The Rough Guide to Planning Your First Run. Organisers Please add

[Mini-Trainer]

Share a little of our knowledge to the young bloods of Run organisation

Some little hints and tips on running and organising a Mini-Run IMO

Rules never to be broken
1,Never ever ask any person(S) for any money
(This includes charity, deposits, or Fees incurred by organisation)
Organisers such as Soggy, Mikey the Mini, sham, me etc spend countless hours on these runs. Answering members questions on a whole variety of topics, the time spent doing reccies using petrol putting miles and wear and tear on our vehicles.
Never go down the route of paying any deposits on peoples beahalfs.
Stickers to the event are a luxury and are VERY expensive not everybody wants the stickers once paid for by you.

2,Always add little tit bits of information to the first post
(Local hotels, petrol stations, cash machines, Toilets, Parking)
You will be asked about all these so cover all angles.

3,Never Promise anything
(This includes The route, places of interest, attractions etc)
If you and your group are diverted you may miss certain places of interest you had planned
Think also about seasonal opening hours

4,Reccie the route well
(Run notes)
Put in as much detail as possible when it comes to run notes.
When doing your reccies, choose the best car park with facilities, either near a toilet or near by pub.
If your run starts at 9am on a Sunday morning do the reccies the same.
Try to work through your notes as time blocks (10 Min's added per block on run day), so you can hit every stop knowing how much traffic is on the roads at that time, and more importantly that the car park you've chosen to use as a stop is NOT FULL
Keep the notes simple and concise, I included pictures of signs and junctions with the last 2 Heartbeat Run's these have seemed to work very well.
Also include.....

Directions
Millage Approx
Follow signs to
Distance between points
POI Or hazards


People are always going to get lost on your runs, Following the car in front is always the favorite,
But the one most likely to loose you cars is the navigator, if there not paying attention then there bound to get lost.
Giving your mobile number out should only be given to group leaders, giving everybody your number will add to more stress.
I had a call on one of the runs it went like this..."Er Rams we're lost" ok Where are you near?
"Er we're near a farmhouse, with a Field of sheep"..............
The Run was through North Yorkshire

5,Have Fun organising


Rams

[Harpo]

Another tip for organisers...

If people select from a menu in advance, print it out in advance and hand it to the runner for them to hand to their waitress. Saves a lot of time.

As an organiser, I can do a lot to help make your day a great one.

As a runner you can help me have a great day too by doing a bit of research into the route a few days before. Figure out where you will need to be most alert, where you might go wrong and locate the regrouping and lunch stops, together with the times. And of course, bring the map/s with you on the day.

Bring two-way radio's and listen to information being relayed.

If you've never attended a run, find one now and have a great day out.

[Hat]

good idea & some top tips there rams. some from me:

1. know the area. don't organise a run in an area you are unfamiliar with. if unforseen things like road closures happen (& they do) you need to know how to get back on course.

2. have at least one other person who knows as much as you & who can sit at the rear of the group to act as 'sweeper'.

3. if you're planning stops using priivate car parks (pubs etc), let them know in advance. most won't mind if you let them know. turning up unnanouced with 50 cars will upset them.

4. don't try to organise every last detail, especially lunch. find a lunch spot with options & let people make their own minds up.

5. as a rough guide, how ever long it takes to drive the route from start to finish the run will take double this time with stops.

6. this last one for me is critical; be aware that if there is an incident along the way people will look to you as the organiser to sort things out. many runs have had minor bumps - its almost inevitable with so many cars - as run organiser be prepared for this & have an idea of what you will do. simply driving off & leaving people will not endear you, but you can't stop an entire run to sort out one car. this is where your sweeper becomes invaluable

7. check the local calendar for events. there's nothing worse than organising a run through a town when its gala day

[Mini-Trainer]

Thanks for the input guys

Can this be made a sticky please?

[Mini-Trainer]

Without your help this thread is worthless. Please share your knowledge

Many thanks
Rams

[Paul]

I'll post up some thoughts later this week, including having a good disclaimer on your "recommended route guide".

[minisoopercooper]

On the run notes a couple of years ago I started small pics of the junctions. This is particularly helpful if it is a multiple junction. This means people can see instantly if they are taking the correct turn and know for sure they are on the correct point at the correct time.

We (severns) have started providing ITN files for the tomtom as most of us have them. This is very very effective and a must if you have the technology.

[Mini-Trainer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

I'll post up some thoughts later this week, including having a good disclaimer on your "recommended route guide".

Thanks Paul

[Mini-Trainer]

Quote: Originally Posted by minisoopercooper (original)

On the run notes a couple of years ago I started small pics of the junctions. This is particularly helpful if it is a multiple junction. This means people can see instantly if they are taking the correct turn and know for sure they are on the correct point at the correct time.

We (severns) have started providing ITN files for the tomtom as most of us have them. This is very very effective and a must if you have the technology.

Any examples?

Cheers Matey

Rams

[TonyM]

There's examples of the details provided on a Severns run in the first post of this thread

http://www.mini2.com/forum/uk-irelan...n-details.html

[minisoopercooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini-Trainer (original)

Any examples?

Cheers Matey

Rams

As TonyM says above see his full run notes above, I cant seem to find mine atm but heres a pic illustrating what I meant

[Shamster]

Try and avoid too many right turns at T-junctions

[Shamster]

Here's another couple that we've used on our Maniacs runs for years:

1. If you're towards the back of the pack and you get left behind flash (your lights ) to let people further up know that you've been left behind. Cars further up should be keep a lookout for this and flash all the way to the leader at the front.

When you've caught up flash well in advance all the way up the queue - so that the people at the front can get going without you having to stop for them.

2. When approaching red traffic lights if you have two lanes available for going forward use both lanes equally and don't all bunch behind the leader in one lane. Using both lanes and allowing each other in as required will mean that more people can get through one change of lights .

[Mini-Trainer]

Use the three long honks on the horn to get things rolling from the stop points.

Rams

[Mini-Trainer]

Have a brief ready with bullett points before the run starts, inclusion of....
1,Valid points on the run notes that need explaining, dangers etc
2,Explain the amount of time for each break. (Stop points)
3,Explain the groupings, leaders and sweepers who they are and cars etc.
4,Any ammendments to the current run notes (Gained by the last Reccie run)
5,Explain the Run Notes to the Navigator and there importance to the run.
6,Safety issues.
7, In the event of an emergency procedure.
8,Run Rules
9,Your role whitin the run
10, Questions

Rams