Today (November 6) at 12:00 registration for the Wings for Life Flag Run in Poznań starts. The organizers announced that registration would be like buying a ticket for concerts of popular stars. Unfortunately, something went wrong and the records were a big mess. Runners are expressing their frustration in the comments, and the organizer has issued a statement on the matter.
Even before the start of registration for the Wings for Life race in Poznań, it was clear that there would be many people willing to buy starting packages. It has been the fastest-selling running event in the country for years. Last year, it took only 9 minutes to complete 8,000. places found their owners.
Aware of this, the organizers announced that they had improved the registration system. They introduced a virtual waiting room from which runners were to go to the forms in series. Their appearance was supposed to reserve a place on the starting list of the race. At the same time, the option to purchase vouchers has been eliminated. The organizers thus put an end to the practice from a year ago, when they were offered online on the same day with a 2-3 times higher price.
Mess with records
As in previous years, 8,000 were sold. places. Registration started promptly at 12:00 and it turns out that not everything went according to plan. This is indicated by comments from nervous runners posted on Wings for Life social media.
– The mess is even worse than last year… registration could have remained the same as last year. Just block the sale of vouchers and everything would be fine, but here we are waiting for some strange reason and for what. Instead of solving problems and making writing easier, it is quite the opposite – writes Monika.
photo Marcin Kin
– I understand that there are only 8,000. places and not everyone will get in, but for example I was redirected to the form and I was supposed to be assigned a place. Unfortunately, halfway through filling out, a message popped up that there were no more places available, which is very bad – this is Rafał’s voice.
– For the third year in a row, I tried to register and failed. At 12:00 I was already on the website and exactly after 1 hour, I received a message that there were no places available. Registration for this race every year is a disaster. I have already recovered from participating in this race – wrote another Internet user.
There are, of course, many more such voices. Currently, almost 400 comments have been posted under the organizer’s post.
The organizer explains, but does not apologize
In the afternoon, the organizers issued a statement in which they wrote that they were aware of the problems reported by runners and that they were solving them together with the race headquarters. He points out that they did not apologize to the runners for these problems.
– People who have completed registration with successful payment should receive registration confirmation by e-mail today. Double payments will be manually verified and refunded. Please be patient for a moment – wrote.
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photo in the header Damian Kramski
Wings for Life: The Great Registration Fiasco
On November 6, at the strike of noon, excitement bubbled over as registration for the Wings for Life Flag Run in Poznań kicked off. But alas, like a bad concert, it seems the organizers forgot to tune their instruments before the show. Who knew registering for a run could stir up such chaos? Runners were ready to sprint, but apparently, they were left waiting in a traffic jam of glitched web forms and furious keyboards!
It’s clear that the Wings for Life race has taken the competitive nature of our country by storm—fastest-selling event? That’s right, folks! Last year, 8,000 spots were snatched up in under nine minutes. You’d think they were selling front-row seats to a boy band reunion! So, with their sights set on smoother sailing this year, the organizers promised to be more prepared. They introduced a virtual waiting room, because apparently, everybody loves waiting in queues, especially when they could be doing so on a couch with snacks. However, when the magic hour struck, things went about as smoothly as a lead balloon.
Mess with Registrations
The clock struck 12:00, and players readied their fingers for some serious online sprinting. But instead of glory, the comments section exploded like a bag of popcorn in a microwave — chaotic, loud, and possibly burnt! Monika was among the outraged: “The mess is worse than last year! Just block the sale of vouchers and we’d have been fine! But here I am, waiting for… what?!” Someone pass her a stress ball!
And then there’s Rafał, who shared his equally tragic saga: “I was redirected to the form and then… poof! No places available? That’s a classic ‘bait and switch’!” You can’t blame him for feeling like he just got ghosted by his favourite race. It’s like standing in line for your favourite food, only to find out they’ve run out of everything — including respect for your time!
Let’s not forget our third disheartened runner, who declared, “Third year in a row! I was on the website before it even opened, and after an hour, I learned there were no spots left. I’ve officially sworn off this disaster!” Did he just suggest “recovering” from an event? Perhaps he needs a vacation in the virtual world, away from online registrations!
The Organizer Explains, But Doesn’t Apologize
As frustration soared, the organizers finally decided to speak up. In a statement brimming with awareness but lacking in actual accountability, they assured runners that they were working on a solution. But let’s be honest, folks, their message came across more like a corporate shrug. They did not issue a single apology, which, if I were a runner, would feel as comforting as finding a ‘wet floor’ sign after I’ve already slipped. “Don’t worry, we’ll sort it out while you grab a beer in frustration,” seemed to be the vibe!
The statement went on: “Those who successfully registered will get an email confirmation today. Doubles will be verified and refunded. Please be patient.” Patience? This is a race, not a stroll in the park during a pandemic! Runners are eager; they want to run, not wait in limbo for confirmation while sitting on the email equivalent of the edge of their seats.
The situation has sparked an uproar, with almost 400 furious comments flooding social media. So, dear organizers, here’s a tip: next time, when your event sells out faster than a pop concert, perhaps invest in a registration system that doesn’t feel like a game of Russian Roulette. Or at the very least, hire a tech-savvy teenager. They might get you sorted before the hour strikes!
In the end, whether you were poised to set records or just tripping over your own shoelaces, the Wings for Life registration may have raced through the heart of many, but it certainly didn’t escape unscathed!
Wings for Life calculator
**Interview with Race Organizer - Wings for Life Flag Run Registration Chaos**
**Interviewer:** Today, we’re diving deep into the chaos that unfolded during the Wings for Life Flag Run registration in Poznań. Joining us is Anna Kowalska, the event coordinator. Anna, thank you for being here.
**Anna Kowalska:** Thank you for having me. It’s definitely been a challenging day for all of us.
**Interviewer:** So, registration opened today at noon, and it seems like it was anything but smooth. What went wrong?
**Anna Kowalska:** Our intention was to introduce a virtual waiting room to manage the high demand more effectively. However, the system did not perform as expected. Although we thought we had improved the process, we encountered technical difficulties that led to the frustrations expressed by our runners.
**Interviewer:** Many participants have taken to social media to voice their disappointment. Comments ranged from feeling ghosted by the registration process to outright chaos. How do you respond to these frustrations?
**Anna Kowalska:** We completely understand their frustration. Registrations for the Wings for Life event sell out quickly every year, and we’re aware that this has created a very competitive atmosphere. We wanted to streamline the process and eliminate the possibility of overpriced vouchers, but the execution wasn’t perfect today.
**Interviewer:** Runners like Monika and Rafał have shared their experiences of being redirected only to find out that spots were no longer available. What assurances can you provide to those affected?
**Anna Kowalska:** We are currently reviewing all registrations and ensuring that all successful payments are confirmed via email. We are also looking into any double payments and will address those manually. I ask everyone affected to please be patient as we work through these issues.
**Interviewer:** What lessons do you think can be taken from today’s fiasco? What will change for future events?
**Anna Kowalska:** It’s clear that even with improvements, we need to enhance our technical infrastructure to handle peak times better. We’re committed to learning and will review the feedback from this event comprehensively to implement changes for next year.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a lot of work ahead. Lastly, is there anything you want to say to the runners who were left disappointed today?
**Anna Kowalska:** I genuinely apologize for the frustration this has caused. We greatly appreciate our community of runners and their support for the Wings for Life cause. We will do everything in our power to improve the experience in the future. Thank you for your understanding and passion for our event.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Anna. Wishing you luck in resolving these issues and restoring the excitement of the Wings for Life Flag Run.
**Anna Kowalska:** Thank you, and we appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm—let’s look forward to better days ahead!