Race Rating: Vulture Bait 25k Trail Race

It was during the beautiful 25km journey through the trails along the shores of Fanshawe Lake in London, Ontario that I realized my rating system was flawed and gave too much emphasis to things that only big budget, big draw races could provide. I resolved to amend the rating system for 2010 with a handicapping option that would help reflect the true quality of the race.
Until then, I would like to note that the Vulture Bait race was one of my favourites and has spurred me on to participate in the Ontario Trail Series next season and possibly the Ontario Ultra Series in 2011.
But, to be fair to the other races I've completed this season, I will rate the Vulture Run according to the original rating system.

1. Bathroom facilities - 3 (plenty of park facilities and a forest full of other options)
2. Race day organization - 3 (a running race run by runners - can you ask for anything more?)
3. Course scenery - 3 (autumn in the woods in Southwestern Ontario - awesome!)
4. Course creativity - 3 (despite the obvious run around a lake, the race took advantage of pretty much all of the conservation area's nature trails)
5. Value - 3 (great value!)
6. Shirt or gift - 3 (the shirt was very basic with nothing at all on the front and a text line on the back. normally, I would find this to not be a good thing, but in this case, it represented the race to a T. no flash, no phony crap - just the basics. just the running)
7. Parking availability - 3 (free, bountiful and at the start line)
8. Website quality - 2 (all the basics - could have had more race day details)
9. Online registration - 3 (very simple)
10. Accessible for spectators - 3 (because roads also circle the lake, the trails intersected at several points and gave supporters the opportunity to see their runners at many locations)
11. Convenience of race packet pickup -3 (race day only - no need to take the day before to go to some inconvenient hotel banquet hall to pickup)
12. Pre-race expo - 0 (not available)
13. Entertainment on course - 1 (no official entertainment, but car stereos were blaring at more than one water station)
14. Post race food - 3 (as this also serves as the year end banquet for the Ontario Ultra Series and the Ontario Trail Series, the food was pretty darn good. I could only eat the salad, however, if I'd inquired, I think the bountiful lasagna and pasta may have been void of meat)
15. Race day vendors/exhibitors - 0 (but that's okay...)
16. Volunteers/marshalls/police & emergency services support - 3 (as usual... most were runners and were full of info and sincere encouragement)

Well, apparently my rating system can reflect the true quality of this race. At 39 points, this is by far my highest rated race this season, 5 points higher than the next best, the Run for the Grapes Half in St. Catherines last month.

Race Rating: Run for the Grapes Half Marathon

The Run for the Grapes Half Marathon is run in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada and the vineyard region on the western outskirts of town. The race is run in September. My overall view of the race is that it is well organized, scenic, fast, and an overall good experience for most any runner.


1. Bathroom facilities - 1 (As far as I could tell, there were only 6 portapoddies for 1000 runners and their families and friends - however, I may have missed something as the lineups weren't outrageous. Therefore, I'll give the benefit of the doubt with a 1 instead of a 0.)

2. Race day organization - 3 (Fantastic. This was a very smooth operation from the minute you pulled into town.)

3. Course scenery - 2 (City, vineyards, corn field. It is the Run for the Grapes...)

4. Course creativity - 2 (There was only one out and back section. The starting and finishing 4 or so km were duplicated but, not being from there, I hardly noticed...)

5. Value - 3 (Entry price was quite reasonable. The shirt and medal were good quality and some of the best I've seen. Parking was cheap, ample and close.)

6. Shirt or gift - 3 (The Merrell shirt is truly one of the best I've had in 20 years of running, as is the medal. I have a picture of both up on the race report post.)

7. Parking availability - 3 ($2 flat rate - not as good as free but pretty darn close. The municipal lots were within a very short walk of the start / finish.)

8. Website quality - 2 (The site had all the necessary information but had an awkward design due to it being part of a whole running series at the same site. The site lacked any photos or race history.)

