Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 131, June 2020 June 2020 | Page 35

primarily the same, but the rate of infection is considerably different, and if allowed
to go unchecked, could overwhelm medical resources.
On the other hand, if controlled and catered for, the impact should not be
that much higher than other causes of death in Africa. That’s an impossible
conversation, of course, with anyone who loses a loved one or family member,
but in cold essence, the challenge is one of minimising risk and developing
mechanisms to control the outcomes. Thus regulations are fluid documents
rewritten every day, taking into account new experience.
In all sports, the risk factor will never be zero – for example, the risk of a vehicle
accident in triathlon, cycling or road running – but in every case, it can be reduced.
It ultimately comes down to a balance of the cost of implementing a measure
to reduce or remove the risk, versus the level of risk. Taking all risks to as low
as possible and having processes and action plans in place for when the risk
becomes a reality are the key priorities in managing our way forward in this new era
of medical infection management. In cold terms, it’s simply another assessment
that we need to incorporate into normal event management.
Changes to Prepare For
‘Contact’ will probably be the key word of the future in the running event industry.
The risk of infection centres on contact with items, surfaces and people, so
minimising contact is one of the goals in risk reduction. Therefore, registration, start
and finish are some of the key areas, and how we manage the flow of people will
be important. All of these will require clear, direct communication and education to
participants, crew and authorities alike.
On the day entries bring unpredictable gatherings, so pre-entry will probably be the
norm or standard, and race number collection will likely be replaced by delivery or
drive-through, or by using rigid time schedules. In some countries, certainly in the
Middle East and India, it is already common for runners to have to enter the ‘venue
zone’ through metal detectors. This has not been seen in SA, but a similar process
with temperature testing may well be a measure introduced in the immediate future.
Starts will be an extension of the contender system, whereby those racing for
prizes and elite or age performance will gain priority over those running for
recreation or personal goals and objectives. Social distancing in any area will be
the order of the day, and innovative mechanisms to achieve this will evolve as
the sport finds its feet again. Venues will either be bigger, or fields smaller, and
movement more controlled, while the size of the field will be restricted, and race
distances may initially be reduced to minimise the challenges of runner support.
The relatively unique experience of a South African (or Indian) post-race gathering
will initially tend to disappear and our events will become more like the major
city events around the world, where one simply crosses the finish line, walks on,
collects a sanitised bag of essentials, and leaves as soon as possible from the
venue. Tog bags will probably become something for your own self-keeping,
and medals and handouts will likely be delivered days or even weeks later. Also,
officials and event staff will have their own separately sanitised areas, and there will
be a whole process of testing, monitoring and procedures for when an infectious
patient is detected.
Gaming the Rules
All of the above, and much more, is possible, and probably the best means of that
is through smaller club type events, where even the professional companies will
gain from a process of testing, sharing and educating. But South Africa’s biggest
challenge, and indeed the risk to the return of our sport, is not in finding solutions,
but in ‘gaming the rules.’
We have, in the past three decades, enforced by the need for regime-change in the
1980’s, adopted a policy of questioning rules, and instead of finding ways to work
within processes, people have tried to find ways ‘around’ the rules, regulations and
processes. If that is the approach taken by even the smallest percentage of runners
to a race organiser’s event processes, there is every likelihood that the impact will
not only be a failure of that specific event, but to the sport as a whole.
Road races take place in a myriad of circumstance and few are exactly the same,
so there will be no simple cut-and-dry repeatable processes. Each event will have
different solutions until some new norms can be established. Thus races will require
not only safety officers, but on-site COVID/infection officers monitoring the event,
with the total authority to call halt at any time. Furthermore, event evaluation and
risk assessment is likely to be a national requirement, and certification probably a
federation (ASA via the provinces) requirement prior to entries opening.
It is going to be vital for runners of all levels to change their approach, in order
to adhere rigorously to race rules and instructions such that the event can move
forward smoothly. Linked to that is that race organisers will have a far greater
responsibility and requirement to be able to communicate exactly and precisely
with each runner, to explain exactly how and what they are expected to do and
when. There can no longer be ‘special people’ or exceptions, as they will destroy
the planning and put the event and others at risk.
Positive Outlook Needed
It goes without saying that the early months of a return to races will have the
most difficult challenges to overcome, and the requirements and measures can
only evolve with the willing buy-in of the runners. This means that self- and peerpolicing
are the only way our sport can progress, so that unacceptable behaviour
or practises can be called out and prevented on the day, while post-event audits
and reviews will look for better ways forward.
We can sit back and continue to cancel events, and write the year off, or we
can start with small ambitions, adopt a responsible approach and attitude, and
commence our innovation, planning and preparation to make our way back. This
positive risk-assessment and mitigation approach will allow us to present a solid
case to the authorities and allow the return as soon as viably possible. But in the
end, we are our own biggest threat: If we as runners and support personnel are not
willing to comply, then we will self-destruct our own progress.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Norrie represented Scotland and Great Britain in
numerous ultra-distance events, then emigrated and represented South Africa in
triathlon. He is an IAAF-accredited coach and course measurer, and travels all over
the world to work on events, including the Olympics. He has authored two books
(Everyman’s Guide to Distance Running and Every Beginner’s Guide to Walking
& Running), and counts 21 Comrades medals amongst his more than 150 ultramarathon
medals. You can read more from him at www.coachnorrie.co.za.
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