Why Put on a Race? Raise money for a charity Generate awareness
or interest about your charity or business Who doesnt love to hang
out with a few hundred sweaty people?
Slide 3
What do I want from this Workshop? From a Runners Perspective
High quality events= Correct measurement Good group to run with on
a scenic course Accurate timing & results Recognition- Awards
Fun post-race celebration (beer is a plus) Runners want to know
which events are high quality races and which ones are Fun
Runs
*Types of Runners* Charity Runners12% Fitness Runners
Competitive Runners
Slide 6
*Types of Runners* Charity Runners12% Fitness Runners38%
Competitive Runners
Slide 7
*Types of Runners* Charity Runners12% Fitness Runners38%
Competitive Runners50% Ignore the aspects of the race that
competitive runners desire and you ignore 50% of your target
market!
Slide 8
How do these goals work together? 73% of Core Runners report
household income of over $75,000 Great target market to get
sponsors! 80% of Core Runners are college educated 43% of Runners
have been in the sport for over 10 years They will run your race
next year if it is a good event
Slide 9
Local Survey Results Used online survey tool from
KwikSurveys.com Asked local runners to complete the survey RunGvl
Google email list. AKA- Dianes email group Asked local race
directors to send the link to runners Used facebook to reach local
runners Asked about 50 Questions Asked runners to rate 16 local
races if they had run them Over 100 completed surveys
Slide 10
Local Survey Results
Slide 11
Important Factors Rate the importance of the following factors
in selecting a race you will run. 1 Star = Not at all important 2
Stars = Low importance 3 Stars = Medium Importance 4 Stars = Very
Important 5 Stars = Extremely Important. I won't run the event if
you don't have this!
Slide 12
Important Factors
Slide 13
26% say Chip Timing is a 5 - Star level of importance. 79% say
a reasonable price is Very Important or Extremely Important. An
accurate course is given 4 or 5 stars by 72% of runners. A Good T
shirt is 1 or 2 Stars (low / not important) for 34% and 4 or 5
stars for 35%. Almost an even split!
Slide 14
Price What is a FAIR registration price for the following race
types? Pick the price level closest to what you think is a fair
price. 1 Star = $15 or less 2 Stars = $20 3 Stars = $30 4 Stars =
$40 5 Stars = $50+
Slide 15
Price Answers Local 5K= $20 Local 5K for a child age 13 or
under=$15 or less 10K=$30 15K=$30 Half Marathon=$40 Marathon=$50
+
Slide 16
National Price Averages 5K =$25- $30 10K- $45 - $60 Half
Marathon and Marathon= $60 - $100
Slide 17
How do you find races? Scored by RANK so a lower # is better.
The #1 way runners hear about races is from friends.
Slide 18
How would you LIKE to find races?
Slide 19
Race info options NOT in top 5 Flyers at local running store
Race flyers in goodie bags at other races I run Emails from event
promoters Athlinks.com Other online resources
Slide 20
Top Races Race Name % ranked it 4 or 5 Stars Finishers Average
Star score Newnan's Lake 15K90.262614.49 5 Points of Life Half
Marathon 90.256814.44 LGAA 5K at Ironwood86.23854.21 Season of Hope
5K81.811484.18 Turkey Trot 10K81.85104.32 Flatwoods 5K78.581674.43
Trail of Payne 10K75.682444.16 5 Points of Life 5K72.733544.14
Slide 21
2013 Top Races 1. Tom Walker Memorial Half Marathon 91.2% 2.
Flatwoods 5K (Austin Carey Memorial Forest) 88.6% 3. Five Points of
Life Half Marathon 88.0% 4. Newnan's Lake 15K (Earl Powers Park)
87.6% 5. Trail of Payne 10K (Payne's Prairie trail run) 87.6% 6.
Race the Tortoise 5K (O'Leno State Park) 86.8% 7. LGAA 5K (Ironwood
Golf Course) 85.6% 8. Turkey Trot 10K 85.1%
Slide 22
Things I didnt ask in 2014 T shirt preference- It is pretty
clear people want tech fabric shirts and race directors want
everyone to get a shirt because it is a major point in sponsorship
packages. Awards- That has been covered and was so clear it didnt
make sense to waste time on the question. Runners do not want a
trophy, plaque or medal. They want gift certificates for running
stores and practical or unique awards. Favorite Distance- The local
survey tracked the national trends so why bother asking? Half
Marathon and 10K are the favorites. Running surface- It didnt make
any difference on the scores for the quality of races. It appears
you can put on a successful race on any surface.
Slide 23
Basic Race Operations Selecting a Location Parking Shelter in
case of rain Restrooms- 1 seat per 50 runners Electricity Long
straightaway for start and finish No sharp turns the first or last
200M if at all possible Traffic Railroad tracks Other issues?
