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
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
Optional medals or no medals at all.
Optional shirt or no shirt at all.
Pace bikers for leader(s).
Quicker awards. grab and go style.
If no prize money available, comped entry into next year's race for winners/AG winners.
The ability to sign up for next year's race same day or next day for like a fraction of the normal price.
biting wrote:
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
Two things: 1. Avoid races in high temperatures / humidity. 2. Establish a fair play prize with some money for the one who did most front running at a decent pace.
Don't worry, "you got this ..."
This might be the stupidest thing I have read on this site. And that's saying a lot.
runner of said races wrote:
Optional medals or no medals at all.
Optional shirt or no shirt at all.
Pace bikers for leader(s).
Quicker awards. grab and go style.
If no prize money available, comped entry into next year's race for winners/AG winners.
The ability to sign up for next year's race same day or next day for like a fraction of the normal price.
Agreed to all, but particularly the quicker awards. We’ve all got things to do, and standing around for 45 minutes or more after a cool down just kind of sucks. I don’t want to look like an ungrateful jerk if I dip straight out after placing, but I would like to be able to go ahead and get on with my day.
Accurate distance
STRIPPERS
Pole dancers.
Have a tarped off "big tent" out of the way to keep the rest of the event family friendly.
As with what others have said:
Accurate distance.
Optional pricing for T-shirt, finisher medal, beer garden, etc.
Start race(s) on time.
No long wait for awards presentation.
Cutoff time at 2 hours and 4 and a half hours
Get rid of the medals. If you must give out medals make them time-based. No medals for a 3 hour half marathon.
Only medals for placing
Really accurately measured fast courses are the only things I really care about
runner of said races wrote:
Optional medals or no medals at all.
Optional shirt or no shirt at all.
Pace bikers for leader(s).
Quicker awards. grab and go style.
If no prize money available, comped entry into next year's race for winners/AG winners.
The ability to sign up for next year's race same day or next day for like a fraction of the normal price.
Mandatory pacing pens. Authority of us in the 6:00/mile and below to self kick out 8:00/mile and slower in our pen.
Also those that wear goofy costumes and sprint off the line dying 200 meters later.
Lastly, hot chicks with tons of makeup, fake boobs, super tight bun huggers, brand new perfectly clean ON shoes holding BOTH cell phone and coffee acting like she owns the starting line.
Reasonable entry fees
Just had a thought about running a local 5k in a few weeks and couldn't believe it was NINETY TWO dollars entry
Fast, certified courses.
No stupid gimmicks on the course like “Heart Attack Hill” or routing the course through a landmark to create sizzle.
Optional shirts and medals.
Better pace corral management and policing.
Space the races or plan the courses so that the 5K leaders don’t run into packs of half marathon walkers ambling side-by-side across the traffic lanes.
ID your local front runners during registration and have a separate porta-pottie/bag drop zone for them.
For the love of God, NEVER place a high school aged volunteer in charge of a major intersection or fork in the course!
Get rid of kid dashes. They don’t create many future runners and they mostly serve to stoke or deflate some parent’s ego. Nothing like seeing some eight year old kid getting knocked to the pavement by an overzealous hobby jogger pushing his infant in a stroller to “victory”.
This idea is stolen from 100 milers where they give you a different belt buckle if you finish under 24 hours. But I don't see why shouldn't races give a different medal if you finish under let's say 18 min for 5k, 40 min for 10k and 90 min for half marathon. Give the masses some extra motivation to train a little harder. Or at the very least a discount for next years race if you finish top ten.
Accurate distance.
Start race on time.
Accurate timing--timing mats at both start and finish.
Course map with elevation profile available at time of sign-up.
No long wait for awards. I recently ran a race that gave out the age-group awards in the finishing chute, which was great.
Age-group awards that are nicer than just another finisher's medal!
Either small amounts of prize money, or comped entry into next year's race for overall and age-group winners.
Race course well marked so you don't have to memorize the course ahead of time!
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.