When Race Directors go bad

Race Directors are human beings and as such have an understanding relative to their own experience. Race Directors who are recruited to manage Ultra-marathons, but who have never participated in one themselves have no relevant point of view to rely on, and that begets problems. But, before I launch into a barrage of 'constructive criticism' I need to add that I have yet to run a 'bad' ultra... it's just that some are better than others.

I once ran a 50k that was managed by a committee... and from all outward appearances no one on that committee had ever actually competed in an ultra. Fortunately, what the organizers lacked in experience they made up for with enthusiasm... like enthusiastically doubling the amount of Cytomax to water ratio... I did like the idea of a Bloody Mary at the finish line but not at the twenty mile mark... When the distance between trail markings suddenly changed from every 200 yards to a mile or so, it raised hell with my confidence... I had visions of search and rescue finding a dessicated carcass out in the desert miles from the course. With all it's 'problems' I'll still run it again next year... The home-made German chocolate cake at fourteen miles was to die for...

Perhaps the worst sin an Ultra Race Director can commit is not communicating with his entrants. It's like trail markers. Spacing them too far apart places an unnecessary burden on people who are already stressed from training, race strategy planning, and in some remote venues, the process of getting there. Race Directors who live near a venue often take for granted that everyone else is as knowledgeable. Race Directors who hire non-runners to perform essential tasks without providing adequate guidance will likely treat the entrants likewise on race day.

In this Internet world where communication is fast and cheap there is no excuse to not provide routine and frequent updates, even if it's to say "everything is on schedule". At the Transrockies it's clear that there is extensive professional communications between the organization and sponsors and the media... It is conversely as sparse between the organization and the runners...
The best media relations will eventually go for naught if the running community elects to give the race a pass. Is this years half-capacity field indicative of last years pre-race experience? Considering the course and the advertised amenities, it should have been sold-out within days. I wonder if the bike entrants were treated likewise.

EDITED NOTE: I received a clarifying e-mail from Jenn at TR this afternoon after posting this article... She addressed my concerns about routing and has indicated that more and better communications will be forthcoming. The e-mail was appreciated...