9. Online registration - 3 (Very simple link from main website.)

10. Accessible for spectators - 3 (Very spectator friendly. Those on bikes could follow the race as the roads were only closed to traffic on one lane.)

11. Convenience of race packet pickup - 3 (There was no unnecessary picking up of race packet the day before. Because of the later, 9:00, start time, there was plenty of time to accommodate everyone before the race start. There was no race day registration, so everyone was there to simply pickup.)

12. Pre-race expo - 0 (There was none.)

13. Entertainment on course - 0 (None.)

14. Post race food - 2 (Standard. Although, this was the first time I've ever been limited to one trip through the food line - ensured with a bingo blotter stamp to my race number.)

15. Race day vendors/exhibitors - 1 (Merrell, of course, had a big set-up. Other than that, just the usual back specialist and a table with some running pamphlets.)

16. Volunteers / marshalls / police & emergency services support -3 (Awesome as usual. The Niagara Regional Police were some of the friendliest cops I've ever seen marshall a race!)


For a grand total of 34. This score makes Run for the Grapes my highest ranking race by 1 point over Toronto Pearson Runway Run 5k and Rattlesnake Point 12.7 Trail Run. I will do this run again - maybe not next year because I really do want to get to Montreal in September...

Race Rating: 2009 Midsummer Night's Run 30km

I've had a few days to recover and think over the race on Saturday. Here's the third installment of my race rating series, the 2009 version of the Midsummer Night's Run 30km road race. As usual, the score is from 0-3 and my comments are in brackets.

1. Bathroom facilities - 3 (plenty of porta-potties and some great natural bathrooms!)
2. Race day organization - 3 (it has to be noted that the baggage check was the best organized of any race I've ever been in)
3. Course scenery - 3 (great scenery at all times)
4. Course creativity - 3 (great use of parkways in the lakefront area)
5. Value - 3 (got my money's worth)
6. Shirt or gift - 3 (very nice long sleeve, purple(!), New Balance tech shirt and a stainless steel water bottle at the finish line)
7. Parking availability - 0 (no parking on site - minimum $10 to park and take a shuttle)
8. Website quality - 2 (needed more details about history, previous results, confirmed entries, pictures)
9. Online registration - 3 (very straight forward)
10. Accessible for spectators -3 (with two out and backs centering around the same focal point, this race was very spectator friendly)
11. Convenience of race packet pickup - 0 (pickup was at a hotel several kilometers away at a major hotel in downtown Toronto with no free parking)
12. Pre-race expo - 0 (n/a)
13. Entertainment on course - 1 (there was no official entertainment, however the runners dressed as fairies were enough for 1 point!)
14. Post race food - 2 (standard)
15. Race day vendors/exhibitors - 0 (nothing, which is surprising considering there was a whole park that could have been utilized)
16. Volunteers / marshalls / police & emergency services support - 3 (awesome as usual. police were exceptionally helpful, friendly and supportive and as I mentioned earlier the baggage check was amazingly organized)

...For a grand total of 32. 1 point behind the Toronto Pearson Runway Run 5km and the Rattlesnake Point 12.7km trail run. This is a relatively new race and is still morphing into a great race. I will most likely return next year and I know that the rating will go up.

Race Rating: 2009 5 Peaks, Rattlesnake Point 12.7km

Today, I'm adding my new race rating system to July 2009's Rattlesnake Point 12.7 km trail race which is part of the 5 Peaks series. The first race to be scored using this system was the Toronto Pearson Airport 5km Runway Run. That race achieved 33 points out of a possible 48. Once again, I will give scores for each category and comments in brackets.

