 | To be or not to be | |
The enormity of their enterprise has just struck them, and on a poignant trot around their proposed course, they have had a to-be-or-not-to-be discussion. Maybe it was the increased oxygen pumping through their systems, or the famed runner's high rendering their accounting skills very creative, or simply the inability of committed runners to stop before the finish, but our Trotters, with unbounded temerity, have decided to run their good race.
Hearts still pounding and damp patches spreading, they retire as usual to the local hostelry. But this time to get down to business.
One round later, their list of things to do looks like this:
| Creative accounting | |
"We're getting a race together and need some money… Why don't you help us out? After all, we're planning the start-finish over at The Park, and you'll pick up some business from it." "How much do you want?" came the immediately suspicious response. In for a penny, in for a poundthought our trotter, and replied with forced nonchalance, "Oh, a couple of thousand bucks would be a help…"
With practiced narrowing of the eyes, and supreme concentration on the jug on the bar, the publican wiped a clean ashtray. As fate would have it, the pokies had just turned over a record amount, and there was money in the kitty for another local club. The Trotters were regular if not highly profitable customers. They had been known to bring in a few new faces.
"Fifteen hundred and top billing on your sponsors' list. You'd have to be sure the people will come in here though. How about using the Garden Bar for the prize giving? We could set up the barbie. (Thinks: Extra snacks & nibbles. Those special sandwiches should appeal to runners.) Sundays we often have a bit of music in the afternoon. Could bring that forward, if you wanted." (Anything to keep the punters here until the dining room opens. They wont be wanting to cook when they get home. Mmm, could be a goer...)
This news was conveyed to the other Trotters who, inspired by this unexpected good fortune, were suddenly able to unearth at least four possible sources of income apiece, and undertake to get pledges before the week's end. A couple of slightly incoherent phone calls to club officials elicited tentative support, and the offer of a free Traffic Management Plan from one fresh graduate of the Transit NZ course. In fact, for a couple of cold ones, he'd go over the course with them in the morning.
| Signs and sighs | |
"Have you booked The Park?" said Recent Graduate helpfully. The Trotters looked from one to another. "Doesn't cost much." The Trotters looked to the heavens, and changed the subject. "It's basically a circuit of part of the river. With a deviation up and over Long Spur for variety."
Out they strode from The Park on to Main Road (a left turn) to the bridge (half a mile) with a left turn to follow the river for two miles along sedate Sylvan Street. Our Trotters had assumed their race would not present too many insuperable difficulties, as the course was not dependent on any major thoroughfare. But this first section caused a little concern to Recent Graduate: the footpath on the bridge, while adequate for four or five Trotters, was patently not wide enough for jostling racers and the pedestrian public. The road was barely wide enough for two lanes of traffic, so the only realistic option for the race was a partial road closure (signs, cones, marshalls…).
The Sylvan Street stretch presented no such difficulties until crossing River Road preparatory to the sharp climb up Hill Road. Traffic on River Road was constant, if not exactly hectic, and clear warning of a race in progress would be needed. It would not be possible to relocate the crossing to provide better visibility for traffic, so many more cones, signs and marshalls would be required here.
Ascending Hill Road to take a left turn down Long Lane to the ancient undulating network of steps and footpaths known as The Shortcut presented no traffic management problems, but clear marking of the course would be required from the beginning of The Shortcut to where it rejoined River Road (three miles). Recent Graduate made more calculations.
Taking a right turn here, the course continued for one and a half miles until it traversed the River Road Bridge (another partial road closure?). Once again the runners would have to cross River Road to turn left down Willow Terrace, but at least visibility would not be so tricky here. More calculations and notes. And then the River Road Fire Station came into view.
Unfortunately for Recent Graduate, this stretch of River Road had only one formed footpath, and that of course was on the same side as the Fire Station - the other side being a rather well beaten riverbank track. And as we know, the first rule of TMP is that if there is a footpath, it must be used. To complicate matters further, the riverside track wended its way through the broken yellow no-parking lines - not a preferred option as far as the Council would be concerned. Obviously, were there to be an emergency call-out, the fire engine must have unimpeded access to and on the road. That would mean physically stopping the runners. "Oh yeh!" one of our Trotters was heard to mutter.
| Flick the little Fire Station | |
"We could take our chances there wouldn't be an emergency call-out," said Recent Graduate. "Even though it would be straightforward enough to cross the runners before the Fire Station and leave them on that side of the road for the bridge turn, I don't think that the Council would wear it. There are too many potential problems with traffic control and runner control."
Shoulders were shrugged and our rather tired (and almost niggledy) group made their way across River Road Bridge on to Willow Terrace. For a couple of miles the course meandered alongside the river on a quiet spacious road - but another without formed footpaths on both sides. Should the runners cross Willow Terrace to use the footpath? Would a partial road closure be necessary on the riverside track? Recent Graduate said traffic flow statistics would have to be consulted before a decision could be made, but on the whole, as the road had to be crossed eventually, it would probably be preferable (and cheaper) to use the footpath.
A bit of weaving through peaceful tree-lined side streets (necessitated by the Trotters' insistence on a ten mile race) brought the course to the tricky Y-intersection which must be negotiated to get the runners back to The Park.
| A dead cert? | |
"Hmmm, I don't think there's anything to stop you using the Old Cemetery. After all, it has a formed road that is a public accessway. They'd lock the gates all the time, not just at sundown, if it weren't a public place. Let me look into that one. And the approach is straight down Vale Road, which you're using part of anyway. Perhaps you could measure that small section and make up the difference with a lap or two of The Park?"
Wearily, they made their way across the road from The Park to the pub.
"Plenty here to think about," mused Recent Graduate as the Trotters, good as their word, treated him to a cold one or two. "Not least of all the number of people coming over here afterwards. That could cause some traffic problems."
The small group sagged. Ever so slightly.
| On into the fray | |
Don't miss the next enthralling episode... part 3!
Cool Running 11.12.01. - Copyright (C) 2001 Heather Knowles
This article first appeared on The Parsley Patch web site.
