Forums/
Race Operations
37 posts
scroll to bottom-
Ok, so I'll kick this one off! I would LOVE an option to pay more for my entry fee in order to get a women's cut technical shirt, OR a no-shirt option (which might not work, since sponsors pay to have their names visible, right?). Any boy-cut t-shirts go right to Goodwill.
posted almost 4 years ago
-
Another thing -- I LOVE when races have a drop bag. It's so nice to finish and have a dry shirt waiting for you!!!
posted almost 4 years ago
-
in reply to what Leslie G. said:Another thing -- I LOVE when races have a drop bag. It's so nice to finish and have a dry shirt waiting for you!!!
I agree about the no-shirt option. My shirts, even if they do fit, either go to the thrift store or they're worn during yard work. Seldom do they have shirts that I would wear out in public. :)
posted almost 4 years ago
-
in reply to what Leslie G. said:Ok, so I'll kick this one off! I would LOVE an option to pay more for my entry fee in order to get a women's cut technical shirt, OR a no-shirt option (which might not work, since sponsors pay to have their names visible, right?). Any boy-cut t-... read more
There's this race I do every year that has a no-shirt option, and I usually choose it. But my reason is that the smallest size they offer is a medium, which is huge on me! I hate wearing giant shirts.
posted almost 4 years ago
-
in reply to what Leslie G. said:Ok, so I'll kick this one off! I would LOVE an option to pay more for my entry fee in order to get a women's cut technical shirt, OR a no-shirt option (which might not work, since sponsors pay to have their names visible, right?). Any boy-cut t-... read more
Amen to the women's cut dri-fit type shirt. You know -- one you might actually wear! I don't mean a go shopping shirt, but I wouldn't even wear most while lazing around my own home.
posted almost 4 years ago
-
I like the competition and the feeling of accomplishment at the finish line.
I hate having walkers in front of or mixed in the race like in the Corporate Challenge races. The walkers just slow me down and mess with my time. It is a fun run so I guess I shouldn't be so competitive. LOL.posted almost 4 years ago
-
I think the main reason they don't do separate guys and girls shirts is cost. Girls shirts cost more than a basic unisex t-shirt. Plus, when you have 2 types of shirts, it's more to keep track of, more sizes to buy in that specialty shirt, possibly needing 2 different designs (depends on the original) and harder to order due to how many girls they THINK might show up.
One option they could do is give out a girl's cut shirt for only those who pre-registered. But then again, the pre-registration is usually cheaper than day-of registration which also cuts into the profits.
posted almost 4 years ago
-
I'm new to racing, but I will say I agree with the shirt comments!
And I sometimes wish that running races could start in waves similar to triathlons- I hate the slow start and intense surge at the beginning! It's easier when I can start at my own pace.posted over 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Leslie G. said:Ok, so I'll kick this one off! I would LOVE an option to pay more for my entry fee in order to get a women's cut technical shirt, OR a no-shirt option (which might not work, since sponsors pay to have their names visible, right?). Any boy-cut t-... read more
I've been to two races recently where they had a male shirt & female shirt. At the breast cancer marathon (JAX, FL), they said it was due to color, but maybe it was cut as well. FYI, it was pink for women, gray for guys.
I figured the other race was about the cut of shirt, but don't quite remember.
posted about 3 years ago
-
My race wishes are simple: A reasonable entry fee, an official time and place (preferably made available online within a few days after the race), and an accurately measured course. If it's a road race, I also want a reasonable effort at traffic management - at least volunteers to watch each intersection. Oh, and adequate toilet facilities and/or porta-potties at the start are a must.
Anything else is icing on the cake, but I've run across some very nice icing: Good post-race eats are good to see. Races get extra points in my book for unique awards (even when I don't get one) other than the stereotyped plastic trophies. I also like races that offer a no-shirt option for a reduced entry fee.
posted about 3 years ago
-
Girls shirts would be VERY nice, and forget having the smallest size at medium! I've run a few races like that. Um, many runners are SMALL!
I also want the post-race food kept entirely away from the public. In Seattle every year marathoners come in to find next to nothing, but Uncle Joe, Grandma Melba, the 7 kids, and some guy who hitched a ride ate like they were at a Las Vegas Buffet while their friend ran the marathon! I finished a really REALLY hot race one time. Went over to the popsicle line, only to have the man in front of me take the entire last box, then pass popsicles through the fence to his kids. He happened to be standing next to my husband and I went over and said "Those are for the RUNNERS, not your family." and he told me to well...you can guess. Yeah, thanks Dude. I'm sorry your kids are hot, but that's what McDonalds is for and none of them just ran 26.2.
I'd also prefer walkers start last and that it be made VERY clear how to seed people. I am not fast, but there's nothing worse than Wall-O-Walkers at the start of the race. God bless the walkers, no criticism to them, but I really DO wish someone would teach them race etiquette.
And finally, leave my freaking iPod alone. If I want to have U2 crooning in my ear when I start staring down the wall, let me freaking BE! Glad the USATF changed that rule. I understand if it's an open course (cars on the road), but if the course is closed just let me and my tunes run my race.
posted about 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Tory K. said:Girls shirts would be VERY nice, and forget having the smallest size at medium! I've run a few races like that. Um, many runners are SMALL! I also want the post-race food kept entirely away from the public. In Seattle every year marathoners come... read more
You are so right in everything you say, Tory!
posted about 3 years ago
-
Use an efficient timing system, and post the results quickly! The best races I participate in will post updated results every 15 or 30 minutes at the finish, and have them online by the next day (sometimes the same evening). Chip timing is nice, but not necessary. The worst race I attend uses chips, and still manages to delay results for an hour after the last finisher - and this is a 5k/10k with a total field of under 400!
