I received the following comment from Atty Jon Lacanlale, one of the top finishers in the 1st Edition of the DBM 102 on my post entitled "Logistics vs. Integrity"
My two cents worth.
Perhaps, you may want to consider raising the fee at a reasonable rate to cover additional expenses? I mean that is what fees are for anyway. This will translate to more personnel and additional aid stations to help those who may not have vehicles to support them especially those foreign participants.
In 1st BDM102, some of us runners were lucky to have support crew and vehicles but most runners did not have. I am sure runners will understand the increase if they know the reasons for it.
Ideally, you may want to have aid stations in close proximity especially during the later stages of the race. Like, 1st aid station will be after 15km, then 25Km, 35km and so on. I will even suggest to have aid stations after every 5km after the 75km mark as this is the time when the sun is so hot and runners are reduced to walking sticks.
Other than few aid stations, the 1st BDM102 was a success. Thanks.
Jon
The following is my reply to the comment of Atty Jon:
Thanks for the suggestions, Atty Jon! Much that we want to apply and add some more aid station as compared as to what we did in the 1st edition, I have observed that 90% of the runners have their support vehicle even up to the extent of having a lot of pacers & support crews. We have observed also that what was good to eat and drink for me as a runner might not be good to other runners as each of these runners had experimented what is best for them during their training and for the race and they have these items with them in their respective support vehicles. One thing more, the food and drinks we prepared were also given to the runners' pacers and support crew which was supposed to be exclusively for the runners.
I just want simplicity in the conduct of this race and foremost, maintain an integrity in this race. Let us raise the bar for this event. The registration fee is just enough for the medals, trophy, finisher's shirt, coordination expenses and a small token to the marshals and my staff. There will be no more cash prizes for the winners. Finishing the race will be for prestige and our contribution in honoring our heroes. If there are sponsors who can help us with the logistics support system and willing to transport them to the race route area, then, we can bring back those Aid Stations.
With the foreign runners, they can arrange for their "rent a car" with driver through their travel agencies and they could arrive here earlier to buy their provisions. If they need a support crew, we can pay somebody to assist them charge to the account of the runner. These foreign runners know already what to expect and they know what to do. Our experience last year was really a logistics "nightmare". Anyway, there is enough time for the foreign runners to make their travel arrangements. This is true also to the local runners, they have enough time to look for their support vehicle or form a team of four runners as I allow a maximum of 4 runners with one Van as their support vehicle. thanks for the comment.
If the readers have any suggestions or comment about the conduct of the 2nd BDM 102, please feel free to post any comment in this blog.
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