Slide 24
Measuring the Course Rough Design Use online mapping Drive
Garmin Exact Measurement Jones Meter Survey Wheel Take shortest
path possible Take pictures of course and markings
Slide 25
Course Markings Flour Arrows- Environmentally friendly, washes
away. Signs staked into dirt Flagging tape Cones Mile Marker signs
Do NOT depend on volunteers or Police to direct runners. They WILL
mess it up. Lead vehicle or lead bike Mark every turn, every
location where there could be a turn but the runners go straight,
and put confidence markers on long straight portions. Place
volunteers on the course in key locations. REMEMBER- Runners have
all the oxygen in their bloodstream going to their legs, not their
head.
Slide 26
Water Stops For a 5K; one water stop. 1 Stop every 2 miles for
longer events. The water stop for a 5 or 10 K should be water only
Use 8-12 oz paper cups- NOT plastic Fill cups 2/3 up No ice
Pre-fill as many cups as you can Hold cups out to runners as they
run by Use latex or plastic gloves RRCA guideline
Slide 27
Finish Line Design Long straightaway of at least 50 meters to
finish No sharp turns last 200M Finish chute past finish line of at
least 20 meters Opening of finish line depends on size of your race
Good illustrations / ideas in Rainbow guide
Slide 28
Timing and Results Chip Timing Half Mile Timing -
http://halfmiletiming.com/http://halfmiletiming.com/ Start2Finish -
http://start2finishracemanagement.com/http://start2finishracemanagement.com/
Others available too Computerized hand timing with pull tabs in
race #s Manual card file / Hand timing Post results within 24
hours
Slide 29
Registration Copy other race registration forms Use Active.com
or other online registration tool Retail locations to drop off
forms Packet Pick-up at retail location of sponsor Day of Race
Table Have a well planned system- practice it Plan for when you run
out of T-shirts Have plenty of registration forms with waiver and
correct fields Safety pins for race numbers not straight pins Plan
for last minute changes to team members, etc Have a decision maker
authorized to do what has to be done!
Slide 30
Insurance and Waivers RRCA USATF Use the Approved Waiver for
the Insurance Coverage Director / Board Insurance Document
Everything If there is an accident or problem, take pictures, get
names and contact information and write down details Keep Waiver
Forms
Slide 31
Medical Director Have Medical Professional organize this
Volunteers need to know the communications plan Read RRCA
guidelines
Slide 32
Planning and Promotions Registration T shirts Awards Promoting
the event Recruiting volunteers
Slide 33
Registration Pricing Compare to other similar events Consider
offering reduced price to kids No shirt, kids under 12 = $5 If a
round of Golf (18 holes) costs $5.50 for a kid high school age or
younger, why would a 5K cost $25? Offer a No T shirt option Most
runners have hundreds of shirts You can make more profit on a No
Shirt runner Calculate your total race cost divided by total
runners
Slide 34
T Shirts Ordering too many T-shirts is the #1 way to lose money
on your race! Shirts ONLY for pre-registered runners Shirts for
first _____ runners to register
Slide 35
Awards Overall Masters Division 5 yr Age Groups: 9&U,
10-14, 15-19, 20-24. And so on Teams Total time XC style
Slide 36
Awards Race The Tortoise 5K | Prediction Run | Far Right-
Pinecone from Flatwoods 5K
Slide 37
Promoting the Race The Best Target market is Runners Place
flyers in the goodie bags at other races Use facebook, Google
RunGnv email list and meetings Place flyers at Lloyd Clarkes, Fit 2
Run and Running & Walking Get each person in your charity group
to sign up 5 runners Public Service Announcements on radio / TV
Various community calendars in print
Slide 38
Recruiting volunteers Access volunteers from charity your event
benefits Contrary to popular belief- Runners are not good
volunteers. Hold a volunteer meeting prior to the event and provide
food or something nice as a way to show appreciation Your number of
volunteers depends on the race course, # of runners and other
factors Make an estimate and add 10%
Slide 39
Finding Sponsors Get Sponsors to cover costs Cash to buy needed
items Donations so you dont have to spend $ Gift certificates for
award winners so you can buy cheaper awards Food for after the race
Target sponsors that are NOT running related.
Slide 40
Final Thoughts Network with other Race Directors Attend races
and analyze their organization Count volunteers Read reviews by
runners Volunteer one or two races a year other than your own
event
Slide 41
Resources Rainbow Racing
https://www.rainbowracing.com/Images/GuideForRace Directors.pdf
https://www.rainbowracing.com/Images/GuideForRace Directors.pdf
Road Runners Club of America
http://www.rrca.org/event-directors/guidelines-for- safe-events/
http://www.rrca.org/event-directors/guidelines-for- safe-events/
Gainesville Race Director Group:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/37232478611871 6/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/37232478611871 6/ This file will
be posted at: www.CoachDanClark.comwww.CoachDanClark.com