Adidas King of the Road 2009: Race Kit Claiming Fail

I was supposed to pick my race kit for the Adidas King of the Road marathon on October 25. It just so happens that today is also the 2nd day of their usual 3-day sales. I was informed that Adidas had alloted specific times for race kit pick ups, and having joined the 10k, I ended up going to the mall shortly before 1230. I had a quick meal at Sbarros, and was on my way to Megatrade Hall 2 when I saw a small crowd forming outside. So I said to myself, they’re probably just taking long because of the stubs that have to be submitted.

Well, I was wrong.

Apparently, they were regulating the number of people that went into the place. Fine, there were lines inside, and it depended on what distance category you joined as to where you should lineup. What I don’t understand is why they had to regulate the number of people going in when the place wasn’t even packed. The lines were long yeah, but the place was empty. It didn’t even help that those who weren’t even there to claim their race kits could freely walk in and out of the place. Booboo number one.

Booboo number two is worse. Earlier in the day, a friend of mine registered for the 5k, so I asked him to find out if I could come in early to get my race kit. The organizers said no, and that I had to follow the time that was designated on my registration form. While waiting in line for the 10k race kits, there was a group of people on the side, opening some boxes on the floor. Guess what, they had just started putting the singlets in the race envelopes. How could they have started just then when people were already claiming their race kits?

This brings me to booboo number three. I had already been standing in line for around 30 minutes (by then, I think I had only managed to move a few feet forward, with around 150 more people in front of me) when I heard one of the announcers say that those whose race kits are missing need not worry, and that Adidas will be delivering them within the week. So in other words, if I had gone ahead and waited for my turn, and they didn’t have my race kit there, they were going to deliver it. What if I had stood in line for 2 hours, or even more? Needless to say, I gave up my position in the line because I had to go back to the office.

Booboo number four. I asked some of the organizers what would happen if I decided to come in early the next day to pick up my race kit. The obviously unsure fellow informed me that a lot of 10k racers actually came in as soon as they opened to claim their race kits. What kind of a circus were they running there? Multiple people were saying different things.

I’m at the office right now, still contemplating if I should go back to Megamall and try to claim my race kit. I am after all in Shaw boulevard already. It may be better so I won’t have to return tomorrow. Who knows what mess I’ll find if I go there tomorrow.

I just had to post this because I think this is one of the most poorly organized pre-race functions I have ever seen here in the Philippines. Anytime you try and expect thousands to join your race, and try cramming them into a few hours, that’s a obviously a lapse in expectations right there. I won’t remember the race for what it was. Instead, I’ll remember the race for how difficult it was to secure the damn race kit.

Calling Adidas Philippines? You should have just made your more accessible stores the race kit redemption centers.

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