Letsrun Faithful: What changes would you like seen made to road races

$1.00-2.25 a pair I would guess.

T-shirts optional (cheaper if you don't)

medals for only the top 10%

Always have pace signs.

A race director discouraging kids, people with dogs and kids from lining up in the front.

more 15ks

Different colored bibs for walkers and charity runners

--Races 15K and below marked in KILOMETERS

--USATF certified and stated on the race advertisement.

--Entry fee is reasonable (<$20 for 15K and below, <$50 for Half to the marathon)

--Entry goes towards perks for the runners (~shirts, hats, shorts, gloves, food, drinks, etc.), NOT TOWARDS CHARITY or padding someone's pockets

--Open prize money = AMERICAN-ONLY. Africans do nothing to promote our sport and are not media-savvy.

--Cut out appearance fees for elites and use it towards more and deeper prize money.

--A single website that collects all the road races around the US, with some sort of notation whether the race offers prize money. It gets tiresome clicking through a gazillion links to figure out if a road race has prize money. Yes, I'm aware of RRM, but that barely scrapes the surface of all the prize money races out there.

--Disclose the prize money purse! Seems like more and more road races are not disclosing this information on their website (~Rock 'n Roll series). It's shady.

--If a road race is USATF certified/sanctioned and offering prize money, REQUIRE drug testing.

--Get kids involved! Whether a free 100m, or a $5 1 mile race. There needs to be a push to promote our sport to kids. Maybe make it a competition between elementary schools to get the most participation.

--Races that start mid-morning, around noon (weather allowing), or in the evening.

--Beer, real beer. None of that Miller Light or low-calorie crap.

--Live music.

--More porta-johns.

--Free parking.

That's all I can think of for now.

I'm going with $10, no T shirt, evening starts.

Boom!

Check out a really in-depth interview with Chicago Marathon Race Director Carey Pinkowski http://www.garycohenrunning.com/Interviews/Pinkowski.aspx

I really just want them to tell you up front what the prizes are. If i'm gonna spend my 20 dollars on a road race, I wanna know that the kitty is worth my 20 bucks.

I know there's lots of people who will pay 20 dollars just to participate, but I'm not there to participate, I wanna take home something worthwhile. medals do nothing for me.

Later start times and distances other than 5ks.

In my area 95% of road races are 5ks. There is one half marathon and two 10ks held annually but the rest are 5ks.

No age groups or like to 40, and give top 10 overall awards. I hate coming in like 5th in a good race and getting 2nd place age group.

Wet T shirt contests with the females.

Accurate distance on courses.

Hot wings.

More money to the top 10 runners.

caveman wrote:

actual woolen blankets at the end of marathons for those suffering from hypothermia

did they give you a FAKE woolen blanket too?

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha ive been drinking

Get rid of 80% of the roadraces. That is why they are so non-competitive. 30 years ago, you could find one race within a hundred miles and everybody showed up to race. Now the runners are spread out over 20 races in that same area.

I haven't even raced in the last month because every race in my area is a 5k charity event that wants $30-$35 on race day. I have no problem paying $20 (most were $3-$5 when I started) but these races have priced me out of participation.

1. That any hobby runner who complains about race direction, t-shirts or any other asinine pointless crap and who has not tried to put on a race him/herself should be banned from all races.

2. That a one question test be given to EVERY race participant at registration on race day as to something going on in the sport.

Who recently set an american record in the 10,000 meter? for instance...or "name one college cross country coach or any of the top 20 finishers at the NCAA Championship?"

If they don't know, their money is refunded and they are denied entry.

The biggest problem with our sport in my opinion is that 99% of the people who partake in it..don't actually even like the sport.

Starting on time.

No prerace speeches from has beens.

Accurate timing.

Walkers start down the back or get removed from the course.

Things that are very helpful (in no particular order):

1) a certain percentage of the budget/entry set aside for prize money

2) flat, accurately measured and marked course

3) accurate, quick and reliable timing system including accurate clocks at each mile or kilometer marker

4) corral system to keep the joggers off the front row

5) Race and awards that start on time

1. More hot girls

2.Less ass holes without shirts.

3. More time placement.

4. Marathons- You to run no f***ing walking assholes.

5.No more non Kenyan races.

6.Kenyan must be be at every race to ensure fast race.

8. Usain bolt must rabit any race under 2 miles

9.Your mom is hot.

10. Chicken nuggets must not be burned

11.Jakasses are to be kicked in the nuts.

12.No balls alowd

14.no killing people

15. Only hot girls may talk to me after the race is over.

this would be a VERY small field in most cities. It wouldn't pay for itself and would not be repeated by the organizers.

- No Tshirt, no towels, no medals or ribbons for top finishers (just prize money if you merit it), no food.

The above, unfortunately, would kill most road races as a lot of people run for those reasons only.

-Accurate course

-Accurate timing

-$10 for 5K

-$15 for 10K

-$20 for 10mile

"1) a certain percentage of the budget/entry set aside for prize money"

I've helped my friends who are cyclist put on events. They would take a percentage of the entry fee and put it towards the prize money. More racers, more prize money. Didn't seem as cool for the ladies, who were always way outnumbered. But hey, race fewer people, get less money. This would be doable for a smaller race. For larger races which would already have a prize purse maybe they could add some masters or grandmasters money this way.