A veteran's suggestions on the Rock 'n Sole: Go south.
More than 6,500 people participated in the inaugural Rock ‘n Sole on Sunday, creating 6,500 opinions on how to improve the races that the director contritely admits were seriously flawed.
I’ve participated in other races – notably the Madison Marathon – where the medical tent filled up quickly with runners needing IV solutions because of dehydration and heat exhaustion. I’ve also put myself in a bad situation and made a late-night trip to an emergency room by pushing myself beyond my body’s capacity.
Those experiences give me a veteran’s perspective on the trial and error in endurance sports.
Now recovered, somewhat, from a tough half-marathon in the difficult conditions on Sunday, here are my thoughts on the Rock ‘n Sole.
(Also, check out this post by Trenni Kusnierek, the WTMJ-AM 620 sportscaster who passed me at the 12-mile mark)
Hydration: The lack of cups and fluids on the course is inexcusable, as many participants have noted. That’s easily correctable, and I would expect the problem to be solved next year. The focus needs to be on the participants in the middle and back of the pack.
On that note, I also think participants should take steps to ensure they have a back up (water bottle, Camelbak, etc.), they have trained sufficiently, and adjust to the conditions.
The numbers: In hindsight, it probably would have been wise to cap the field at 5,000 and allow the logistical flaws to be worked out without the overwhelming numbers. Even in year two, a limit on the field would give organizers a firm number for planning - supplies, shirts etc. - weeks before the start date.
The Hoan: Organizers of both the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts and the Rock ‘n Sole cited a lack of time for set up on the bridge as a problem that prevented a smooth start and flow of traffic early in the events. The arrangements with the Department of Transportation should allow for more time for those logistics. Traffic volumes on the bridge are light in the early-morning, and it seems the organizers should have access at first daylight, if not earlier.
The distance: Again in hindsight, the first running of the Rock ‘n Sole would have been easier to manage as a 10K without the half-marathon. The attraction of the longer race is clear: the half-marathon is the fast-growing distance in running. But the staging of start times for the two races and the longer run were pitfalls that could have been avoided in the first go.
Go south: Running the half-marathon course through the Bay View neighborhood and returning along the Oak Leaf Trail through South Shore Park would provide more shaded areas and more crowd support. Lincoln Memorial Dr. is a beautiful place to run, but it lacks the atmosphere created when people stand in their front yards and offer cheers, cold liquids and a good dousing from a garden hose.
Plus, the half-marathon finish would include that blast down the Hoan back to the Summerfest grounds.
25 Comments for "A veteran's suggestions on the Rock 'n Sole: Go south."
Respect your training level, DNQ or walk before you get into big trouble, wear a hat to keep your head shaded, and carry water!
DansMom Jul 11, 2011 11:18 AM
mkerunner711 Jul 11, 2011 11:28 AM
a problem. A bit of a bottle neck and then all of the tables with water, fruit,
etc... were so close to the finish line that it made runners congregate and
back up. Being stuck in that hot steamy mass of humanity is where I almost
lost it.
daddy needs a drink Jul 11, 2011 12:00 PM
Carrying your own water is expected during trail ultras where aid stations
cannot be provided every 1 to 2 miles. In a road race with aid stations
every 1 to 1.5 miles, expecting water at them is like expecting an engine
in the car you buy.
I can somewhat understand when a May or October race has unexpected
unseasonably warm conditions, and adequate water isn't available, but
yesterday's conditions were standard issue for July in Wisconsin. There is
no excuse for not having enough cups and water.
runner chick Jul 11, 2011 12:07 PM
veteran racer, I would never show up to a hot race without my own H2O.
Granted many people may not have known that. Madison has been
running their marathon for years and still can't get the water right at hot
races, why would a first run race get everything right? I knew that going
in, I expect the glitches to be fixed next year, Summerfest knows how to
handle people, they just didn't understand the issues with the Hoan and
how many volunteers would be needed at the aid stations.
katrs Jul 11, 2011 1:03 PM
I absolutley agree with this. When you enter a race and pay the entry fee you expect the basics to be provided. This includes water at set intervals. This allows runners to not have to carry their own water and be free to run without having to carry a bottle or have on a camelback. What happend was inexcusable. If you want to carry your own water more power to you, but to say someone should be prepared and do so in anticipation of there being no water is just wrong.
spdsktr5 Jul 11, 2011 1:11 PM
ksjc Jul 11, 2011 1:32 PM
hotpocket Jul 11, 2011 2:07 PM
J.M. Jul 11, 2011 2:53 PM
J.M. Jul 11, 2011 2:55 PM
Extra water bottle, my foot! Carrying water on a run does slow you down
(what a silly thing to say otherwise, hotpocket) -- that's called a training
run. I can run a marathon out my door anytime I want, but a race is fun
partly to see how fast you can go.
How far do people want to take this "personal responsibility" mantra?
(And it is a mantra, it is not based on a complete rational analysis).
What about a marathon that runs out of water, and maybe promised food
or gel? Clock broken -- should have brought your own watch. Course
mismarked: bring a map. Fun challenged when training, but you are
missing the point that this is a product people paid money for -- up to
$100!
At the same this weekend, dozens of folks were out at the Hardrock 100
in Colorado, for up to 48 hours. An aid station (hours apart) running out
of supplies would have been an emergency -- but doesn't happen when
people competent in logistics are running the show.
I do think/hope they'll get it right next time, though.
madcoca Jul 11, 2011 3:12 PM
$20 cheaper, told everyone to bring their own water, and people could have
made an informed decision and planned accordingly.
Instead, they did not receive the experience they were promised.
madcoca Jul 11, 2011 3:14 PM
Running out of water and cups is inexcusable but come on already...
tobias Jul 11, 2011 4:06 PM
Prepared? I prepared by being properly trained, and finding out where the
aid stations would be, as does any responsible runner. We are not
complaining that it was hot. I enjoyed that challenge. The problem is
when a race promises to provide something absolutely necessary, and fails
to do so.
If you pay for and attend an all day conference where they said they
would provide lunch, and then at lunch time they had no food, should we
blame YOU if you are hungry, and tell you that you should have brought
your own lunch?
runner chick Jul 11, 2011 4:11 PM