Planning a Race?

This is just a brief checklist of somethings you might want to think about when planning your next race...

Race Planning Checklist

1.  Pick a date…pick a date that is at least 4-6 weeks in the future (more if you want to plan a large event or longer race >10K).  Before selecting your date, check the local running calendars (upcoming races on LRC website, race calendar on www.sportspectrumusa.com, www.runontexas.com) to make sure there are no major conflicts.   LRC officers will be glad to help you with this.  Also, if you are planning a longer race, be aware that you want to have it in the cooler time of year….summer heat can be dangerous.

2.  An accurately measured route.  It irritates most runners if they run a race, look at their time, then discover the course was longer or shorter than advertised.  Get familiar with www.mapmyrun.com

3.  If you plan to run inside the city, you will need police protection and a parade permit. You must go to city hall and tell them you are planning a run.  They will guide you as in what you need to do.

4.  Make sure there are restrooms available at the start and finish area.

5.  Decide what type of souvenirs you will give participants (t-shirts, caps, etc) and what you will give the winners (trophies, plaques, mugs, baseball caps….just about anything goes, but you need to plan for it).

6.  Liability insurance….to protect the race organizers in case the unthinkable happens.

7.  Print registration blanks that are easily read and it will be easy to read entrants name, age and sex.  Also, you must have a release/waiver statement for them to sign.

8.  Distribute your entry blanks and advertise your race.  The key to getting runners at your race is advertising and promotion.  Use websites, LRC and RunOn are free, also use social media.

9.  Plan your water stops.  A 5K probably only needs one unless it is hot and you anticipate some less fit people.  Longer races need more.  Each stop needs tables, cups, full water container(s), trash bags and a rake.

10.  Mile marker signs and arrows PLAINLY showing direction.

11.  Volunteers to man the water stops and volunteers to direct runners on the course.

12.  Timing and scoring.  If you are planning a small event (<50 runners), scoring can be done with a card system.  Large races today use a chip timing system.  Also, you need to decide how many places you will give awards to.   Places that do timing are Sportspectrum in Shreveport, RunOn in Dallas, and Cajun timing just to name a few.

13.  A well-deserved post-race beer for the organizers.

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