After every trip I go to a race, I write a report on the competition. I describe why I chose this particular race, the features of the organization, the complexity of the track, my preparation for this start and many other points.
But today, for the first time, I decided to write a report on the event, in which I was not in the role of a participant, but in the role of the main organizer.
What an event
I live in the city of Kamyshin - a small provincial town with a population of just over 100 thousand people. Our amateur running movement is very poorly developed. For example, one of the indicators is that of the entire population of our city, no more than 10 people over the past 20 years have overcome a full marathon.
For the whole year we had only one amateur long-distance running competition. The organization of this race was not at the highest level. But there were food points, the judges recorded the result, the winners were awarded. In general, what else is needed. However, gradually, changing the venue and simplifying the race every year, one day it was completely canceled.
I, as a great jogger, could not stand aside. And I decided to revive this race in our city. The first time he ran the race in 2015. Then there was no money, no clear understanding of how to do it. But a start was made, and this 2016, my goal was to make the race as good as possible. So that if some shoals remain, then they are not noticeable against the background of everything else. And together with Maxim Zhulidov, who is also a runner, marathon runner, organizer of many events in Kamyshin, started organizing.
Why the watermelon half marathon
Our city has won, there is no other word for it, the right to be called the watermelon capital of Russia. And in honor of this event, at the end of August, we hold a large watermelon festival. I decided that it would be nice to tie the race to the theme of watermelons, since this is, in fact, a brand of our city. So the name was born. And to the name was added the annual treat of all finishers with pre-prepared watermelons.
Organization start
First of all, it was necessary to discuss with the chairman of the sports committee the exact timing and specifics of the event. And develop a position.
The sports committee promised to allocate medals and certificates for prizes, as well as organize police escort, an ambulance, a bus and refereeing.
After that, it was necessary to declare the race on the website probeg.orgto enter the jogging club competition. For many, it is very important that they give points to this rating for the race. This should have attracted new members.
When all the deadlines had already been approved, and there was a clear agreement with the sports committee, we turned to the "world of awards" in Volgograd, which developed a design for us and made medals for the finishers in the half marathon in the form of watermelon slices. The medals turned out to be very beautiful and original.
These were common points. They didn't take long. At first glance, little things remained, which ultimately took the most time, effort and money.
Track organization
It was decided to start the race from the Tekstilshchik sports complex. It had all the conditions to make an excellent starting town. In addition, there was also a hotel in which some visiting participants spent the night. Therefore, we asked permission from the director of Tekstilshchik to hold the event. He, of course, gladly gave it.
Then it was necessary to agree with the camp site, where the finish was to take place. There were no problems with this either.
After that, it was necessary to mark the route. They decided to do the markings on bicycles, using 4 gadgets with GPS and bike computers. The markings were carried out with ordinary oil paint.
The day before the start, we drove by car along the track and placed kilometer signs and signs with the designation of future food points.
Organization of prelaunch support
By this word I mean the organization of everything that needed to be done before the start, namely, the numbers for the runners, the registration desks, the provision of toilets, etc.
So. First, it was necessary to print the numbers. One of our sponsors, photo-video studio VOSTORG, helped with the printing of numbers. 50 numbers were printed at a distance of 10 km and 21.1 km. VOSTORG also printed many advertising banners that we hung around the city.
I bought about 300 pins. The haberdashery saleswoman wondered where I was going to get so much until I explained to her.
It was decided to put three tables at the registration point. Age categories over 40 were registered on one table. On the other - under 40. And on the third, the participants signed a personal application of the participant. Accordingly, 2 people were needed to register.
Organization of food points
For food points, 3 cars were attracted. In addition, a group of cyclists with water cruised along the track, helping the runners.
Two cars provided two food points each. And one car - one food point. About 80 liters of water, bananas and several bottles of Pepsi-Cola were stocked up for food outlets. Before the start, it was necessary to indicate to each driver and his assistants at which food point they will be and what exactly to give at this or that point. The difficulty was to calculate the time so that the driver could get to the next food point before at least one of the participants ran past him. At the same time, at the previous food point, it was necessary to wait for the last runner and only after that move to a new place. Honestly, though the calculations are simple at first glance, they made me tinker. Since it was very important to calculate the average pace of the leader and the last runner, and in relation to these results, to look at what food point this or that machine will have time to. Moreover. What food points had to be done was fixed, at the tops of the climbs, so that after the ascent you could drink water.
At the finish of 10 km it was necessary to put a table with pre-prepared glasses. At the finish of the half marathon, each participant was given a bottle of water, and there were also glasses of water. For the race, 100 half-liter bottles of still mineral water were purchased. Also, 800 disposable cups were purchased.
