Sports
Planning and Fast Problem-Solving in Trail Running
Poliana Moraes details race logistics evolution and how team agility saves operations.
In an interview on Stemma Na Trilha, Poliana Moraes discusses the operational maturity of Brazilian trail running and the crucial need for decisive coordinators during emergencies.
With nearly two decades of experience behind the scenes in outdoor sports, producer Poliana Moraes has closely witnessed the evolution of mountain race organization in Brazil. In a conversation with Sidney Togumi on Stemma Na Trilha, she explains that today's logistical complexity leaves no room for amateur guesswork, demanding meticulous planning that begins the moment the previous edition concludes.
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Mature Planning and Respecting the Basics
According to Poliana, the era of organizing complex events without long-term planning is over. In major races like La Misión, post-event debriefs involve exhaustive multi-hour meetings with sector coordinators before setting schedules, opening registrations, or implementing structural changes. Any announcement made without proper alignment with the production team directly disrupts the operational chain.
For the producer, the success of the athlete's experience does not rely on visual grandeur, but on executing the essentials flawlessly. A functional setup with simple items—such as a basic table and an organized aid station—delivers an impeccable event if the system operates smoothly, staff are well supported, and services flow without interruption. The real issue arises when grandiose promises fall short due to poor management and logistical delays.
Rapid Problem-Solving and Behind-the-Scenes Autonomy
Even with rigorous planning, mountain races remain vulnerable to severe terrain and transport mishaps. Poliana emphasizes that the most valuable asset on a production team is a decisive professional capable of making quick calls under pressure to preserve race integrity and athlete care.
Among notable cases, Poliana recalls an incident where a truck carrying supplies for a checkpoint fell into a river shortly before the start. In under half an hour, the logistics lead coordinated a recovery effort, transferred the cargo manually to a pickup truck, crossed the river, and set up an improvised aid station just in time to greet the lead runners with food and water.
On another occasion at La Misión, a logistical oversight left six drop bags behind at a different checkpoint. The sector coordinator took the initiative: hiring a motorcyclist in a neighboring town to transport the bags, ensuring they arrived ten minutes before the runners passed through. For Moraes, this capacity to act swiftly with a solutions-first mindset defines operational excellence in trail running.
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