EOD - subject to map availability - arrrh!

[Tim]

I apologise in advance for banging on about the old days but having recently returned to the sport any observation I have about the current state of affairs tends to be compared to how it was 20 years ago, anyway.....

There is a new thing I keep seeing which is "Entry on the Day - subject to map availability". My problem is that I can pre-enter an event 'cos I know I'll do it regardless. However I don't pre-enter my young kids (5 and 7) as they/we decide whether to go as a family depending on other factors such as the weather or how they feel that morning. I see no point putting them off the sport by forcing them to do it. So I now don't know if they can run, even if they want to, until we travel to the event.

In the olden days at bigger pre-entry badge events the age class courses were supplemented with EOD wayfarer and/or shorter colour-coded courses. Problems with map numbers were solved by marking up your own map after you started (I assume this is totally dead as a concept and is considered laughably old fashioned, as even the smallest events I now go to have pre-marked maps). However if printing the correct number of pre-marked maps is such a fine financial balancing act, could not the shorter CC courses be offered with EOD and the option of marking your own maps, either at registration or in the start lanes?

This would solve my predicament, which can’t be unique.

[MIE]

Self marking up the courses would normally be OK, but nowadays
the planner/mapper/organiser (take your pick) no longer produce the
"blank" maps that were available in "the old days". Many clubs produce
the number of pre-entries plus a margin (say 10%) whilst others
will give a bit more leeway for certain courses.
Maps will now be printed in the week (or even day) before an event (level B,C,or D).

For White, Yellow or Orange I normally allow 10 or 15 spares per course so
as not to turn away youngsters/first timers, I normally only have only 10/15
"blank" maps printed for use in start lanes, passing to landowners, First Aid and
"archive" as I know there will be an update for the next event and a new print.

Some organisers will try and "recycle" maps if they run out, but that may not always
work. This is normally only required for the most popular courses (Blue and Green ?)

In "the old days" the club printed 1 or 2 thousand maps, did hand drawn map updates,
hand drawn courses at the 2nd,3rd etc subsequent events.
Technology is good for some things and not quite so good for others

[Mrs H]

Tim - how often have your children not been able to run because there were no maps left?

[frostbite]

I have been to events (MDOC I think) that were able to print maps at the event to meet demand. This would be the ideal solution but is probably not easy to set up. The cost per map must be higher than getting them printed in advance, and possibly the quality lower.

[frog]

I'm trying to decide what to do re maps for our next local event. Numbers can be between 7 and 70. In the past I've had a few preprinted and the rest mastermaps which makes things more flexible, we have been moving towards all preprinted maps but that increases the likelihood of running out of one so on these comments I might go with the more flexible option and just have individual map boards so people can mark them up in their cars if the weather is bad.

[Clive Coles]

I've also suggested this frostbite ~ surely all you need is a laptop loaded with the OCAD courses and a (probably) A4 printer that can be taken to the event just in case. You would need to connect it into your power supply to get the printer to work.

But there could well be quality issues ~ the map may not be so clear with approved colour tones as you may well need to use a cheaper ink jet printer. But, better to let them have a run with an adequate map rather than turn anyone away.

Like all bright ideas, more hastle for the event team.

[frog]

With our recent weather I'd rather have a good quality waterproof map and mark it up myself than a preprinted one on normal paper.

[Paul Frost]

There are a few problems with printing at the event.
Printers draw more power to work, so if you are using a battery supply or small generator it may not have the oomph needed.
Laser printers don't like being moved about much.
Damp air/paper can cause problems.

[frostbite]

I wish I could remember where it was. The map was printed at registration and you had to take it to the start yourself, rolled up and sealed. Maybe it was all a dream.

Perhaps for non-competitive white/yellow/orange courses they could be published on the internet in advance, and people could print their own? I doubt this would be giving too much away about the competitive courses. At most events you can see white/yellow at registration anyway.

[King Penguin]

I suspect a lot of people would not think to print their own before travelling, unless the practice became the norm, so you still need a plan B.
I would go for "best guess" extras preprinted for each course, erring on the side of caution, and then an emergency supply of blanks for manual mark-up to give extra flexibility.
You may spend a few more £s on printing but better that than having to turn people away.
Recycling is of course an option, with the promise of sending a fresh new map after the event to those who give their up.

[Tim]

To answer Mrs H's question - none.

But they have only done small "saturday series" events to date, so I have no idea what the risk is of not being able to run at the pre-entry/limited EOD event I'm going to this weekend.

The question implies I might be being paranoid as the risk is small. But the only other larger event I took them to was the November Classic - which was cancelled when we got there - so fortune has not smiled on us in the past.

[AndyC]

We're considering "print on demand" for this Sunday's event at Ray Demense (notorious for http://forum.nopesport.com/viewtopic.php?t=11412 -sorry Colin) having borrowed a generator from the army that they've used at MLN events. Slightly worried that we're trying it when the forecast is for snow .
BTB Level B events require "professionally printed " maps I think and or our CSC heat I was offering locally printed maps for late entries not involved in the competiton

[andypat]

My advice would be to consider pre-entering the kids if there's any likelihood at all of them going and then make the effort to take them. Most events pre-entry for kids up here is only around £3.

In my experience EOD these days can be fraught with tension - long queues, stressed and understaffed helpers, and worst sin of all in my wife's eyes - getting to the front of the queue and being directed to a separate table of forms to fill in and rejoin the back of the queue! An experience far more likely to put anyone off than being forced to turn up but being able to head straight to the start.

[frostbite]

I suspect a lot of people would not think to print their own before travelling, unless the practice became the norm, so you still need a plan B.

Actually I was thinking that most people would continue to purchase their map in the normal way, but anybody in Tim's position could guarantee themselves a map by bringing their own.

Then you could have an argument about how much they should pay.

[Arnold]

I think the problem would be solved by organisers ensuring there are plenty of spare maps on the day, but in return significantly putting up prices vs pre entry, so there's no financial loss only a bit of wasted paper.

The issue today is that usually EOD is only an extra £1 or £2 vs pre entry, so lots of people hold off to see how they / the family / the weather feel on the day.

If people want convenience (ie a guaranteed map when you turn up on the day) they should be charged for that - probably £5 extra not £1.