Discussion: Save the date!
in: 2016 Seattle Adventure Running Tournament (9/10 - 9/11) (Sep 10–11, 2016 - Seattle, WA, US)
Sep 28, 2015 7:14 PM
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Since SART 2015 was such a big hit, we'd like to do another one next year!
Expect a very similar format to this year. We haven't started exploring the permitting yet, so I can't announce any ideas for the Saturday races.
But we *should* be able to use the University of Washington campus for the Sunday races, since we'd be going two weeks earlier in 2016. Classes start really late at UW, and they wouldn't allow permits for any external events during Dawg Daze (orientation week).
Going two weeks earlier also avoids a scheduling conflict with US Classics and NAOC 2016.
Expect a very similar format to this year. We haven't started exploring the permitting yet, so I can't announce any ideas for the Saturday races.
But we *should* be able to use the University of Washington campus for the Sunday races, since we'd be going two weeks earlier in 2016. Classes start really late at UW, and they wouldn't allow permits for any external events during Dawg Daze (orientation week).
Going two weeks earlier also avoids a scheduling conflict with US Classics and NAOC 2016.
Sep 28, 2015 10:36 PM
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Now that I have learned that this is actually a sprint orienteering tournament, I may just come next year. But, for some "adventure running" in Seattle... No, I paid no attention to this event this year. Consider renaming it...
Sep 28, 2015 11:59 PM
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walk:
Agree with Tapio. No chance of crossing the country for "Adventure Running", but Lyn has never been to Seattle so maybe.
Sep 29, 2015 1:05 AM
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The inaugural event sold out, I'm expecting next year's to sell out, so I don't see a downside with the name.
Sep 29, 2015 2:33 AM
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Sold out with a stacked field too. Well done. Sounds like an upside to me.
Sep 29, 2015 3:27 AM
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I'm generally on board with the idea of rebranding with a term like "Adventure Running" that sounds cooler and more inviting to newbies than "orienteering". But I had never considered the possibility of orienteers being screened out by that change. Patrick, I'm curious about how many of your SART participants were experienced orienteers vs. first-timers who were lured to try "adventure running"...?
Sep 29, 2015 9:25 PM
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And maybe the participants aren't the only consideration; the cooler name might also be more appealing to potential sponsors.
Sep 29, 2015 10:17 PM
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OK, well, maybe not everybody is wanted.
It's too bad you feel that way, because my goal was to be as inclusive as possible.
From the front page of the SART website:
"Join us in Seattle on September 26th and 27th for the first-ever Seattle Adventure Running Tournament! Registration will open in May and and will be first-come, first-served. All running speeds and all experience levels are welcome!"
And from the Attackpoint event page:
"ALL participants will be able to run ALL rounds of the tournament.
All participants will compete in the same bracket. After the final round, we'll have awards for the overall champion, as well as top men and women in the following age categories: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60+."
My goal all along was "If you build it, they will come." I created the bracket back in 2009, and it just took a while to get enough ISSOM maps to make the first one happen. My wife and I have earned a really good reputation (at least in the PNW) about organizing really good events, so I knew that if we put the event on the calendar, people would come. I wasn't too concerned about marketing or target demographics. I figured we'd sell out the 80 spots and I'd be happy no matter what.
And we effing crushed it. This event was so so so successful and everyone loved it. Not one participant who attended suggested a name change. Next year will be bigger and better and it'll sell out again. If you want to be a part of it, great. If not, that's fine, too.
It's too bad you feel that way, because my goal was to be as inclusive as possible.
From the front page of the SART website:
"Join us in Seattle on September 26th and 27th for the first-ever Seattle Adventure Running Tournament! Registration will open in May and and will be first-come, first-served. All running speeds and all experience levels are welcome!"
And from the Attackpoint event page:
"ALL participants will be able to run ALL rounds of the tournament.
All participants will compete in the same bracket. After the final round, we'll have awards for the overall champion, as well as top men and women in the following age categories: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60+."
My goal all along was "If you build it, they will come." I created the bracket back in 2009, and it just took a while to get enough ISSOM maps to make the first one happen. My wife and I have earned a really good reputation (at least in the PNW) about organizing really good events, so I knew that if we put the event on the calendar, people would come. I wasn't too concerned about marketing or target demographics. I figured we'd sell out the 80 spots and I'd be happy no matter what.
And we effing crushed it. This event was so so so successful and everyone loved it. Not one participant who attended suggested a name change. Next year will be bigger and better and it'll sell out again. If you want to be a part of it, great. If not, that's fine, too.
