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| where were you ? The Bournemouth Bay Run - March 28th 2010 |
Well, if our weeks are going by anything like yours are, it's not quite the reality of rocket ships to mars that they thought we would be on once in the 1970's. However we probably could have learnt a few lessons from them about long term islolation. The main difference probably being that they were able to choose their multifuntional skilled personalities and team members for a succesful mission. We can't. Oh god. I choose option B. 2016 now seems like some kind of halcyon dreamscape. I'm now thinking that the film GATACA is an upside. (the filmography is awesome as is the soundtrack if you're stuck for a most brilliant film).
So in order to keep up some semblance of hope, and work to do, which we are now doing on a wholly voluntary basis because everyone has been *holds back slight vomit choke taste in mouth as utters an american word* "furloughed".
I mean - can't we say this like "ploughed", shouldn't we say this as "fur-loud" in english ? not "fur-lowed" as it's not "p-lowed", it's "P-loud"..
so yes - we're digging through the archives and getting stuff that we have here in cold-store, but hasn't made it to the shop front - and by that I mean stuff from 2010.
Yes - do you remember what you looked like ten years ago - when you would have been in an entirely different competitive age-group ? younger, faster, less enclosed ! Simpler times... like it was for this Hen party we met in the hotel.
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| 10 years on, I wonder how she's doing since her wedding day in March 2010 |
So First up we have the
Bournemouth Bay Run.
I was also bored, so I also did a spoof video for the race, using the top 100 chart music from that week - at least my daughter got the joke -and yes they are actual music tracks from 2010 that I've referenced...check their lyrics...
And yes - here's the Radio top 100 listings for March 28th 2010 - spot the coronovirus hits in this lot
and yes, I think Ed "Stewpot's" career is safe for the meantime... (who's he? askes anyone under 50 who didn't listen to Radio1 in the 80's). Anyway sorry about that, perhaps not a job in hospital radio either...
Also in the meantime for those of you who like a look back - we have the last years 2019 galleries from Hastings Half, Colchester Half and the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) Half marathons
Here's a gallery list and results links for you to do your time travelling !
Also for 2010 - I've also got Cranleigh 15-21, Eastleigh10k, Finchley20 and the Worthing20 from 2010 to do next. Basically I'll do whichever one I get an email request for first. You'd think I get loads of emails back after each blog wouldn't you ? well, nope I don't, it's a rarity to even get one ! (although I did have a wonderful one from before the Brentwood Half the other week). So, if you want me to do it, damn well email in !
(and on a darker note, we get requests every year for photos of deceased people - and I'm not really looking forwards to many more of those over the next 10 months, but I'll do my absolute best to help bring back the happiest of memories for anyone).
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| It was a fantastic Sunday in Bournemouth 10 years ago |
Last 2 week
Talking of the Brentwood half - how are you all doing ? - it's been 18 days since the race - statistically - how many of you have had Covid-19 symptoms - more or less than the general population after getting too close to each other at a race - did it have an effect ? Oh how I wish we could study it, I mean all we would need is all the entry contact details, and all the actual runners details and hey presto - you've got a statistically viable test and control group of those who ran, versus those who didn't and you could see who's had symptoms across both groups...
Ah I miss my spreadsheet analytical days before data protection and GDPR. A simple google form could do it too....
Meanwhile, Event organisers, timekeeping and race refunds
There is no overall flowchart for event refunds, some events are very very organised and have booked (and spent) all the money many months ahead of the event, so cancellations, even with months to go - once you strip out all the costs of transactions, and the operational teams which for professional events companies - means that the money is spent - you just need the plan to be pulled together with the right people in the right place at the right time on the day beacuse they're porfessional and have been paid to do that. If unfortunately do to circumstances - then you can't do that last bit - then, well, there ain't no money coming back is there for anyone to be refunded...
And on that note - I truly hope that anyone trying to get a refund isn't caught up in the "Lets Do This" world of chain-payments - where you paid them, they paid the event (less, because of their 20% commission) and then they tell you to get their refund from the event - because that's basically, pretty nasty stuff if that is whats happeneing. You should be getting refunded by "Lets do this". Hopefully you paid "Lets do this" by credit card and you can get it back through the credit card dispute process - it takes time 30-60-90 days - but it does work. Do read the terms and conditions, and I'm sure after all this - everyone will be reading the refund details on their race entries with a bit more attention.
Unfortunately - complex project planning and operational management isn't part of everyones life experience (although this is probably a good thing, having done it!) so there are always going to be people who don't understand it, and are always going to think that surely they can just have their money back ?
Simple things like payment transaction fees are not things that many people are aware of, and then an additional refund charge for that return tranaction - are not included. Paypal for example just changed their policy - which was up to recently, everyone gets refunded everything - to now not refunding the merchant (shop) the original transaction fee. So if on a £10 fee you end up being charged 60p on a transaction - so you only receive £9.40, and then you have to refund the £10 back to a customer - which for us would be under under the digital product online transaction laws - well - you're going to be 60p out of pocket, and scratching your head.
Doesn't sound like much does it ?- but if I had 4000 runners all asking why they couldn't have a full refund - we start pointing fingers at the banks. This is of course assuming you're not paying the member of staff who has to sit there re-processing them, or the rent on the office, or the internet connection, or the monthly banking fees, or employers insurance... yes there's a lot of hidden operational costs which - unless you've done your applied operational accountantcy module - it's a bit of a struggle to understand your per item processing costs. But now you know why many of these companies are actually one person set-ups, working out of a cold garage, with minimal insurance and bad internet connections and a mobile phone - it's to keep costs down - all so they can bring fantastic races to you. Hopefully they can put it all on hold for the foreseable future - otherwise there won't be any events coming back after this.