Organization of awards
In total, it was necessary to award 48 winners and prize-winners, provided that there would be at least 3 participants in all categories. Of course, this was not the case, but it was necessary to have a full set of awards. Also, another 12 people were awarded who won in the absolute category at distances of 21.1 km and 10 km.
36 prizes were purchased, of different levels, depending on the place occupied by the participant. In the absolute category, the prizes were the most valuable of all. Initially, it was not planned to award prize-winners at a distance of 10 km in age categories. But due to the fact that many categories of participants were not in the half marathon, there were enough prizes for absolutely everyone, including 10 km.
At the finish, each participant who covered 21.1 km was awarded a commemorative finisher medal.
Also, thanks to sponsorship, about 150 kg of watermelons were imported for the race participants. Participants after the finish, while calculating the results, ate watermelons.
Organization of volunteers
5 cars were involved in the race, of which 3 provided food points. In addition to the drivers, there were assistants in the cars that provided food points. We helped entire families distribute water and food to runners.
Also, 3 photographers and one video operator from the VOSTORG photo-video studio, 4 volunteers from the Youth Planet SMK were involved in the race. In total, about 40 people were involved in organizing the race.
Organization cost
There was no entry fee for our race. The financial expenses were covered by sponsors and running activists in Kamyshin. I have always wondered how much the organization of this or that event costs. I think many would also be interested to know. Here are the numbers that we got. These numbers will be relevant for a maximum of 150 participants. If there were more participants, the prices would be higher. This also includes the expenses incurred by the sports committee. In fact, he did not buy medals or certificates on purpose for this race. However, we will take their cost as if they were purchased specifically for our event.
- Finisher medals. 50 pieces for 125 rubles - 6250 rubles.
- Medals of winners and prize-winners. 48 pieces for 100 rubles - 4800 rubles.
- Diplomas. 50 pieces for 20 rubles - 1000 rubles.
- Bus rental. Approximately 3000 rub.
- Ambulance carriage escort. Approximately 3000 rub.
- Cups. 800 pieces, 45 kopecks each - 360 p.
- Pepsi Cola. 3 bottles of 50 rubles each - 150 rubles
- Prizes for winners and runners-up. 6920 p.
- Marking paint. 240 p.
- Bananas. 3 kg for 70 rubles. - 210 p.
- Packages for prizes. 36 pcs. 300 p.
- Watermelons. 150 kg for 8 rubles - 1200 p.
- Listing of numbers. 100 pcs. 1500 RUB
- Bottled water for finishers. 1000 pcs. 13 p. 1300 RUB
Total - 30230 p.
This does not include renting a camp site, since I do not know its cost, but we were given to use it for free. Also does not include payment for the work of judges and photographers.
Of this amount, about 8000 were provided by sponsors. Namely, the Store of unusual gifts ARBUZ, KPK "Honor", the Studio of video-photo shooting and organization of celebrations VOSTORG, "Watermelons from Marina". Wholesale and retail sale of watermelons.
About 13,000 rubles already in the form of medals, certificates, organized buses and other things by the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of the city of Kamyshin.
About 4,000 rubles were provided at the expense of running activists in Kamyshin - Maxim Zhulidov, Vitaly Rudakov, Alexander Duboshin.
The remaining amount was provided by the support of one of the most popular running sites in Russia "Running, Health, Beauty" scfoton.ru.
Overall assessment of the event from participants
The reviews are positive. There were minor shortcomings with a long calculation of results, the absence of a nurse at the finish line, as well as the lack of benches at the finish line to sit and relax. Otherwise, the runners are very happy with the organization. Despite the heavy slides and intense heat, there was enough water and food for everyone.
In total, about 60 people took part in the race, of which 35 ran the half marathon distance. Runners arrived from Petrov Val, Saratov, Volgograd, Moscow and the Moscow region, Elan, St. Petersburg and Orel. The geography for such a race is very wide.
Only one girl ran the half marathon.
One guy at the finish line got sick. Apparently heatstroke. The ambulance escort arrived 2 minutes after they were called. Therefore, first aid was provided very quickly.
Personal feeling and emotions
To be honest, the organization of the event was very difficult. She took all the time and all the energy. I am pleased that I managed to organize a very good running competition in our city.
I don’t plan anything for next year. There is a desire to organize, but whether there will be opportunities, I don't know.
I want to say that having seen the picture from the inside, now the understanding of how well or poorly organized a particular event will be clearer and more objective.
I'd like to thank everyone who helped in this organization. Dozens of people volunteered to help anyone in any way they could. Nobody refused. Only the fact that there were about 40 people accompanying the runners, despite the fact that the runners themselves were about 60, speaks for itself. Without them, the event would not even come close to what happened. Take one link out of this chain and things would go awry.