Sep 29, 2015 10:41 PM
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How many new guys came? I don't think I saw anyone that had not done O' before.
You should probably send them info on the WIOL races coming up and some questions on how they liked this event.
You should probably send them info on the WIOL races coming up and some questions on how they liked this event.
Sep 29, 2015 10:58 PM
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Patrick, I'm curious about how many of your SART participants were experienced orienteers vs. first-timers who were lured to try "adventure running"...?
All 80 were within the orbit of orienteering. 78 of them I'd consider somewhat regulars or more. Of the two who aren't, one is the boyfriend of a regular and his first orienteering event was the previous weekend in a corn maze. After a few races, he decided that participating in the tournament wasn't his style, so he cheered along instead.
The other is more into adventure racing (and an AR teammate of one of CascadeOC's board members). He was intrigued by the name and concept of the event. He said afterward that he enjoyed it way more than he thought he would, and he also won the "most improved award" (biggest gain from time trial placing to final round placing).
I pitched the event a few times to the local running group that I'm in a few times. There was some mild interest, but answers usually sounded something like: "Oh, I'm training for Portland [marathon]" or "Oh, that's too soon after an ultra" or some such. I had a plan in my back pocket to give away two free entries to the running group, but I didn't feel like I needed to do this, so I didn't.
The cooler name might also be more appealing to potential sponsors.
This was a consideration, too. I thought about plugging into the Road Runner Sports Adventure Runs, but again, after feeling the initial pulses of the registrations, I didn't feel like this was something I needed to do for 2015 (it didn't help that the RRS Adventure Runs weren't very organized this year like in years past). The name definitely has future potential with the non-orienteering crowd, but it's just a matter of whether I need or want to go that direction. Aside from a few posts on AP and club emails, most of the buzz for SART 2015 was word-of-mouth (which is how we got some non-local US team members and a WOC medalist). I didn't spend any of my publicity budget!
Some SART demographics, if you were wondering:
Age
00-19......5
20-39.....41
40-59.....30
60-79......5
Sex
Male......47
Female....34
Location
Seattle...48
Vancouver.14
California.7
Rest of US.9 (CO x 2, MA x 2, OR x 2, NY, DC, GA)
Europe.....3 (SWE, SUI, NOR)
All 80 were within the orbit of orienteering. 78 of them I'd consider somewhat regulars or more. Of the two who aren't, one is the boyfriend of a regular and his first orienteering event was the previous weekend in a corn maze. After a few races, he decided that participating in the tournament wasn't his style, so he cheered along instead.
The other is more into adventure racing (and an AR teammate of one of CascadeOC's board members). He was intrigued by the name and concept of the event. He said afterward that he enjoyed it way more than he thought he would, and he also won the "most improved award" (biggest gain from time trial placing to final round placing).
I pitched the event a few times to the local running group that I'm in a few times. There was some mild interest, but answers usually sounded something like: "Oh, I'm training for Portland [marathon]" or "Oh, that's too soon after an ultra" or some such. I had a plan in my back pocket to give away two free entries to the running group, but I didn't feel like I needed to do this, so I didn't.
The cooler name might also be more appealing to potential sponsors.
This was a consideration, too. I thought about plugging into the Road Runner Sports Adventure Runs, but again, after feeling the initial pulses of the registrations, I didn't feel like this was something I needed to do for 2015 (it didn't help that the RRS Adventure Runs weren't very organized this year like in years past). The name definitely has future potential with the non-orienteering crowd, but it's just a matter of whether I need or want to go that direction. Aside from a few posts on AP and club emails, most of the buzz for SART 2015 was word-of-mouth (which is how we got some non-local US team members and a WOC medalist). I didn't spend any of my publicity budget!
Some SART demographics, if you were wondering:
Age
00-19......5
20-39.....41
40-59.....30
60-79......5
Sex
Male......47
Female....34
Location
Seattle...48
Vancouver.14
California.7
Rest of US.9 (CO x 2, MA x 2, OR x 2, NY, DC, GA)
Europe.....3 (SWE, SUI, NOR)
Sep 29, 2015 11:33 PM
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It's too bad you feel that way, because my goal was to be as inclusive as possible.
I was just referring to the response that Tapio and George got in this thread, which came off sounding like, "we got all the people we needed, and they were awesome people, so failing to interest you was a benefit".
I was just referring to the response that Tapio and George got in this thread, which came off sounding like, "we got all the people we needed, and they were awesome people, so failing to interest you was a benefit".
This discussion thread is closed.