The Amazing Organisation behind the Tokyo Marathon
I mentioned to Shudo-san, a Japanese friend, that the Tokyo marathon was the best organised from start to finish. In true Japanese humility, he told me that things were not always this way. He revealed that in earlier years, there were complaints about insufficient toilets along the way, as well as issues in managing the event during rainy days.
What was amazing was not the machine like efficiency that the Japanese are famed for, but the behavioural insights they had in in executing the event. The following are just some examples:
1) The runners kit had everything except the runners' T shirt. This had to be picked up separately in the runners fair in the next hall even though it was logistically far easier to include this in the kit. This ensured ALL runners visited the fair and inevitably left some Yen behind.
2) Bag deposit was dispersed. Runners were directed to deposit their bags in designated trucks which was assigned by number tags. Find your truck and you are close or at least on your way to your starting block. Many other marathons have centralised bag drop points which can be a crowd control nightmare.
3) During the race, there is no chance of mixing water and isotonic drinks at water points. They are clearly demarcated by the colour of the volunteer clothes - orange for isotonic, blue for water. The water points are laid out for at least 100m - thus ensuring no crush which is common in most marathons. This also allows multiple pick ups even while running.
4) Serving size was clearly thought through. The quantity of fluid in each cup was all one mouthful. This allowed runners to pick, swallow and run - not trying to balance a full cup (most marathons) or choke on a full bottle (Bali marathon) while running. All food - buns, bananas (peeled) are cut to bite size allowing runners again to pick, swallow and move. This is done consistently from start to finish.
5) To disperse runners at the finish point, a number of stations were placed at a distance from one another, but within clear sight of the runners crossing the finish line. The stations were also placed in logical sequence. Fluids (first station), towel to keep warm (second station) food (third station), and lastly the finishers medal. By the fourth station, you are 200m away from the finish line. 
6) To manage the massive crowd, the entire convention centre at the Big Sight is used. Gone was the fair the previous day. In its place - in Hall 1 : all the bags deposited in Shinjuku nicely laid out on the floor by truck and runners number. Hall 2 : zones for runners to change out of their running gear - by tag number. Hall 3 : Meeting point, again in numbered zones. No overcrowding and exceptionally well thought out flow.
7) And if that attention to detail has not gotten you, what about having a Doctor to run with the runners!?
2) Bag deposit was dispersed. Runners were directed to deposit their bags in designated trucks which was assigned by number tags. Find your truck and you are close or at least on your way to your starting block. Many other marathons have centralised bag drop points which can be a crowd control nightmare.
3) During the race, there is no chance of mixing water and isotonic drinks at water points. They are clearly demarcated by the colour of the volunteer clothes - orange for isotonic, blue for water. The water points are laid out for at least 100m - thus ensuring no crush which is common in most marathons. This also allows multiple pick ups even while running.
4) Serving size was clearly thought through. The quantity of fluid in each cup was all one mouthful. This allowed runners to pick, swallow and run - not trying to balance a full cup (most marathons) or choke on a full bottle (Bali marathon) while running. All food - buns, bananas (peeled) are cut to bite size allowing runners again to pick, swallow and move. This is done consistently from start to finish.
5) To disperse runners at the finish point, a number of stations were placed at a distance from one another, but within clear sight of the runners crossing the finish line. The stations were also placed in logical sequence. Fluids (first station), towel to keep warm (second station) food (third station), and lastly the finishers medal. By the fourth station, you are 200m away from the finish line. 
6) To manage the massive crowd, the entire convention centre at the Big Sight is used. Gone was the fair the previous day. In its place - in Hall 1 : all the bags deposited in Shinjuku nicely laid out on the floor by truck and runners number. Hall 2 : zones for runners to change out of their running gear - by tag number. Hall 3 : Meeting point, again in numbered zones. No overcrowding and exceptionally well thought out flow.
7) And if that attention to detail has not gotten you, what about having a Doctor to run with the runners!?
posted by BT at 7:06 AM
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