Running a Quiz
The following is a (totally) unscientific quiz to see what kind of a runner you are.
- How should places for a race be handed out?
- Free-for-all, first come first serve
- First come first serve, but runner with better times have priority
- Strictly based on finishing times
- Random draw
- The registration fee for your favourite hometown race has gone up 20%. What would you do?
- Keep entering the race, year after year
- Join the next race. If it is run the same way as before, look for something else to enter
- Go and see if there is an changes before entering
- Boycott the race. Never to return
- What should an ideal course for a race held in a city/urban setting consists of?
- Roads inaccessible by others (such as tunnels)
- Lots of Highways/Expressways
- A mixture of different types of roads
- Major city streets
- What would you say when you learn that your race begins before sunrise?
- "Great! There would be less distraction."
- "Wouldn't we wake the others?"
- "Wouldn't the course be a little quiet?"
- "That means there would be few people cheering."
- If you have a say on the race's shirt sponsor, what would you tell the organizers?
- "I will wear what you hand out, no matter what."
- "I don't care. I won't wear it after the race anyways."
- "If it ain't broke, don't change it."
- "We should have the same sponsors as the top races."
- Which of the following best describes your attitude towards runners wearing costumes?
- "You don't belong here. This race is for serious runners."
- "What they wear is none of my business."
- "I don't dress up myself, but I like their creativity."
- "I am one of you."
- What would you do if you see someone (other than volunteers associated with the event) offering snacks to runners?
- Report any runner who receive them to race officials.
- Tell other runners that the snack is not safe to eat.
- Ignore them and keep running.
- Accept the snacks you like and smile at them.
- What would you say if another runner criticizes the race you regularly enter?
- "How dare you criticize them (the organizers)? Without them this race wouldn't exist."
- "They are doing the best they can do."
- "What can you do? Complain? They will never change."
- "You are right. Let's make suggestions to the organizers on how to improve the race."
- Often an expo is held next to the venue where runners pick up their bibs. What is your ideal expo like?
- For runners only. Nothing else, period.
- It should focus on running. Having something else would not be too bad, though.
- I don't know about outsiders, but it should be something I can spend some time in.
- It should be a place where anyone can have a fun day.
- What would your reaction be if you find out supplies (e.g. water, sports drink) at (official) water/food stations are running low?
- "Tough. Good thing I have brought my own supplies."
- "If I can't beat them in the race, at least I can beat them to get what I need."
- "That's not fair to the late starters."
- "They aren't organizing a race for the first time. Are they?"
- It is raining, and you see the volunteers are soaking wet and checked bags are lying on the wet ground. How do you feel?
- "Tough. The volunteers should have brought their own rain gear and the runners should have brought waterproof bags."
- "The volunteers deserve better and the bags don't belong on the ground."
- "The organizers better have a good explanation."
- "The organizers should have spent some money to rent extra tents/tarps."
- What should the finishing area of a race be like?
- Full of marshals to get people out of there quickly, and no outsiders
- Big enough so runners have enough room to cool down and stretch
- Large enough for non-runners to watch the finish and greet them afterwards
- Large enough to host a post-race fair for runners and non-runners alike
For each question, you get 1 point if you answer (a); 2 points if you answer (b); 3 points if you answer (c); and 4 points if you answer (d).
Based on your score, you
12 - 19 points: Simply want to take part in races. Everything else, such as how well the race is organized, matters little.
20 - 26 points: Have some expectations on how the race's organization, but you can be easily satisfied.
27 - 33 points: Focus mainly on running the race, but have some demands on how the race is organized.
34 - 40 points: Have certain expectations on how a race is organized, and like to have some involvement by non-runners.
41 - 48 points: Have high expectations on how the race should be organized and want everyone, runner and non-runner alike, to have fun.