Part of our membership problem is that our runs are TOO long. We've self selected a group of people who think 70 or 80 minutes is an OK Run
10 years ago (when we were ten years younger) the runs were 45 minutes, +/- 10 minutes.
Now, as it's going to be difficult to get the old farts to give up their "extreme" sports, we're going to have to make sure there is always a good short run (not too short). The way the thai guys have been doing it. Where the short run is set by a different hare, not just a short cut off the long run, is probably the best way of ensuring this.
As for attracting new members ... it seems that hashing is just not that interesting for the younger generation (s)
However : even my kids find the Full Moon Hashes interesting and exciting. Maybe we should promote the night runs a bit more.
PS (pre-emptive): Rotten! yeah i know I didn't set a short run last time.
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Most hashes seem to be running longer these days. Vientiane & Phnom Penh are now almost always an hour or more, and Prickhard was saying that Petaling aims for 1:30 for the FRBs but sometimes runs even over that. Our memberships are getting more hardcore and seem to want it. 1:05-1:10 feels just about right to me -- is that unreasonable?
ReplyDeleteBut yes, we should try harder to offer good short runs. And a 2nd hare is the best way to do it.
Promoting Full Moon is a great idea. We've never even tried it. But it'll require setting date and place further in advance than we've been doing lately.
The general standard of 'long' runs for at least the preceding 5 odd years, in my opinion, has been quite excellent. Even runs that are comprised of excessive lengths of shiggy bashing and/or tarmac roads are a welcome variation and serve to remind us of the relative pleasures of running on good trail. I am not qualified to comment on the 'short' runs so leave the matter over to someone who is; Knackerwurst?
ReplyDeleteFor once I agree with you RA-tten. I've run with a lot of hashes over the past few years and for length, terrain, trails, checks etc. most SH3/HH3 runs are a cut above anywhere else. So no need to quibble when they go a little too long.
ReplyDeleteAttracting and keeping new runners is a different question. We need to ask THEM what they want and what would encourage them to keep coming back.