The Most Common Race Director Problems
Common pitfalls you want to make sure to avoid.
- Race director or race committee is spread too thin. Delegate. Be available to react to unforeseen events on race day.
- Insufficient lead/planning time allotted. Good runs take a great deal of time to plan. Proactivity can save you many headaches.
- Inaccurate course/splits. See #2
- Course not marked well; runners get lost on course. Again, see #2. A map for runners and volunteers can also help.
- Not enough entries, too many T-shirts, or vice versa. A significant price increase for later registrations can help to reduce this. In addition, have a plan for how you will deal with any shortages.
- Missing many volunteers on race day. Appoint a volunteer coordinator, and have a list of specific duties. Plug specific people into specific jobs. Confirm volunteers 2-3 days before event.
- Race day registration back up. Not enough or inexperienced volunteers, or poorly laid out registration.
- Not enough water stations or volunteers who don’t know how to distribute water to runners.
- Not prepared or have inadequate volunteer help at the finish line. A backup at the finish can tarnish an otherwise great event.
- Late finishers and walkers feel they are treated as second class citizens. Don’t break the finish down too soon, and be sure to have sufficient refreshments for later finishers.
- Unorganized kid’s event. If you are going to do a kid’s run, you need to give it the same type planning as you would the adult’s event.
- Unprepared for awards ceremony; slow results. Runners like to see their results quickly. In addition, planning needs to go into an effective awards ceremony.
- Essentials are overlooked. (Accurate course, great T-shirt, well-organized registration/packet pickup, well-organized finish, great refreshments.) Take care of the essentials first.
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