1. Bathroom facilities - 2 (very few portables but forest in all directions!)
2. Race day organization - 1 (lineups for number pickup and gift pickup were mislabeled and a disaster)
3. Course scenery - 3 (awesome! even in the rain, the Niagara Escarpment is always beautiful)
4. Course creativity - 3 (very challenging course with very few duplicated sections of trail)
5. Value - 3 (can't complain - got everything I paid for)
6. Shirt or gift - 2 (socks and a water bottle - different but nothing spectacular)
7. Parking availability - 3 (ample parking)
8. Website quality - 3 (great website - part of the whole 5 peaks series website)
9. Online registration - 3 (no problems)
10. Accessible for spectators - 3 (spectators could view the race from several locations along the trails without obstructing the race)
11. Convenience of race packet pickup - 1 (same day only. see comments about race day organization)
12. Pre-race expo - 0 (a few sponsors were at the race before and after but there was no 'race expo')
13. Entertainment on course - 0 (just not possible on a wet trail - unless you include the group of screaming young Japanese tourists - very enthusiastic!)
14. Post race food - 2 (standard)
15. Race day vendors/exhibitors - 1 (only 2 or 3 - the major sponsors of the race series)
16. Volunteers / marshalls / police & emergency services support - 3 (as usual - awesome! considering the weather conditions - thunderstorms - they deserve an extra thank you)

Score: 33 out of 48 - tied with the Pearson Run.

Race Rating: 2009 Toronto Pearson Runway Run 5km

I'm going back to June to do my first race rating using the system I created and outlined in this previous post. The 2009 Toronto Pearson Runway Run is a very unique 5km race that takes place on a runway at Pearson Airport in Toronto, parallel to a runway that is fully active. It is an out and back course that is very wide with absolutely no chance of getting boxed in!

Here's the report card with individual scores and comments in brackets:

1. Bathroom facilities - 0 (they existed but were too few and there was no 'natural facilities')
2. Race day organization - 3 (very organized considering how secure an airport of that size is - thought for a moment that the start was behind because of poor organization but it was because they were waiting for fighter jet to fly by to signal start of race - very cool)
3. Course scenery - 3 (what more can you say? airplanes taking off and landing right beside you...)
4. Course creativity - 3 (it's a runway at a very busy international airport! what more needs to be said?)
5. Value - 3 (great value - definitely get your money's worth)
6. Shirt or gift - 3 (shirt was the same as last year but it is a nice, subtle design)
7. Parking availability - 3 (no issues with parking)
8. Website quality - 2 (an off-shoot of the GTAA website. could be more detailed with last year's results and more pictures)
9. Online registration - 3 (no problems)
10. Accessible for spectators - 1 (very little access due to security reasons)
11. Convenience of race packet pickup - 3 (pickup at Running Room in Mississauga or race morning at the event)
12. Pre-race expo - 0 (non-existent)
13. Entertainment on course - 0 (non-existent and not possible)
14. Post race food - 2 (the same - bananas, apples, cookies and bagels)
15. Race day vendors/exhibitors - 1 (really lacking this year - kind of a disappointment)
16. Volunteers / marshalls / police & emergency services support - 3 (awesome!)

Final Score: 33 out of a possible 48 points.

Race Rating System

I've come up with a rating system for running races that will help others and myself decide what races to enter in the following seasons. As usual, I would like to acknowledge the fact that most races rely entirely on volunteers. It is without a doubt that any volunteer is a great volunteer. This rating system is not meant to offend anyone by any means. Chances are, if your race gets a bad score, you already know there were issues. If you happen to be a race organizer or race volunteer and you read a bad review about your race, don't get hurt - this is very constructional criticism that can help you make changes and pull off an awesome event next year!

First - the score card. Then the explanation...

1. Bathroom facilities
2. Race day organization
3. Course scenery
4. Course creativity
5. Value
6. Shirt or gift
7. Parking availability
8. Website quality
9. Online registration
10. Accessible for spectators
11. Convenience of race packet pickup
12. Pre-race expo
13. Entertainment on course
14. Post race food
15. Race day vendors/exhibitors
16. Volunteers / marshalls / police & emergency services support


Each of the above items receives a score from 0-3. Here is an explanation of those values:

• 3 - Awesome! It was as good as possible and contributed to a great race experience.


• 2 - Good / Indifferent. Could have been better but did not contribute to a negative experience.


