First let me say that the organizers have made efforts to make the marathon better in more ways than one. In 2016, I ran 18 kilometers without a drop of water to drink as there were only three water points over the 18 kilometers and by the time I got to each one, the water had finished. From 2017 this was corrected with water points at every 2.5kms and the sponsorship deal with Aquafina that ensured enough water for everyone. Also worthy of note is the decision to begin the marathon without the pomp and pageantry of the Governor’s flag off in 2017 and 2018 as against the delay in waiting for Ambo in 2016. In equal measure is the brilliant idea to begin the race at 6:30am which limits the time some of us, especially Nigerians will spend under the sun trying to finish the 42kms race (ignore the Kenyans that finish in just over 2 hours, they are not human, they are Kenyans!!). Traffic management was better in 2018 as I saw vehicular movement was allowed on lanes not used for the race unlike last year when both lanes were grounded to a halt (man must wack, marathon or not).
Issues
Before I mention the issues that I believe can be improved on next year, let me be the first to admit that the Lagos city Marathon is still at its infancy compared to other notable and established marathons. While ours is just 3 years old, the Paris marathon is 41 years old, London is 37 years and Chicago is 41 years old. However, I believe a smart person learns from his mistakes but a wise person learns from the mistake of others. There is nothing new about organizing these races, people have done it before and are still doing it. We can get it right. Let me list the issues for ease of identification:
• Collection of Bibs: Why do we have one centre in the whole of Lagos for this simple process? The day I collected my bib at Teslim Stadium the queue was as long as the snake that swallowed N36m in Benue! My saving grace was the woman that saw the way I was dressed and said “Oga come this way make these boys no delay you from work” I thought she would say “Anything for the girls” like you know who…..but she didn’t. God bless her.
• Route Mapping: For the sake of all that is good why is the description of the race route on the official website different from the map? http://www.lagoscitymarathon.com/routes-maps/. This error has been on this website for at least 2 years. We can do better.
• Water Points: I believe we saw close to 20 water points, this is very good and commendable, however, considering the budget for the marathon (I really don’t know, do you?) I believe it won’t be out of place to have cold water. At kilometer 30 under the wicked Lagos sun, the last thing one needs is “hot” bottle of water or 7up!!
• Medical: I had massive cramps from kilometer 24 to the end of the race this year and received medical attention twice. It is perhaps more common for runners to need medical attention towards the end of the race. Last Saturday, I needed a pat down to ease the cramps, got one at about Kilometer 26 and another on Ozumba when I ran into an ambulance that stopped to attend to an injured runner. This is a set back from 2017 where I saw more medical stations. It should be forward ever please.
• Medals: So I mostly ran and walked some distance covering over 42kms and didn’t get a medal at the venue. Guess why? There was none!! I saw many that ran the 10km race leaving the venue with a sense of accomplishment, swag and a medal. Oh please, someone should tell these 10kms people that they didn’t run a marathon biko. 10kms is what we (Marathon runners) use as appetizer on a Monday morning when we are not in the mood. How did some people register runners and not provide enough logistics, security arrangements or medals for them? I got one last year, are we progressing or retrogressing?
• BRT Buses and their ilk: Ok I think the idea to evacuate tired legs from the road using BRT buses may be a good one to avoid things that touch but please can someone screen the drivers for alcohol levels, common sense and/or overdose of tramadol! One almost knocked me down. Also why must we show power and authority in Nigeria? Must every other security person with a convoy drive through the route with a car mounted speaker screaming “Runners move to the right”?
• VIP movement: So I know it is good to receive VIP treatment but can we reduce the number of VIP’s that come to the finish line to show off clean designer sportswear and retinue of security men? We actually just finished running a long distance and the last thing I need is security men shoving me for a “VIP” to pass.
I believe those are the major issues that come to mind as I contemplate on my 2018 Lagos City Marathon, I don’t want to end this without proffering some solutions to the issues raised above. So here I go:
Solutions
• Bibs Collection: Have three collection points across the State, one on the Island, Teslim Balogun Stadium and maybe Agege stadium.
• Route Mapping: Just correct the website please or change the service provider
• Water Points: Buy ice, plenty ice, buy big containers, pour the ice, add some water and then add the bottled water and drinks. Trust me, it will work and you would have contributed to the growth of the State’s GDP by patronizing ice sellers. If you think it’s difficult, ask Road Warriors how they do it every year that their members get cold drinks throughout the race. God bless them for giving me cold drinks at various stops. Oh, and well done to Road Warriors for providing pacers, but the guy that had the 5 hours mark was running too fast sha. I finished in 5 hours 6 mins and they left me for dead. Road Warriors, take a bow…
• Medical: Every other water point should have medical personnel please
• Medals: I noticed that the BRT buses, some with the crazy drivers, randomly pick up tired runners from the route and drop them at the finish point. This means many of them actually collect medals for a race they didn’t finish! Please when people jump on the bus, take away their bibs, at the finish line, no bibs, no medal. Also the cheer leaders wearing green and white can be put to better use if they are stationed at the finish line to mark or collect bibs from those that finish the race and hand over medals. Leave the cheer leading to Lagosians, they know to shout “awon Kenyan ti gba $50,000 ooooo, kilen sare fun”
• BRT Buses and their ilk: reduce the number of security men that need to drive along the route. It is very easy to knock down someone running low on sugar and stamina.
• VIP Movement: You guys should just stay at home biko
One final suggestion
To the sponsors and organizers, if you haven’t, please add one or two members from the many running clubs in Lagos to the organizing committee, (we at Lererunners volunteer to support pro bono) surely their experience from running in other marathons abroad will help in the organization.
Thank you.
Bishop Sam Chidoka
Amateur Runner
Lagos
Thank you Sam for penning your experience and solutions proffered. As a running club, Bridge Pacers, we stated a number of things to the organisers but it seems the issue lies in their focus to improve their IAAF label and pay more attention to the elite runners. One huge solution is to tutor some of their officials on proper race course etiquette. Like you mentioned, a random photographer had the effontery to shout at us to keep to the right while driving at 40kph on third mainland bridge. Also, they need to introduce a barrier of entry to reduce the number of unruly runners. Another solution is to ensure that all race bibs have chips that can be tracked at the end of the race prior to medal collection. The officials that took details of runners along the course was unnecessary as they were selective in their entry. I hope our suggestions are taken to consideration as we look forward to better outing come February 9th.
ReplyDeleteDear Roseline, Thanks for your comment, I completely agree with you. I also saw the photographer racing in a Camry I believe. The running clubs in Lagos should continue to push for improvements in the preparation and general organisation of the race. I complained over the last two editions and decided to write this time around, maybe someone will read and listen.
DeleteThanks for your feedback Bishop. As Organisers, we lookout for these sort of feedbacks. We work on these points and see how we can better the race in 2019. Once more, I thank you.
ReplyDeleteBukola.
Dear Bukola,
DeleteThanks for your comment and for not taking the normal route of being defensive. looking forward to next year by God's grace.