It was a great experience to run with her again, she is awesome. But more about that tomorrow. Today I want to ask everyone, "What determines a good race for you?"I ask this because I was very unhappy with the "Run For Vaughan" event and I was not the biggest fan of a few other races I have ran. But the "Run For Vaughan" was by far the WORST race ever!
The racing scene is mainly made up of the BIG MEGA races, and then there are the smaller races which I have found alot more seemed to have popped up in the last few years. Can anyone just plan a running event?
The "Run For Vaughan" event was an event to help fund a new to-be-built hospital in the city of Vaughan. I thought it was a great cause for a great city where I have many friends who reside there. I saw the sponsors listed and I saw where the parking was being held, a Muslim Mosque, but nowhere did it say it was completely organized my the Muslim Mosque.
Now I have nothing against religions, I have my own and people can believe whatever they want to believe, even though I believe if there weren't so many religions in our society, it would be a much happier and safer society, but that is another issue.
When people try to push their religion on me, I have an issue. The washrooms for this event were located in the mosque. Women in the basement and men upstairs. YUP, I have an issue with that! I have an issue with anyone or any institution that belittle women. When I went to the dungeon to use the washroom my husband came with me and was told he had to go upstairs. SERIOUSLY! Do not hold a public event with non-muslim individuals and expect them to follow asinine rules. For your info he did not leave until I was done and leaving.
So that was issue number 1. Secondly this event was TOTALLY UNORGANIZED. The start was a guy on a speaker saying, "One more Minute"...."Okay GO".....no siren, no noise maker what so ever.
There were people running the 10K that had never ran before. How do I know? They started ahead of me and I passed them as they were dying in pain because they have no idea what it is to run and train for a run. When you have people running in jeans, dress shoes, you know they are completely unprepared for this. Also there were many nofinishers on the 10K and the 3K.
The water stations had no rhyme or reason. There was a water station at the first 0.3 of a mile and then they had one at the middle of a down hill on the way out and it was at the middle of the uphill on the way back. What runner will stop half way up or down a hill to get water? I like to know where my water stations are so I can plan accordingly, but on this race I had no idea.
There was NO spectator support. The race volunteers on the course and the volunteers at the water stations were like mannequins. Not a smile, no words of encouragement, nothing.
The 3K consisted of runners and walkers and they allowed the walkers to be at the front of the line. I had to tell my daughter that we would hold hands for the first bit just so I would not lose her and we could get through the crowds of people that should be well behind us.
No etiquette on the course. The individuals that you could tell were seasoned runners were fine but the others had no etiquette what so ever. I smashed into so many people, especially on the 3K because they would stop dead in their track. WTF!!!!!! Seriously! There were so many kids running the 3K and it looked like someone let them out of a cage....they were running like crazy people. Run, stop, run, go to one side, go to another, no respect for anyone else running. People throwing water cups right beside them, not off to the side, it was terrible. Honestly it was a very dangerous ran in my opinion. I had to talk my daughter around all these inconsiderate people so that she didn't get hurt.
I believe this race was mainly for the Muslim community and the members of the Mosque BUT nowhere was that stated because there is no way in HELL I would run this event. I was soooo disappointed because this was NOT A RACE, this was a CIRCUS! I left there feeling like I had wasted my time. Luckily I had also ran the 3K with my daughter and that made up for alot of the disappointment I felt but I now realize why they had a 3K. You don't see 3Ks very often but it was a way to get most of their mosque members involved.
Can I also mention there was NO medal again. What is it with these races and no medals, that's two this year.
Needless to say I will NEVER run this race again!
Sorry to post such a downer post but I promise tomorrows post will be just alittle bit uplifting!
I'm so sorry the race didn't turn out the way you hoped. And you're right . . . the should mention if the race is being sponsored by a particular religious organization.
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks. Maybe it's worthwhile sending an e-mail to the organizers? Let them know how a proper race should be organized - it'll only help them in the long run if they want to do it again.
ReplyDeletewow! crazy! i was going to run this race but im glad i did not. im glad that i was injured and did not to test out my knee at that race.
ReplyDeletewhat a bummer. thnx for letting us know. i will never to that race now.
sucks!
aneta, who also cannot post comments. hahahha
There are good and bad and a lot of how we experience a race isn't just on our performance but the supporters, the organization of the event and the racers themselves. But I think sometimes you have to try to smile, it will make you feel better. You're blessed to be able to run and every run, every race we should be thankful we can do it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the religious "frustration", we're all different and need to respect each other's Faith. I know those who belittle women or other races, even cultures are wrong in my book, but I refuse to let them upset my day. It takes more out of me to be upset and sad than it does to smile and be grateful.
You're so lucky to be able to run with your daughter. What fun!