I recently got a job as an assistant race director and am looking to positively add to the overall race atmosphere of our events. What is one thing you wish would become normal practice at the runs you attended? Thanks in advance
The biggest thing for me would be accurate courses. I would also rather the course be a little long than a little short. It amazes me how many races that, based on my own GPS but also many other Strava participants, are clearly around 0.05 to 0.1 short.
That's my one thing.
If I get one more, it would be, especially for smaller races, that the course be well-marked. I've personally gone the wrong way and had to drop out of a race as I got off course, and I've witnessed other people do so multiple times (and bellowed at them, sometimes unsuccessfully).
1. Most races have this rule, but no dogs on the course
2. Option to receive your packet via mail. I’d happily pay $15 to avoid the hassle of packet pickup, especially if I’m traveling for the race
3. On the race website, it would be nice to have a list of top three finishing times in all previous years. I hate having to click the results link for each individual year to get an idea of how fast the course is
4. I’m echoing that medals and t shirts should be optional.
5. Always make deferral for injuries/illness available.
Totally agree that you should be able to select no t-shirt for a lower entry fee.
The other thing I've run into a few times is out and back courses where if you're running a 10k, after 7.5k you merge back with people doing a 5k who have covered 2.5k in the same time. In other words, you're suddenly trying to finish your race weaving between big groups of people walking.
I enjoy races that have real food at the finish line: pizza and chocolate milk, or (as at the race I did this morning) burgers and beer. The worst is when a race is named for a particular food (maybe as part of a summer festival) and that food is nowhere to be found at the finish line. I have lost count of how many “strawberry festival” races I’ve attended with no strawberry-anything at the finish. Recently I ran a race at a “cheese festival” with NO cheese, no nothing, just bottled water at the finish. The “Apple Fest” had great coffee mugs for age group winners, but no apples!
I could do without finisher medals for races shorter than a marathon. Shirts should be optional. Age group awards with the date are nice.
I actually hate getting tech tees, and love a low-budget race that gives a cotton tee with a simple graphic and no sponsors on the back.
Top end tech tees are nice, but races inevitably get a cheaper option that is peeling/threading instantly. A cotton tee will actually last a while, and if it just has the name of the race with a simple race logo and no sponsors, it will actually be something people want to wear.
Most of the things listed are good. One thing is some type of control at the starting line to keep kids/obviously slow runners from lining up at the front. Its annoying and also a safety issue.
Also beer at the post race. In Buffalo ny this is standard race protocol but you don't see it many other places. It makes for a fun event and makes it easier to get people to come out.
Lastly, good awards. Cash is great but gift cards to local restaurants are also really nice and you may have some luck getting them donated.
I appreciate the volunteer staff at running events, but often they need more awareness. Race directors and volunteers should look at things from the runners point of view.
They should be prepared to direct runners in the proper direction at turns. They should not stand in the course and obstruct the runners, and in particular they should not stand in the course taking pictures of 35 minute 5k runners when a pack of half marathoners are negotiating a hairpin turn, right where said photo is being taken.
Volunteers should make sure it's easy to see and access water, sports drinks and gels at aid stands.
Finally, I always enjoy singing the national anthem before a race. I am a patriot (I support the Constitution of the USA, and those who honor their pledge to uphold it.) I like the fact that runners across the political spectrum can find common ground in singing the national anthem. It is an example of communication that we need more or, not less.
National Anthem should be like 30-45 minutes before the race starts. Not two minutes while everyone is trying to stay loose.
I appreciate the volunteer staff at running events, but often they need more awareness. Race directors and volunteers should look at things from the runners point of view.
They should be prepared to direct runners in the proper direction at turns. They should not stand in the course and obstruct the runners, and in particular they should not stand in the course taking pictures of 35 minute 5k runners when a pack of half marathoners are negotiating a hairpin turn, right where said photo is being taken.
Volunteers should make sure it's easy to see and access water, sports drinks and gels at aid stands.
Finally, I always enjoy singing the national anthem before a race. I am a patriot (I support the Constitution of the USA, and those who honor their pledge to uphold it.) I like the fact that runners across the political spectrum can find common ground in singing the national anthem. It is an example of communication that we need more or, not less.
National Anthem should be like 30-45 minutes before the race starts. Not two minutes while everyone is trying to stay loose.
Or not at all. What a stupid, jingoistic tradition.
Appreciate the spirit of this post - got several wishes/suggestions.
1. A photographer with even just a cheap older DSLR at each race who uploads photos within 24 hours of the race to social media and/or a shared google drive that's easy for racers and fans to access. + Please get photos of winners/race leaders, if you're going to bother with photos — not just the old folks and stroller moms having a good time during the 5k fun walk.
2. If you're doing prizes, do them for top 3 overall and winners of each age group, who should be counted OUTSIDE of the top 3 overall finishers.
3. See if you can get anyone who's actually young and "with it" to design your merch/race freebies and promo materials. 99% of local/regional race graphics, logos and color choices are god-awful, and if you're giving out free shirts (let alone charging $$) you might as well make them something we'll all wear after race day. Simpler is better, and basic design assistance is free nowadays if you have the internet! If you can sell cool branded merch at the registration/awards table, that's a whole 'nother revenue stream and everybody loves good fun race merch. No-brainer.
5. Try to make sure the race course is cleared of non-racers as much as possible. Just make an effort at pre-race awareness! Putting up some signs and cones along the course is a great start. Really sucks to cruise around a corner and screech to a halt before you run into some oblivious idiot slowly walking three huskies, snapping photos, or standing and chatting right in the middle of the course (sometimes all three).
6. Don't let people stand right in front of the race clock display, ffs. If I'm sprinting toward the finishing chute and some fool is blocking the time, that's so annoying and dumb. Why bother having the big clock display at that point?
7. Please accept cash, card, and ideally some kind of digital payment for day-of race entries and merch purchases.
8. Should cost $0 and mostly handle itself — try to publish race results and maybe photos in a local newspaper. Most feature & sports editors at newspapers today would welcome the material for their section each week/weekend, and might even send a reporter to your races. I know I wish I could mail my folks a news clipping when I win a local 10k or something, but the race directors I deal with would never even think of inviting/involving local news.
I recently got a job as an assistant race director and am looking to positively add to the overall race atmosphere of our events. What is one thing you wish would become normal practice at the runs you attended? Thanks in advance
Much later starting times and at least two thirds of the money that goes to charity being put back into the sport in some form or other.