How to Organize a Foot Race

 

 

Analyze your costs and break even point - You typically need to provide:

• Insurance (Click Here)

• T-shirts (click here)

• Food (post race) & water (post race and on the course)

• Door prizes (optional, but a good time killer while waiting for results)

• Race timing and scoring

• Traffic control (police)

• Course certification

• Overall Winner and Masters Winner trophies

• Age group awards (click here) in 5 year increments, up to 70+

• Sponsors can help defray costs by donating door prizes (or maybe even cash).  Offer them advertising on your T-shirts.

• Determine fee; suggestion, for a small local race typically $15 pre-registration, $20 day of race (your option, of course)

 

 

Reserve your date (see policies)

 

 

Making the race attractive to runners.

• Set the Start Time (Earlier is better for most runners, unless the race is a distant location such as Bishop or Kingsville)

• An early start (7:00am) is imperative in hot weather

• Remember, the start time is for the benefit of the runners, in fact, the entire event should be organized for their benefit to attract the largest possible participation.

 

Your Responsibilities

• Race scoring and results - nothing infuriates runners more that waiting around for two hours for the awards ceremony.  If you have planned ahead and understand the scoring system, results should be available in less than an hour.  This is the expectation.  If you need help, ASK.

• Choose the events - many organizers combine a  5k and 10k run and 2m walk, for instance

• Design a race flyer with all relevant information: date, location, age groups, fee, phone and email contacts, etc.

• Choose your venue

• Measure and mark the course (see below)

• Water stops

• Turnaround

• Permits

• Insurance

• Traffic Control

• Again, choose locations for the benefit of the RUNNERS, not your own group

 

 

Venues Runners Like

• New locations (not Cole Park!)

• Hills

• Scenery

• Shade in hot weather

 

 

Course layout

• If not certified, don’t use a bicycle, use two different cars, do the route twice with each car, average the results

• Certification, click here (for a list of previously certified courses click here)

• Mark the course, every turn, even long straights using spray chalk and/or cones

• Mile markers are greatly appreciated (spray on street using the chalk)

 

Get permits from City/Police

• May not be required if you stay off city streets – a park for instance.  Good idea to check with the local parks department concerning other events that might be scheduled for the same day.

 

 

Get Volunteers for the following:

• Stuffing race packets (race number, safety pins, T-shirt, goodies)

• Handing out race packets on day before and on race day

• Water stops

• Directing runners

• Handing out finisher cards

• Calculating the results

 

 

Scoring and Timing   Click here for details

• A race clock is imperative

• A finishing chute is a very good idea

• Small races can be scored with finisher cards

• Larger races should use computerized timing

 

 

Scoring with Finisher Cards

• The cards are numbered for a REASON!

• All runners must get a card IN THE ORDER THEY CROSS THE FINISH LINE, whether or not they turn it in.

• Runners must record their times

 

 

Roadrunners Fee for Service Options

• Bibs, finisher cards

• Timing (clock, chute, instructions on how to do scoring and results)

• Advertising in Roadrunners Newsletter

 

 

Roadrunners Free Services

• Date reservation

• Website publicity