It's now been just over a week since the first running of the Bearspaw Open, presented with The RCMP - A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary, and I'm starting to feel like I've recovered from the whole organizational thing!
On the whole I think that the race went really really well. Lots of great feedback about the race course, with several people telling me that it's perhaps one of the best in Alberta. It's certainly different! It was also pretty safe, with only one relatively serious crash. Luckily the outcome was (as far as I know) some road rash and a chewed-up jersey. Racers seemed to cope with the heat (+32c I think) pretty well, although I noticed from the Commissaire vehicle that quite a few folks need to work on getting their bottles in the feed zone!
For sure we had some organizational cock-ups, but nothing too major and we'll have 'em ironed out for next year. More on this subject in a later post.
I know that the RCMP thought that it was a great event also, and the internal feedback I'm getting is very positive. We've a had a very brief discussion about next year's event already, and I'm hoping to sit down soon with them to do a full review of this year's event and to schedule a kick-off meeting for 2009.
Some quick notes on "lessons learned" as a first-time organizer:
- Find out who your Chief Commissaire is and get him/her involved early. Carol Mayne was the Chief of the Open, and I can't say enough about how awesome she was to deal with
- Talk to the ABA. Lots. Again, easy to deal with them and they were quite helpful
- People in Alberta register at the last second. Try not to panic when only a handful of folks have registered a week and a half before the event. Next year I'm going to try and alleviate this in 3 ways: A. No race-day registration, B. Publish field limits, and C. Have some great early-bird registration incentives
- Work on making your race more of an "event" than just a race. The "Dinner & a Bike Race" concept worked well, and I think it's going to be way more awesome next year
- Try to find a race course with shorter loops so that the spectators can stay interested
- Get your permit WAAAAAAAY early and then start talking with local residents/businesses. Give them lots of notice and information, and don't forget to invite them out to the event. You will sleep better at night having 'em on your side
Running this event was a ton of work, and it was a whole lot more stressful than I could've imagined when I told the Midweek Mayhem board of directors "A race? Sure, ya, I'll handle that." In the end, though, it was great to develop something that people are looking forward to coming back to next year.
We've got some great ideas on how to make the event better for next year, including some potential changes to the race course to make it even better. Stay tuned.
Labels: Organization, Post-mortem, Resources
As we get closer to race date, please be sure to keep checking in at the 2008 Bearspaw Open, presented with The RCMP - A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary race website.
We have also created an event in the Midweek Mayhem Facebook group: click here for the event.
We have also created an event in the Midweek Mayhem Facebook group: click here for the event.
Labels: Facebook, General Info, Resources
Race HQ:
Forgot to mention in the previous post about the Permit that I have also got the Race HQ site booked. It's an excellent facility, with lots of capacity, a great paved area for expo stuff (more on that later!), wireless internet, and it's perfectly situated at the top of a >1km grinder climb for the start/finish. There's also a great large deck for post-race festivities if required!
As with info on the race course itself and some other organizational details, I'll be posting more complete information when the Permit is officially completed. Stay tuned!!
Race Announcer: introducing Sean Carter!
We're excited to announce that Sean Carter (local racer, Veloplzen club big-wig, all around good guy) has graciously accepted our offer to be the cornerstone of our race day announcing/commentary team! Trust me, his enthusiasm and knowledge is going to bring a little something special to the race. We're stoked! Look for some Q&A with Sean as we get closer to the race date...
Forgot to mention in the previous post about the Permit that I have also got the Race HQ site booked. It's an excellent facility, with lots of capacity, a great paved area for expo stuff (more on that later!), wireless internet, and it's perfectly situated at the top of a >1km grinder climb for the start/finish. There's also a great large deck for post-race festivities if required!
As with info on the race course itself and some other organizational details, I'll be posting more complete information when the Permit is officially completed. Stay tuned!!
Race Announcer: introducing Sean Carter!
We're excited to announce that Sean Carter (local racer, Veloplzen club big-wig, all around good guy) has graciously accepted our offer to be the cornerstone of our race day announcing/commentary team! Trust me, his enthusiasm and knowledge is going to bring a little something special to the race. We're stoked! Look for some Q&A with Sean as we get closer to the race date...
Labels: Organization, Resources
So where does the Circuit Mayhem stand as of today?
Everything is still tentative, but certainly things are becoming more solidified. I've currently got 2 potential race locations. I'm in touch with the City of Calgary Roads Department about permits for Option #1 (preferred option), and I'm feeling reasonably confident that we should get approval. The course for this option is pretty cool. Slightly over 5k per lap of rolling pavement with a nice little climb to the start/finish, and a super technical >90 degree right-hand corner leading into the climb off a high speed downhill straightaway. This technical feature will place a premium on being at the front of the race and bike-handling skills.
Option #2 is outside of the City in the Bragg Creek area. I've started getting into contact with the Province in regards to the roads I want to use for this course. The MD (Municipal District) were my initial point of contact, and they were super to deal with. I've also been in touch with the RCMP's Southern Alberta District HQ, and they have also been very positive to work with. I'm hoping to have a better feel for the chances of using this course within the next week or two.
As an aside, the Alberta Bicycle Association (ABA) has published an excellent resource guide for race organizers this year. It's got great information and some solid planning ideas. It's been invaluable to me so for, and I can't recommend it enough. Check it out if you have any aspirations of hosting a race!
Everything is still tentative, but certainly things are becoming more solidified. I've currently got 2 potential race locations. I'm in touch with the City of Calgary Roads Department about permits for Option #1 (preferred option), and I'm feeling reasonably confident that we should get approval. The course for this option is pretty cool. Slightly over 5k per lap of rolling pavement with a nice little climb to the start/finish, and a super technical >90 degree right-hand corner leading into the climb off a high speed downhill straightaway. This technical feature will place a premium on being at the front of the race and bike-handling skills.
Option #2 is outside of the City in the Bragg Creek area. I've started getting into contact with the Province in regards to the roads I want to use for this course. The MD (Municipal District) were my initial point of contact, and they were super to deal with. I've also been in touch with the RCMP's Southern Alberta District HQ, and they have also been very positive to work with. I'm hoping to have a better feel for the chances of using this course within the next week or two.
As an aside, the Alberta Bicycle Association (ABA) has published an excellent resource guide for race organizers this year. It's got great information and some solid planning ideas. It's been invaluable to me so for, and I can't recommend it enough. Check it out if you have any aspirations of hosting a race!
Labels: Organization, Resources
