Big Bear Events - the "bare" facts !

As runners we sign up & rock up - some of us more prepared than others, but we seldom consider the planning necessary for the events or really think about what goes on behind the scenes - I spoke to Paul Albon of Big Bear Events which is in its first year of hosting events - with 6 events in 2018 across 5 sites & 12 events across 9 sites planned for 2019, the eventually plan over the next couple of years is to get a group of 10 venues return at different times of the year.

I ran Salcey Forest earlier in the year & loved the format, a great local addition!

http://www.bigbearevents.net/

Here is Paul's experience of being a RD so far - its a very interesting insight !

What do you actually do then?

This is the most common question I get when I tell people I’m the Race Director for Big Bear Events. It’s a fair one to ask as it’s a slightly catch-all, means nothing and everything sort of title. I continually look out for deals on Coca-Cola wherever I go, I look for new venues for events and I try to make runners feel part of a little family when they come to them, I email people all hours of the day and I’m always trying to think of witty race names. There are a million things the role entails, lots of them are boring things any small business owner does and then there are the more fun things like beer testing and flapjack sampling, running new routes and encouraging runners. If it happens before, during or after the race – I do it!

Where do you do your events then?

It starts of very practical and boring. Is there a toilet block and parking? Are there a lot of trails without road crossings? Is it within about an hour from Rugby? (to be set and ready for 8am means a very early start otherwise!). Once these practical aspects are resolved then the fun of running comes in. I’ll run around a site a few times with a rough idea of where to go to get to the 5kish mark. Sometimes routes aren’t quite appropriate. Often it’s to do with waterlogging or pinch points. Landowners don’t want my little run to ruin their pathways for the year so heavily waterlogged areas are a no-go generally.

I like to use country parks and Forestry Commission sites as during the week they are generally empty! My events would not work at the weekend, there would be to many other park users. Kids, dogs, bikes, kids on bikes with dogs – it would be bad for the users and for my runners. During the week however these venues are virtually empty so great for the venue who get some revenue and great for the runners who can run in excellent venues often with a coffee shop on site.

Wait, during the week?

This is the most common comment left on any of my facebook posts. As a stay at home father of twins my weekends are the only real family time I get. I’m not the only runner in the world who wants to see his wife and kids. There are hundreds, thousands, of races each year in the UK, most of which are on at the weekends. However, a good chunk of the population either don’t work full time, don’t work Monday-Friday 9-5 or…. can take a day off! Midweek running is a great way for people to do something a little different, run at venues not accessible at weekends and maybe spend time with their families and friends at weekends. It’s not for everyone but then neither is the classic Sunday morning slot. Once my kids are older and don’t want to be seen dead with their dad maybe we’ll do some weekend races!

They must all be nutters?

Maybe! I’ve been genuinely very lucky with the people who have entered my events and especially those that have volunteered. People that want to run in a circle for 6 hours could well be a little odd but I can honestly say I’ve not met anyone I’ve tried to get away from! The people who have randomly volunteered have all been amazing too – this was a huge worry for me. If I’m racing the volunteers make or break a race really. If they are all miserable and useless then it brings the whole mood down spoiling the race. If they make stupid comments and decisions, it will affect the runners. Luckily I’ve had amazing people who have used their initiative to make sure all the runners are happy. Long may that continue…!

Ooh – do you do Medals?

The all-important, or not important at all, medal. The medal is probably the piece of the race that people are most vocal about. Too big, too small, not interesting enough, over the top, understated the short answer is I can’t win. I’ve just taken the decision to do what I like to start with and listen to feedback for future designs. I don’t like show off medals and I don’t like boring ones, well designed ones are winners for me. I feel that if the medal is the main selling point of your running event something isn’t quite right! I see them as a memento of achieving a goal – not the goal itself. I hang mine so I’d like the Big Bear ones to stand out on a medal hanger but not require a piece of scaffolding to hold it up.

All in all I’m enjoying the RD life. I’m able to fit it around my family and have met some great people I’d never have met otherwise. I’m enjoying being the “new kid” in the racing scene. I’d like to think I’m beginning to carve out a little niche for myself and a bit of a following too. I’ll need that to be doing this in 10 or 20 years as is the plan – I don’t want to have to get a proper job!! I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes (I had a tablet melt in the sun at my 3rd event – nearly losing all my timing data!) but if I can build up good will before they happen hopefully I’ll get the benefit of the doubt. It’s good fun this RD lark!

Paul Albon (2018)

http://www.bigbearevents.net/

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