Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 120, July 2019 | Page 38

However, there are also cases where it is not better
to have more runners. When the numbers grow too
high, the risks increase, because every road has
a reasonable capacity. Every case is unique, but a
hypothetical 6.5m-wide normal two-lane road with no
pavements, used in a marathon with a cut-off time
of six hours, may have a peak running field at seven
minutes per kay. The space a runner needs to be
running free is debatable, but as an indication based
on track running, we can say that each fast-moving
runner requires around 0.9 square metres. This means
that at peak time, that road cannot hold more than
around 1000 runners per minute.
However, what is far more important than the
inconvenience of running on packed roads, and
which should be a major concern for race organisers,
is the potential effect on medical response time. A
maximum of three minutes’ response time is around
the standard for cardio conditions, but how does one
get an ambulance through the field if the width of the
road is taken over by runners? Realistically, it requires
a 6.5m road to be reduced to a maximum of 850
runners per minute to ensure medical support can find
a path through at peak time.
Similarly, if water or other resources run out, getting
vehicles through to address such issues is vital.
It’s pointless saying this should not happen; it’s
still something that needs to be planned for, and
having room for vehicle access is vital, so this sort
of planning should be applied to determine the
maximum size of a field. Unfortunately, maximum
field size is overlooked by many organisers, who
tend to focus more on an almost mythical impact of
entry fees: Every extra runner brings in extra income
for the race, but the event then incurs extra costs in
water, fencing at the start, timing fees and numbers,
plus T-shirts, medals and bags, not to mention the
admin fees. The positive financial impact of taking
extra runners diminishes rapidly, particularly if these
are late entries that risk disrupting the logistical and
organisational flow of the event.
What Drives the Desire?
With tight economic times, including reluctant
sponsors who can usually achieve better return on
investment with online marketing and promotional
strategies, many South African events are scrambling
to declare greater numbers. In the case of the Cape
Town Marathon, there is also a desire to be the first
African event to achieve IAAF Platinum Label status,
which requires (amongst other things) that the event
must:
• Achieve 15,000 finishers, so around 18,000
entries are required to allow for dropout rates.
• Attract at least 900 entries from outside SA.
• Be open to disabled athletes.
• Provide a stipulated ratio of porta-loos at start
and finish.
• Meet stipulated minimum standards of elite
athletes.
A further stipulation for any IAAF Label status is media
exposure in terms of live national broadcasts and
streaming to other countries and territories, meaning
that these events create more attractive exposure
opportunities, and hence investments, for sponsors.
Thus the Cape Town Marathon, and possibly the FNB
City Series events, could easily soon outweigh and
outplay the commercial attraction of Comrades and
Two Oceans.
The reality is that big changes are coming to South
African road running, and the numbers game is
moving into full swing. Now organisers need to decide
if “Bigger is always more Beautiful,” or whether the
increased risks outplay the sensationalism. For many
events, a true analysis may show that “Quality is
better than Quantity,” but it’s all about vision and
understanding the opportunities for market position.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Norrie has represented Scotland, Great Britain and South Africa in ultra-distance running and triathlon, and he is an IAAF-accredited coach
and course measurer. You can read more from him at www.coachnorrie.co.za.
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ISSUE 120 JULY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
We have all seen this in action at the start of larger
marathons held in residential areas: A marathon
with 5000 runners will totally take over the road for
the first several kilometres. Of course, as the race
continues, so the running becomes easier, safer and
less demanding of road space, but this concern is
exacerbated by the modern trend to run in big buses
that stay together and so continue their domination of
road width. Photos of Comrades buses, particularly
on the Down Run between Ashburton and Cato
Ridge, exemplify the challenge of space, and other
runners’ attempts to pass these buses.