Be Alert Trail Runners

Be alert all Trail Runners,

I’m writing this letter with a heavy heart but just feel I need to get this message out to other runners. Some races have quite the price ticket and it is important to take note of the terms some of the events have regarding entry fees. My recent experience with the SOX Trail Race was a very disappointing experience - specifically dealing with the management team. I’ve entered many races before and I have in all my years of running, never ever experienced the treatment I received from them before. This letter is to tell you about the experience and hopefully saving someone else from falling into the same pitfalls.

When we enter races, most of these events are very costly, we expect terms and conditions, but lets face it we all tick those boxed but we do not always read everything in detail. What makes it tricky is some of these races are so popular that you have to enter months in advance. In that lies the problem, you can’t foresee any issues, months or even a year down the line. So like with the SOX race, you forfeit not only a deposit, but the full entry free and they are not actually open to discuss any options. Now we can debate that and we understand they have costs, but surely some vendors are not paid months in advance and is it right to keep the full entry fee. Surely late comers will grab those few spots. So the question here is, who’s interests are being looked after?

Under normal circumstances it would have left a bad taste, but you could get over the loss of all that money and not race for the rest of the year, but, surely with a world pandemic on our hands, there are more to consider than just the T&C’s on your site. In these extreme circumstance, surely one should be more accommodating. Things were very unsure with no clear way forward from the organisers, until late in July. I just find it very sad that they were not open to discuss or accommodate me with even a partial carry over. This request was met with a defensive attitude or just a no reply – in case you simply give up and go away. I just feel that they could have handled this situation much better that put both the race and the runner in a mutually beneficial potion. Now I will simply just forfeit my money (and it is not small change). What makes it more difficult to just accept is the way in which you are treated by SOX’s management.

I am sure there are more people who entered this race and feel exactly the way I do, I feel it’s a lot of money to forfeit if you can’t for any reason participate. As the Admin manger on their side said “carry over will cripple our race” why should we as runners take part in a race who doesn’t care about the runners. What about our co-runners who saved to enter or cannot afford to forfeit their money?

Runners make a race, not the event managers. Its runners that promote a race, give it credibility to some degree and are responsible for vibe at the event. I am not saying don’t enter for this race, but make sure you read the fine print. After this experience I certainly have no desire at all to do this race – I am left with a bitter after taste.