What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!?

They also verify your USAT card and age.  And if you don't show up they can resell the packets.

One local RD offers the first few registers an option for Race Day pickup.  But it isn't many.

Why don't you become a race director,then you can do things the way you want? We can always use additional races and race directors with novel ideas on how to do things more efficiently. Other than that you also have the options of only registering for in-town races or those that have race day packet pickup.

As already mentioned, the USAT requires that we verify the identity of every participant when we hand out packets. Besides that obvious requirement, can't you imagine what a cluster mailing of packets would be? People cannot put their right t-shirt sizes or correctly spell their name, much less put down their correct addresses. How much whining would you do if your packet was lost in the mail? Are you willing to pay an additional $20 for the materials, labor and postage to mail the packet? Do you know what an undertaking it would be to pack and label even 350 packets for a small race like mine?

I encourage day-before packet pickup by holding a scavenger hunt where participants visit local sponsor/merchants to register for $1,000 in doorprizes. But I also have race day packet pickup, which means I have to dedicate a half-dozen volunteers to that task rather than having them doing another useful task.

I also give particpants who can't make it to either packet pickup the option of having their packet mailed to them for $15. The week after the race.

USAT membership can be verified the day of the race...otherwise, pony up the $10 and buy another one...

Mailing packets, while an option, is not one that I'm all that fond of. I hate having to worry about the packet getting lost en route. Charging extra is a viable/acceptable option, IMO. Besides, I'm sure doing this, even for a small race, is quite the undertaking...checking USAT #, ensuring right tshirt size, right number, etc...sounds like a logistical nightmare.

Dedicating staff to help racers on race day is part of the job of being a RD. I think that is a useful task. I don't buy that one...

Good thing you have race day packet pickup...I think it would be a deterrent to participate in your events if you didn't.

Does anyone ever pay for a packet a week after the race? LOL...I guess if you REALLY want the tshirt.

Here in NE most races you can do packet pick up race morning.  Some RDs only offer it race morning.

Thinking about it other than WTC races, I don't think any races require you to pick up your packet before race day. Some of the races are big with 1000 folks so it can be done.

I have a BT friend from TX who always has to drive to pick up her packet before race day.

Interesting how many races are trying to go green but have folks make an extra trip to pick up packet isn't green.

Race day packet pick up works here in NE. I'm guessing parts of the country that don't offer race day pick up, haven't tried it or it is just the norm in that area.

Those RDs that are efficient have the system down for packet pick up. Often there are 6-8 volunteers in 3-4 areas....2 checking USAT or filling out waivers, 2-3 marking folks off, kids or adults giving out shirts, swim caps and the like.

I've volunteered as have my kids for packet pick up day before and race day. Race day often the volunteers that work packet pick up move to another job after they finish.

Who is doing this?

When you're done making whatever point your trying to make, you'll realize a question was asked.  You didn't answer it.

Because it's already been answered by an actual RD.

So you were just being rude for the sake of it?

Thanks for your input.

Yours as well.

It may indeed just be NE. I did a TriRock event in May, and they had required packet pickup the day before. (East coast, Annapolis.)

If I could offer my insights to packet pick up:

Instead of mailing out the packet, can't we get all the coupons and flyers emailed to us, this is a much more eco-firendly option as well as cheaper for the RD?  This way on race day it's: USAT membership, swim cap, schwag, race numbers and body marking all in 1 line.  Herd us like cattle, just don't cattle prod us, but branding will be ok.

1st station USAT, 2nd station packets(please have multilpe tables allocated with A-J, K-S, T-Z etc), 3rd station timing control and 4th station body marking(or have volunteers roving the lines) with the end of the line directly infront of transisiton. We can learn to have our ID and USAT cards out and in hand as its no different than dealing with TSA Airline Security.

Another option, offer packet pick up in different locations through out the local area on multiple days prior to the event. This way "hopefully" we can find a place thats relativitly close to our house/job.  We have a couple that do that here and it's awesome as one of the loactions is 5 miles from the house vs. the tri venue thats 20 miles away, and the night before I really should be home resting anyways vs. batteling traffic.

Have enough staff to efficiently gets us in and out in a timely manner.  Nothing worse than having to stand around and wait at packet pick up the night before your race.

If it's difficult to get enough volunteers to assist on race day for packet pick up, then maybe that's a whole different issue thats needs to be addressed. I'm sure this is an ongoing issue that every RD faces. 

I truely understand an RD's dilemma in having enough volunteers to make sure we are not inconvienced.

Yes it was answered, and the responses were questioned. Then more discussion ensued. Funny how that happens

While some may "realize that they all do it that way for a good reason", others may not agree that the reasoning is good. I share the same frustration as the OP with day before packet pickup. Some races charge extra for day of packet pickup, some races only have day of packet pickup, so it is doable. Maybe some RD's could be more open to new ideas instead of simply suggesting that anyone who doesn't like something should go start their own race.

i agree that packet pick up in the days before a race is the most logical thing to do for everyone involved.  however, having a morning-of pickup based on exceptions is very much appreciated.  especially for out-of-towners, people that travel for work, and other unexpected issues people run in to.

i think allowing someone else to pick up your packet would be another nice improvement, even if it's ony on an exception basis.

No men's styles?  Sexist.