#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

~10K and Kids ~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.
• 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.