THE Edgell Jog organising committee will look at more ways to promote the run but a date change for the event is unlikely, according to its treasurer Ray Stapley.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the dust settling on the 2019 jog - which attracted a field of 650, when the committee was hoping for around 800 - Mr Stapley said all ideas would be examined before the 2020 running.
READ ALSO:
But he emphasised the committee was happy with the jog this year, particularly the big increase in young participants and the popularity of the event's livestream.
Mr Stapley said he had been told there was quite a bit of sport on when the jog was held on Sunday, September 22 - including the Group 10-Group 11 Premiers' Challenge at Wellington and the Bathurst District Football women's and men's grand finals.
"But how do you pick a time when there's nothing on in Bathurst?" he asked. "It's very difficult."
He said moving beyond September would run the risk of warm weather discouraging runners, while August "can be windy and it can be damn cold".
The jog drew more than 800 people in 2017 and around 780 participants in 2018 and Mr Stapley said these numbers might be the new level for the event.
"I think between 700 and 1000, that will be our goal," he said. "I don't think we will get to the 1000 mark these days.
"When you think about it, it [the Edgell Jog] is 44 years old. When it started, it was the only run out west. There were no gyms or other runs similar to this.
"We have progressed now to the stage when there are that many things on."
He said the rain which fell overnight before the morning of the jog might have discouraged some participants because a lot of people "wait until the day and then make a decision".
Regardless, he said all ideas would be considered for the 2020 event.
"Do we go to more social networks?" he said. "Instagram? Do we do letter drops? There are lots of things that we can do next year."
The positives in 2019, he said, were the livestream of the event, which attracted between 700 and 800 views on the Edgell Jog Facebook page; the second year of an earlier start for the event, which he said seemed to be popular; and having double the number of participants from kindergarten to year 12 taking part.
