Run for the Ranch - A letter

The below is a letter that I have sent to everyone I can find that maybe able to influence the 2011 Run for the Ranch. I hope it does not fall on deaf ears.

I am writing regarding concerns with the Run for the Ranch Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k that was held on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University on December 19, 2010.

As a marathon runner, I have devoted hundreds of hours to training, choosing the races that I want to participate in, and planning out the logistics of race day. A marathon is something that requires one to spend time apart from family and friends while training. Racing is also a large financial investment, especially if traveling out of town for a race.  These are things that all runners accept. They joy of crossing that finish line makes every sacrifice worth it.

Runners understand that things can, and will, go wrong on race day.  Injuries can cut training short, bad weather can make race day miserable, illnesses can strike.  These are risks we are all aware of and accept.  Runners also expect that the races they choose to run will be safe.  We expect that the course will be clearly marked and well-lit, that, when possible, roads will be closed, that Course Marshalls will be monitoring the course, that aid stations will be manned until the official close of the race and that medical assistance will be available if needed.

Race Directors are only human and I cannot begin to comprehend the work that goes into putting on a wonderful race.  I have completed races of all sizes, from a 5k with twenty-five participants to the Chicago Marathon, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Race Directors responsible for putting these fabulous events together. 

Runners realize that Race Directors are only human and expect a few hiccups on race day, especially in smaller, less expensive races.  That is why I could forgive a lot of what occurred during Run for the Ranch. 

From the moment my friends and I stepped into the Student Center for registration/packet pick-up, everyone we encountered was curt, almost to the point of disrespectful, when speaking to us. Things were disorganized from the start. When a runner asked to see a course map, someone manning the registration table told him that there were none available and if he didn’t know the course by now a map wouldn’t help.  The course was boring. The roads that we were running on were not closed to traffic and runners were forced to use the sidewalks. The half marathon, 10k and 5k all used the same course as the marathon which caused a lot of congestion on the course. The aid station on the track closed almost three hours before the official close of the race. I was not offered food, water, or an electrolyte replacement drink after crossing the finish line. Runners had to wait in long lines for a food ticket and to receive their medals.  These are all things that a runner has the right to complain about, but they are things runners are willing to overlook.

The one thing that I cannot and will not over look is the lack of medical assistance at this race. While on the course, a friend on mine became ill and was extremely dehydrated. As she completed her seventh lap, she informed myself and another friend that she was dehydrated and would likely need medical attention after the race.  My friend and I immediately gathered our things and began trying to find help for her.  We spoke to every race official or volunteer we could find, including the Race Director. I was in disbelief to find that most of them did not even know if medical help was available. I was angry after the Race Director ignored our requests for help and continued to announce awards. I was furious when we were laughed at by a man in the timing van while he joked that we should call 911.

When our friend finished, she collapsed into my friends arms.  She couldn’t walk without assistance and she was slurring her speech.  Even at that point no one offered any assistance.  There were several race officials at the finish line and not one of them even offered to get a bottle of water and open it for her.  It’s scary to think about what could have happened to her if she had traveled alone to this race.
I can say, with absolute certainty, that it is irresponsible and negligent to stage a race without having medical assistance available.  I don’t believe I have ever participated in even a one mile race without seeing medics on site. Marathons are dangerous events – a lot of things can go wrong when covering 26.2 miles on foot. Unfortunately people do die while completing this distance.  What would have happened if a runner had collapsed on the course? There were no race officials anywhere to see if someone was in distress.

If calling 911 for emergency services was our only option, doesn’t it only seem reasonable that someone would offer their assistance? I understand that every member of a race crew has a job to do, but someone out on their course was in trouble.  Any number of people could have put their duties aside for a few moments to have helped us.  As stated before, not only did we not receive any assistance we were laughed at while trying to get our friend help.  I would venture to guess that she was not the only person on the course that could have used assistance. 

There are numerous things about this race that runners could have legitimate complaints about, however, the real problem with Run for the Ranch was that it was dangerous. Runners were dodging cars on the course, after the sun went down there were parts of the course that were poorly lit, there were no Course Marshalls to offer assistance while on the course, one of the two aid stations was closed early, and medical aid was denied by every single person we could find to seek help.  When you take everything else away, the real duty of a race director is to ensure the safety of his or her runners and he failed to do that.

In closing, I ask that you require a realistic plan for emergency medical staff for the 2011 Run for the Ranch. I think it would be reasonable to request that the Race Director step down or even request that this race is not held again, but I am not asking for those things to happen. I am only requesting that someone put some time and effort into thinking about the safety of the runners.

Thank you.
Jennifer Whitter Adams