• 1 - Bad! Left a taste on your tongue but probably won't cause you to avoid the race in the future.


• 0 - Non-existent or downright horrible! This is the race killer. This is something that annoyed you so much that it was on your mind the whole race and would seriously cause you to avoid the race in the future.

Explanation of the categories:

1. Bathroom facilities. Judged not so much on quality but quantity. The pre-race urination is so incredibly important to a runner. If you're in a lineup 30-deep with 5 minutes to go before the start, you're going to be stressed beyond belief. Note that my judgement will not solely be based on the number of 'port-a-poddies' but also on the available 'natural environment'. For example, the Pearson Runway Run had insufficient washroom facilities in '09 and also didn't have any wooded areas or back alleys, either (score: 0!). The 5 Peaks Rattlesnake 12.7k had insufficient facilities however there was a vast forest within 100 metres of the start line (score: 3). Cleanliness will rarely sway my score in this category - it would have to be a pretty extreme situation.


2. Race day organization. Once again - any volunteer is a good volunteer. However, when you have 100's or 1000's of runners roaming around, nerves pumping, things need to be very straight forward. I need to know exactly where I have to be and when. I need clear and regular announcements as well as signage - the more the better.


3. Course scenery. I know you can't have a snow-peaked mountain view during the Toronto Marathon, however, there are beautiful neighbourhoods and not so beautiful neighbourhoods in every city. If the race organizers have worked with the roads that are available to them to try and run past as many local attractions then that's all we can ask.


4. Course creativity. Similar to the previous category. Out and backs are boring - very boring. Adding mileage along trails instead of roads is creative. Tunnels are creative. Finishing inside big league stadiums is creative.


5. Value. The race distance is the same so why is the price different? There better be a good reason for an $85 half-marathon opposed to a $45 one.


6. Shirt or gift. Face it, when you're like me and are still on the course when the race winners are sitting at the pub, drinking a cold one, the goodies in the race packet can make or break your experience. Shirts are awesome. In 20 years, I've never gotten sick of getting a shirt at a race. Some, I wear out in public. Some, I would only wear under my hockey equipment. It's not just the fact that there is a gift, it's the thought that went into the design and quality of that item.


7. Parking availability. Huge item. This can be a big contributor to pre-race stress. Parking should be close to the start/finish and should not be an additional expense. It's understandable in some large cities where the race takes place in the downtown core that this is simply not an option but most places should have facilities available.


8. Website quality. I want to see registration information, race day schedule of events, course map and elevation, previous results, race day climate, expo and packet pickup information, etc. There is no limit to information that can be uploaded to the web - upload away.


9. Online registration. A) you better have it. B) it better be easy.


10. Accessible for spectators. We simply want friends and family to be able to follow the race with ease.


11. Convenience of race packet pickup. I realize that the goal is to have everyone attend the race expo, look at all the exhibitors, then pick up the race packet. If there is no race day pickup, then please, please, please have the expo open long hours for those of us that are coming from out of town or unfortunately have to work.


12. Pre-race Expo. If I have to go to the expo in order to get my race packet, it better be good. I want to see new and innovative products, new and interesting races or events, DEALS!


13. Entertainment on course. There really is no excuse not to have at least one band playing along the route. Up and coming musicians would gladly volunteer their time in exchange for the exposure. By the way - we're getting sick of 'Born to Run' by Springsteen...


14. Post race food. It's a necessity. Chances are your baggage is packed in an area with 100's and 1000's of others. If there is something nutritious packed in your baggage, chances are it's going to be a long time before you get your hands on it. The post race food and drink is what keeps you on your feet.


15. Race day vendors / exhibitors. An extension of the race expo. Maybe after struggling to finish the race, you now realize that the products you shunned at the expo might actually be for you! This is also for the family and friends that have to wait in agony at the finish line for you to hobble in...


16. Volunteers / marshalls / police and emergency services. I can pretty much guarantee that this one will always get a 3.

All my future race reports will include a rating. I will also be retro-rating some of the more recent races that I've been in.