Southampton Urban and November Classic, 3-4 Nov

[Ali Wood]

It sure does create a reaction! You've probably been through this argument months and years ago, forum old-timers. I'll shut up.

[Arnold]

Ali, if you're free this weekend come down to London and experience the biggest UK city race for yourself. I'll pay you the entry fee and if afterwards you still think Urban Races are a waste of time, you're allowed to continue ranting against them. Deal?

[Roger]

Will this weekend be possible by public transport? It might then attract some more of the (often M/W21-35) London types who don't have a car. Public transport info on the event details would be nice. With cheap flights into Southampton airport the weekend might even attract some runners from abroad?

I'll leave it to someone more knowledgeable to reply about Sunday, but the event centre for Saturday is at The Quays (leisure centre), about 800m from Southampton Central railway station. There's a direct line between there and Southampton airport.

[mharky]

You can get to Cadnam by bus from Southampton, but that's about as close as you can get. It would be a couple of km run from there. Or train to Totton and maybe a 10m cycle (http://www.buscms.com/uploadedfiles/Blu ... utemap.pdf)

[Mrs H]

Ali, if you're free this weekend come down to London and experience the biggest UK city race for yourself. I'll pay you the entry fee and if afterwards you still think Urban Races are a waste of time, you're allowed to continue ranting against them. Deal?

It's a bloody good offer

[Tim]

For Sunday, the other closest train stations are Romsey or Ashford New Forest (not that trains stop there very often) which are both about a 10 mile (very pleasant) cycle away.

[mharky]

Totton is a few miles closer than Romsey to cycle, and more frequent trains from Southampton Central (Weymouth/Poole/Bournemouth line)

[SeanC]

That's very helpful info on the cycling but....

I think there is an opportunity here. If the November Classic organisers were to book one of those minibus taxis to depart from Southampton station at say 9.30 and 10am on the sunday, then the weekend then gets attractive for those that prefer / need to go by public transport.... which is going to include more M/W21's etc which we're all keen to encourage. Plus the weekend then becomes doable for those flying in to Southampton. Probably it's a small minority who would want to do the train or plain then bike option. Good publicity opportunities this weekend?

[mharky]

I think you're bringing up a concept that could work nation wide here.

In Switzerland they have set standards for their national events. They must all be reachable by public transport, have indoor changing showers and other stuff like that. The often have walks to the start and finish, but the assembly areas end up being fantastic social arenas.

Now in the UK our terrain is often very far from public transport, so that would be impossible to organise. However, there could be the arrangements of getting a minibus or similar to ferry groups of people from the nearest public transport hub to the forest. They'd need similar start times, but that's not hard to arrange.

It would need some testing before hand, and you'd need to know you'd fill the transport and cover the costs. Similar to how the 6-days and other UK multi-days sometimes have buses from the campsite.

The other option is to have a well used car-pooling system. You'd need to have a webpage, Nopesport tried but it didn't really take off. But basically people would post if they had space or needed a lift and could then arrange pick ups etc. It's a good concept, but you'd need lots of people to buy into it.

I gave my parents a mouthful at the JK this year because we had a spare seat in the car and drove straight past someone walking to the event. The problem is, everyone does this and thinks that the next car will pick them up...

[oo_wrong_way]

If the November Classic organisers were to book one of those minibus taxis to depart from Southampton station at say 9.30 and 10am on the sunday, then the weekend then gets attractive for those that prefer / need to go by public transport.... which is going to include more M/W21's etc which we're all keen to encourage.

I will pass this on to the organiser and post back his response.

[Mrs H]

As organiser of the Great Malvern bit of the Midland champs weekend I was asked the same thing. While Malvern was eminently reachable by public transport rural Herefordshire was not. I simply took the Lady from her accommodation in Malvern on Sunday and returned her to the railway station afterwards. I'm sure I could have organised similar lifts for others if requested. I'd have put her up but it was a bit crowded in my house. I booked a table for around 30 people at Wetherspoons that night - we know how to live it up in Malvern - it was good fun (well I thought it was anyway )

[SeanC]

I will pass this on to the organiser and post back his response

Thanks OO Wrong Way.

One thought.... if organisers in general wanted to get people to pay in advance they could set up a fabian4 event just to pay the minibus fare (and pick a time), and this might help publicise the option.

[oo_wrong_way]

mmm. The organiser needs convincing of the worth of doing this. It would be good to know if we do have a reasonable number who would be prepared to compete on the Sunday given that shared transport was available (on a cost neutral basis). pm me if you want transport from Southampton centre and we'll see what comes of it.