I went out this morning at about 0900 to help set up some equipment for a YMCA gymnastics demonstration downtown which is part of the cities Winter Festival. after setting up, I needed to get back home to shower, shave, change, and get ready to head back for the actual show. When I came back home about 2hrs later, I got to my street only to find that I couldn’t get there from here. There was a cop and some barricades all telling me I had to turn around. No problem, I thought, I’ll go down around the other end of the Island and drive up the other end of my street. Well, that was a non-starter too. Cops there, barricades, and yep, you guessed it, a local road race. Not just a race, but a 5K run/walk, so you know the back end of the field wasn’t moving at brakneck speed or anything. Talk about being pissed off, infuriated, angry, enraged, you name it, I was mad. I actually had a cop tell me I should go grab a cup of coffee somewhere, because it would be awhile.
Now, I’m hanging out on this forum, so it should be obvious I don’t have a problem with local road races or triathlons, and I understand that they need to close off the streets sometimes to put these things on. However, during the weeks and months preceding this race, there was no warning that my street would be closed. There were no signs or cones up when I left at 0900 telling me I wouldn’t be able to get back to my home at 1100. There was no friendly flyer put in my mailbox, no phone call from the city or the race organizer, no nothing. Is it unreasonable to expect that someone (race organizer, city, police dept., etc) let the residents along a street know if they are going to be prevented from leaving or getting to their homes? Am I being unreasonable in thinking I, and the rest of my neighbors, should have recived some sort of head’s up about this? And is this sort of thing standard operating procedure for races? I always assume when I race that the organizer did these things, since I usually see people sitting on their lawns watching the race or selling lemonade or whatever. I know I’m military, and we can tend to take planning to the extreme, but this doesn’t seem like something that should be too hard to remember to do. Someone please tell me I’m not just being an a-hole about this issue.
(I’m fine with being an a-hole about other things, by the way)
I used to be race dir for a community 5K race. It was a small event (only 300). One of the requirements for our municipal permit was that we post notification on every lightpost along the route and notify every residence (via mail or flyer) along the route.
Shit! A local race is coming to town. This is just giong to ruin my day. I hate you fucking triathletes and disagree with everything you guys are about.
Not to hijack the thread, so I’ll first say that you’re right about the race notification thing, especially if the race is keeping people from getting to/from their houses or places of business. What was it we used to say in the Nav, big guy? “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance”?
On the Newport theme, I was stationed there a few times, for permanent duty and a couple of training courses. Loved it. Rented a house down near Second Beach. I imagine it’s changed quite a bit since I last was there in '96, though. Hell, it changed a ton since I first was there in the late 70’s/early 80’s
“Someone please tell me I’m not just being an a-hole about this issue.”
Damn, Admiral, I’m totally forced to agree with you. The local constabulary has an obligation to forewarn, especially since this shindig was obviously not impromptu…
“(I’m fine with being an a-hole about other things, by the way) ;-)”
I love riding in the LA Triathlon. I’m sure plenty of notice is given, but there’s still people who are unaware and get caught. Apparently quite a few because at nearly every downtown blocked intersection is a huge backup of cars, most of them honking their horns in a mad rage. It’s a beautiful thing to be riding down a major boulevard, all out with no traffic and seeing all those irate people who failed to notice the signs that had been up for weeks.
You’re right, though. You should have been notified. I’m also surprised at the late hour they’re running their event.
You’d be surprised, but a lot of civilians wouldn’t know what 0900 would mean. I’ve never been in the military myself, but growing up as a military brat I’m used to this way of telling of time. In fact my dad still uses it today, years after his retirement. Amazing how many people don’t clue in, especially when you say times between noon and midnight this way.
Must have been one of those local fund raisers like the wife and I participate in. The fastest runners usually blitz the 5kms but then the walkers show up much later in the day.