Next up - the usual facepalming when people complain about large companies organising big races for large entry fees because they have large costs. Anyway, I digress...
Here's some pictures from The Bournemouth Bay Runs 2010
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| Local Lion leads the warm up |
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| The view from the fish and chip shop |
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| tight running round the corner for the juniors |
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| not too busy |
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| How he grew over the last 10 years |
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| He was big for his age |
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| light and sprightly |
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| flying into the finish |
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| a regular we have seen for the past 10 years ! |
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| ah, the finish line ! |
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| running with friends is more fun |
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| Top arm success waves |
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| hang on, where did his friend go ? |
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| no surrender |
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| Run for the charity ! |
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| spotting friends at the finish is always nice ! |
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| High fives ! ahh, the olden days of contact |
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| Bob was so much younger then |
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| running in at a top pace here |
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| shout out to the @fetcheveryone - better than strava |
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| no escape |
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| what, he ran for winchester even back then ? |
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| last yards effort |
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| matching tops, but brand confusion in the leggings |
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| ah, had enough of this |
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| all done yes ! |
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| wave at the camera, if only you'd given me a chance |
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| look ! Its Debbie !!! |
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| Lion man is happy |
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| Top Dadding and Mumming |
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| Salisbury surrender |
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| thinking about the next 10k already |
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| strong finish |
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| a wave out to all his friends |
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| Its been emotional |
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| Tonight, David, this is your life... |
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| And I beseech you to run, run for your lives |
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| Not a Celtic support |
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| cooo eeee |
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| littledown legend |
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| run like nobody will catch you |
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| phew |
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| uppercut running |
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| check out the fashions from 10 years ago |
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| can you belive they'll use this picture 10 years later |
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| It was a cold day |
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| The joy of friends and companionship |
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| hope he's going well now |
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| the wristband of valour |
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| he put everything into it and sacrificed himself at the finish |
In other news
I truly hope some of you have managed to come across the Andrew Cotter commentary of his dogs eating. Which is very similar to his commentary of swimming as far as I can tell, but there's a certain delight listenting to a commentator for who the words and expressions flow - I've sat next to enough race finish line commentators to know that the day can warp time itself if the commentary isn't really up to scratch. Enjoy this:
https://twitter.com/MrAndrewCotter/status/1243539675031232519
Even Paul enjoyed it.
Home and family contact:
If you've not tried it yet - try
zoom.us as a video conferencing tool. It is more robust than skype and has better quality sound. It's struggling to keep up with demand but seems to be managing well. After a few calls - you won't want to switch back to driving for miles and miles to bother to meet people face to face. This is as lifechanging as 9:11 was for flying around the world for meetings and they rolled out teleconferencing at work - this time it will be local journeys or commutes that will be replaced with video conferencing. You've seen the future and it's greener.
The ongoing monitoring of pollution levels will continue to point out that driving places is now redundant. This is decimating industries faster than ever anticipated, I could go off on a whole MBA strategy module on what exactly that means - but I'm too busy trying to figure it out for my business thank you very much, and of course decorating the garage. Like everyone else with a garage and old paint at the moment.
Get a routine
I sent out the rules for a routine from the submariner last week, so I hope to see that you all have now adopted some kind of routine and weekly meal plan. Obviously ours is rock solid (really really solid, like er, a solid thing) - we are all getting up in the morning (ie not the afternoon), and eating at a sort of regular time (when we are hungry and not before). we just need to take it to the next level, whatever that is. Something with eggs for lunch, and then some sort of rota through the week of main dinner types. I'm going to attempt to start a daily run instead of every other day. God help me and my back which is a bit twitchy at the moment. The runs might be a bit slower and shorter for a time being, but I need to force this one and set an example to the kids, if not myself.
Finally!
I hope you're looking after yourselves, but also your neighbours, especially by now you know who the vulnerable ones are. The whatsapp group here in the road is starting to tick over, but mindful that the eldest in the street are not on the tech - they do need a knock on the door and a wave through the kitchen window ! The clap for key workers was very well intended, but my kids got saucepans out and hit them and my hearing can't cope with that and I'd spoken to our Hermes and UPS local delivery drivers today and thanked them, so I had to cover my ears and grimace through it. Plus my back-garden neighbours are a surgeon and an A&E doctor, and I'm sure they could have just done with some quiet rest... to be honest, I don't know if they were in, I must check up. Thank you to all my friends out there who have checked in on me too (now I'm old and in the at-risk vulnerable group with my heart thingy).
For now I'd better do the year end accounting and then take a long hard look at the forwards forecasting and cashflow that we have for the rest of the year, and see what the critical dates are. How far can we go before it's game over ? can we survive if everything is cancelled through to december ? or January ? What's the cut off, and when we know we are past it - when do we make that call ? Everyone is furloughed, I'm writing this in my spare time as a hobby (once again, nothing really changes).
Anyway, The really important question - when is TopGun2 going to be released ?
Until next time, stay safe, stay home, and enjoy the outside runs whilst we can, and if you're working in a key worker role - please please please - look after yourself just as much as anyone else - you're important to you too !
Anthony
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