#21 Thali

Event Date

April 15, 2023

Venue

Base Camp 1975
Located at Thali (past Bouddha and Gokarna), Kathmandu
Open pin on Google Map

Distances

12K, 6K and 3K

Observations, updates and note to self

• Too many first-timer kids by themselves on the trails, without a guardian. Some clearly struggling and dehydrated. Mandate at least one guardian (signed up) for every two kids.
• Trail team centralized. Previous trail lead removed and replaced for bad performance and attitude.
• Add a waterpoint for 3K.
• For the first time we had more 3K runners than 10K.
• Add more timekeepers for 3K - many runners finishing together, missed some numbers.
• 3K start time to start 30mins earlier than usual.
• Mention on the website that for 3K, only kids below 18 get medals and podium. 3K adults don't, in order to prevent the 3K from becoming a sprint distance.
• Brief runners about making the bib numbers visible at finish.
• Fastest upload of race photos and results till date.
• Far fewer people lost on trails than usual. Add more markings and marshals to further minimize this number.
• Use neon marking spray than the normal ones. Possibly change orange color to pink for better visibility.
• Give clear instructions to the driver. He missed picking up a henchman in the morning, costing 45mins of race set up time.
• Don't have a race right after a public holiday. Rushes pre-race print and admin work.
• Optimized the medals - used sticker prints instead of glossy. Amount of medal task decreased significantly.
• Purchase medals in bulk and print new stickers. Cuts down time consumed and hikes up the quality. Maybe print medal straps as well.
• Get a couple of tabs instead of laptop+monitor to display results. Pain in the butt to set it up, and can barely see in the sun.
• The laptop overheats, get something to cover it while timekeeping.
• Double-check startlist before sending bibs for print. The Gyawalis (our poster people) got handcrafted artisan bibs because I missed their name on the registration.
• Announce race date a few weeks in advance but open registrations no earlier than a week before the race. 22 people signed up but didn't show up.
• Overall, Thali race was one of the smoothest it has been for Snail Trail Series.