There was also nothing offered to eat at the finish most races will offer you a bagel or a half of a banana. I do not know why I bothered coming back after last year. I know this race is put on for a good cause and funds are limited but that is no excuse for poor planning and organization. The volunteers were nice and that is the only reason I gave this race 2 stars instead of one. If perhaps the races started earlier when it was cooler and started on time and the issue of post race drinks was resolved (there was no water last year either) this event would be a solid three star event. If you are thinking of running it plan ahead and make sure you have some water and a snack in you car. This is also very important the directions on the race website state "Next, make a RIGHT onto Avendale Boulevard" you cannot do that because Avendale is closed to traffic for the race! Why in the world can't they give accurate directions? Your better off taking a right at the next light on O'Neil and taking the first right and parking on the street and walking to the start. I feel bad leaving a bad review because the money raised does go to Laura's House a worthy charity, but in all honesty I would feel worse if I did not warn any one else. I'm not saying to stay away from this event altogether but if your planning on running it in 2012 please supply yourself and prepare to run in the July heat.

Re: Southern California Half Marathon & 5K Reviews

guest — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:55:52 GMT

Ok I went up a star this year only because it seems the race organizers tried to improve things a bit. I freely admit the SRLA kids are a problem they have no race etiquette, and make a boring course less enjoyable. On the paths their behavior caused a lot of problems some of them running 3-4 abreast and not allowing anyone to pass, yelling loudly, being rude, etc. At one point on the bottle necked trails one group put out their elbows trying to prevent me from passing them. What made me mad was the fact they were walking off with cases of soda from the post race food table. My husband and daughter did the 5k while I ran the half and they said anyone could walk up and take food. Last year there was nothing to drink and old bananas at the finish. Come on, I know the race organizers read these reviews. Is it really that hard to ensure that those who actually paid entry fees get some food at the finish and make it clear to the SRLA leaders that their kids need to behave themselves? This is the second year I've had the same complaint, and I'm not alone look at last years reviews. The start improved slightly this year because signs were put up according to pace but were on trees where many did not see them. Would it hurt to put up a real sign in the road where everyone could see? Secondly the half marathoners towards the middle and back could not hear the announcer we did not even really know that the race was starting. I know the race cannot force others to be considerate but they could enforce the rules when it comes to the food. That means only let the runners eat it since we did pay for it. Secondly I know the race director cannot control the SRLA kids but come on, they show up every year and every year they cause issues. Would it be asking too much to perhaps tell the SRLA organization to supervise their students better and to teach them manners? If this keeps up many of the runners who continue to run this race will go elsewhere. When they do this race will have no one left to run it.

Re: Event Reviews

guest — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:25:30 GMT

Alan Gaskell wrote:

Everyone of the reviews I have read mentioned the "chaos" of the 5/10K and walkers starting together...this was supposed to be a fun run/walk. It was not supposed to be overly competative. People should be able to come out and enjoy it for what it was: A fun day running/walking through the backlot. Slow down and enjoy the day everyone. Save the serious competion for a serious competion.

I think your forgetting the mass email sent out on the 4th telling us this race was going to be competitive and if you were not competing to line up towards the back. While I knew I was not going win anything I wanted to run hard and try my best to finish in a respectable amount of time. A lot of runners do care about thier finish time and at pretty much any running event there is serious compeition that is why there were prizes. Your idea of fun may be running at a leisurely pace and tolerating those who do not follow the rules but to some that is not fun at all. This was and is a race as the name clearly implies.

Re: Event Reviews

guest — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:20:46 GMT

I have got to say I have never peen so pissed off before a race has started in my life. Many of the participants had no respect for the feelings of others which is sad. First of all security would not let anyone down near the start area to warm up and when they finally let everyone down there it was a free for all. Walkers lining up in the front of the chute. No one was lining up according to projected pace and this is dangerous. My daughter was almost run over because a faster runner in a hurry to catch up was stuck in the crowed behind her. He missed her by inches! Please line up according to pace! People were talking so loudly in the corral we could not hear the announcer. There were even people acting like the corral was a bar posing for pictures, getting in the way, being loud, rude, and very inconsiderate. Secondly by the time I was done all of the free drinks were gone. There was a ton of Snapple and Coke Zero before we started and even then people started drinking it and taking more than one. I was really looking forward to a Coke or even an Iced Tea at the finish and to my surprise there was none left. Another issue that ticked me off was that the race started about 15 mins late. We also traveled to LA from Orange County so we left early and arrived very early we were the first people to get our race packets and we heard the race officials lecturing the volunteers who wanted to give us our shirts, bibs, and goody bags a few mins early. The thing here is the race itself was ok the course was a bit on the hilly side and all but overall it was the people who made this race unpleasant. Not everything was bad there were plenty of water stations and porta potties at the start , though I only recall seeing one on the course. The main thing here is please get some of these issues worked out for safety's sake. Perhaps since there were much less walkers for the 10k you should start that race on time and perhaps 15 mins before the 5k to help ease congestion and make the race safer. If not at least make people line up according to pace! Walkers belong in the back! Please for pity's sake start the race on time next year.

Re: 2010 Dana Point Turkey Trot Reviews

guest — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:31:00 GMT

I know for a fact dogs are not allowed on the course. As far as strollers go the usual rule is that for everyone's safety that they line up at the back and start in the last wave. The rules for this race stated that strollers start in the back. I am not usually one of those people who gets all high and mighty about the rules but on this course which was packed for the most part I think if we do not follow the rules someone will end up getting hurt. Secondly as a parent I know how hard it is to get a sitter my kid was there with me but she was running. She was the youngest female runner in the race but she ran the whole race and never once disturbed another runner. She trained hard for the 10k ( she's already run a few 5k's and has been running for over a year ) and I do not think it was fair that she had to avoid stepping in dog crap on the course. Just like everyone else her entry was paid for and she followed the rules. I'm sorry but the last thing I want to hear is a screaming baby. As a a parent myself I know how hard it is to get out to run with kids but they should be your first priority. If your baby is crying very loudly stop and tend to them then continue running. Do not continue with a screaming baby and disturb other runners who are trying to have fun and enjoy a beautiful course.

http://www.turkeytrot.com/tellmemore.shtml

100free wrote:

1. Too many people, please consider waves by age group or by expected/goal finish time.
2. Start waves 5 minutes apart to allow field to spread and avoid the bottle necks at the narrow spots of the course.
3. Place mile markers at their accurate locations. You advertise a 10 km certified course, act accordingly and place the mile markers where they belong.
4. I'm OK with dogs, cats, baby joggers, but perhaps they should start in the last wave for their safety and the safety of others.
5. Fun event, well organized, it has just grown to such a large size that it will require more work to be organized the way it should be.
Cheers!

Re: 2010 Dana Point Turkey Trot Reviews

guest — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:17:25 GMT

Ok I am going to make this as short and sweet as possible. This was my 2nd year at the 10k and my 8 year old and husband were running with me. Even my 8 year old was appalled that there were screaming babies on the course. I feel for you if you want to run and cant get a sitter but really, your baby should be your priority if he/she is crying stop running thanks. Secondly the mile markers were way off. There needs to be another water station for the 10k. NO DOGS! Seriously during a race I paid for the last thing I want is having to avoid stepping I your dogs crap! Secondly the course is already packed please leave Fido at home. The last thing bugging me is the finish? Why in the hell should I be stuck in the chute for 10 mins? Seriously what if I was sick or had to get to a bathroom? What am I supposed to do puke or pee there in the chute? Seriously isn't there a fire code or something like that they are violating. Seriously for what I paid I expect better. Come one Run Racing do something.