Epic Failure of 2011 Energizer Night Race at Sepang

I never thought I will ever have to write a blog to complaint but this epic event deserves a post in my blog to let others know how the excited supporters of 2010 ENR were disappointed by this run.

I remember when I registered for this run I highlighted about the goodie bags distribution issue last year where many runners had to queue for long time, NO response from the organizer. Then I suggested to have those reflective strips to be added on the black vest to increase visibility of the runners at night, NO response too. The organizer seems to enjoy what they were doing, they have the impression that this run will SELL anyway !!! It did. But now I wonder they can get 1000 runners for next event, if any.

The list of complaints for this event is so long that I need to keep it short :

1. Selling RM3 for a bottle of mineral water is daylight robbery.

2. RM10 parking fees without informing the runners.

3. Only 1 water station in the whole 5.5 km track.

4. Limited marshals on field.

5. No clear direction of where the starting point is.

6. Starting / Finishing line looks like a 1000 runners event to me.

7. NO WATER at the finishing line.

8. Goodie bags distribution station is refugee camp after tsunami hits Sepang.

9. No distance mark ( OK, I saw the 8.5 km and the "final 2 km" sign...)

10. Headlights distribution is much WORSE than last year, I wonder there was even any staff working.

11. Existing water station was too short/small to handle the crowd, I only took my 1st bottle of water ( yeah, I went straight to the boxes...) at 14th km...

12. Despite the venue is capable of hosting more than 10K ppl, there was no clear separation of 5.5 km / 11 km finisher goodie collection from the 21 km category.

and the list goes on when you read from the facebook pages :

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/BoycottEnergizerNightRace

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/EnergizerNightRaceMalaysia

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/Energizer2011

The damage is done, it is impossible for Energizer to calm everyone down, but an official apology via press and perhaps a refund or in kind will show their effort to rest the case, the longer they take, the worse it gets, people will REMEMBER for years and will NEVER participate any of the event major sponsored by Energizer or organized by Expose.com.my.

I would suggest :

1. Send out the goodie bags as promised, don't take too long.

2. Refund in kind : goods, cash vouchers, I don't care.

3. Have an official announcement to apologize, you already lose face, don't lose dignity.

4. Organize another run FULLY funded by Energizer (get another organizer pls) as an effort to get the runners back, make the run benefits the less fortunate community, you will need to spend a lot of money, but if money can save your ass, do it.

5. Learn from other run events if you ever want to do this again, take advice from runners themselves, we know what we NEED !!!