Running
Being only semi computer-literate, I long resisted the idea of registering for races on-line. For that matter I resisted buying anything online, imagining some scrawny 18-year-old computer geek in Bulgaria buying TV sets and video games with my stolen credit card number.
But times change. After assurances (and harassment) from some of my younger, more techno-savvy running associates, I was at last persuaded to try online race registrations. Not only was it easy they said, but it was also a benefit to race organizers who didn’t have to manually enter each runner’s name, address, and other essential data into the computer. Recalling my past experience with doing some of the data input for The Race That’s Good for Life, that made good sense.
Not only did we have to decipher some awful handwriting on race applications, we also had to occasionally interpret the runner’s basic data. Everybody said our entry form was well laid out and easy to follow, but race entrants would sometimes omit vital stuff. A runner might enter his age as, say 29, but list his date of birth as the current year. Or perhaps it was somebody with an unfamiliar ethnic-sounding name?#34;was it male or female? But omitting a check in the male/female boxes, who knew? And so it went. But with on-line race registrations it’s up to you. If the information is wrong on race day, you can’t blame somebody else.
A majority of runners seem to be more up-scale, folks with personal computers or access to them, so online registration is usually no problem. And for those lacking computers there is still the mail-in option at most races. Online registration has been a real benefit to races by reducing the data entry chore, and runners seem to like the convenience and accuracy of the process.
An interesting example showed up for me at a recent race. I had registered online at least two weeks in advance, but on race night my bib number was nowhere to be found. No problem, said the friendly folks at the registration table. Just write your name on an entry form and we’ll issue a new number. I printed neatly I thought, but later the on-line race results listed a Dan Oppenheim from Chicago. So much for manual entries. At least the results listed my correct finishing time.
There has also been some controversy about processing fees. Some people say that runners should not be charged extra for registering online. But there is a definite cost for this service that must be paid. For example, let’s assume a race’s organizers figure they need $20 per runner to meet their revenue budget, and the on-line fee is $1.60 per entry. To absorb the processing charge in the entry fee most races would simply set the fee at $22, thus netting $20.40 per entry (gaining a little bonus at the same time). But if the entry fee is $20 and each on-line entry is charged an additional $1.60 fee by the processing company, which is preferable? I vote for number two.
So on-line registration is definitely here to stay, and despite my initial hesitation, I think it’s a good thing. So far I haven’t noticed any Bulgarian TV purchases on my credit card statements.
Paul Oppenheim is a member of the Oak Park Runners Club.