I don't care much about food / water, either on-course or post-race (except for good, strong coffee after a winter race!). I carry my own.
posted about 3 years ago
-
Our low key club races don't have shirts or prizes.It is inexpensive but fun.
posted about 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Debbie said:Our low key club races don't have shirts or prizes.It is inexpensive but fun.
If you ever want to run a Low-Key Marathon check out this one that's right in my back door. Only a $10.00 entry fee. http://www.runtricities.org/creepermarathon Plus it is certified as a Boston Qualifier. You can't beat that for the price you pay.
I ran it the first 2-times. Great Race.
God Bless.... +posted about 3 years ago | edited about 3 years ago
-
Start area needs more more more porta-potties and you would think the small shirts would fit small people. I realize that medium is the new small for Big America, but I believe it's fair to assume that runners, who attend races, are more in-shape than the average couch jockey.
posted about 3 years ago | edited about 3 years ago
-
Jimmy--I love the low key marathons. Being in "Marathon Maniac" country, I attend a lot of them...from free to next to free. No frills, no t-shirt, just lots of fun. I think one of my favorites last year was one that started at a Starbucks in Puyallup and ran from Starbucks to Starbucks through 4 towns and ended at a Starbucks in Tacoma. Being a dyed in the wool Seattle coffee drinker, that was MY KINDA MARATHON!
But if I pay premium prices for a marathon, I do expect organization and food at the end. While some may bring their own, that doesn't preclude the need for most people who maybe aren't local to need to refuel within 30 minutes of finishing the run. In fact, three of the free marathons I ran last year all had HUGE amounts of food at the end, where three of them in the $75-$100 range had next to nothing.
posted about 3 years ago
-
well i have to say first of all i am a shirt lover and cant wait until get another one.the thing i wished is when the have relay runners tell them the gu isnt for you they dont need it and second make sure there is enough fluid at stations i am a heavy sweater and if i dont have water i wont make it but even though i say this i thank every single person who helps support us runners in our races.
posted about 3 years ago
-
That's it, I'm totally running my next race with no shirt...
posted about 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Jennifer H. said:That's it, I'm totally running my next race with no shirt...
I'm sure many other runners will appreciate the diversion.
In my case, I'm sure they would appreciate it if I kept my shirt ON!
posted about 3 years ago
-
Oh, you're running Bay to Breakers too?
posted about 3 years ago
-
I don't like when I get myself to be exhausted out due to tiredness
posted about 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Deniel said:I don't like when I get myself to be exhausted out due to tiredness
That really steams my bean as well. Race directors should do something about that.
posted about 3 years ago
-
in reply to what Tory K. said:Girls shirts would be VERY nice, and forget having the smallest size at medium! I've run a few races like that. Um, many runners are SMALL! I also want the post-race food kept entirely away from the public. In Seattle every year marathoners come... read more
Ditto to everything Tory said! Well put!! I'll add just one thing, start the race on time! Most races are probably off a few minutes from the official start time, that's no big deal. I did a 10K earlier this year that was FORTY minutes late in getting started. People were actually sitting down by the time the gun finally went off
posted almost 3 years ago
-
I'm all about the t-shirts. I don't care if they are too big or what they look like. It's part of the reason I sign up for a race! Sometimes the tee is only worn around the house but I never give or throw my shirts away. As for the slower people in a race: in all the races I've done the walkers and slower folks always start at the end of the pack. I give a shout out to ANYONE who gets involved in a race whether they walk, run, or crawl, they are out there and that's more than I can say for a huge percentage of today's society. I can see how a competitive runner would get annoyed at the slow people much the same as I get annoyed with the driver in the passing lane doing 40 in a 70 mph zone! Maybe proper etiquette could be part of the registration form or have it posted at a race. Unfortunately, no matter where you go or what you do, there are always the people that don't pay attention or follow procedure.
posted almost 3 years ago
-
Dear Race Directors;
Thank you. I appreciate all you go through to put on a fantastic event. For you new race directors you already know what it takes and that you cannot please every person, every time you put on an event. Do your best that's all we can ask. Thank you for anticipating enormous crouds, providing waves for food and beverage distribution so that the last of us gets the same as the first of us. Congradulations on selecting a fantastic design for your event logo and providing the memorabilia we all get to keep after the race. I especially love knowing that you donate the unclaimed items to needy causes. Thank you for dealing with City offices, traffic permits, State agenices and local police, fire and ambulatory personnel to assure our safety. Hats off to you for the long tireless hours of planning the sleepless nights close to race day going over checklists and making sure your voluenteers are lined up and committed. Thanks for the extra effort in providing end of race raffles, parties, wine tastings or whatever event you have decided on. Thank you for having the different distances start at different times so that some of us hard core people can enter more than one on the same day. Thank you for the hat, the socks, the water bottle, the nice course even with that damn hill at the end. Thank you for rain or shine. Sorry that it rained, thanks for doing it anyway. You can please me by having your races, on any day of the week, in any kind of weather, supported any way you choose with gadgets and gizmos or no. If I am free to attend I will, if not, have a blast! If I don't like it I will run solo in the hills near my home, by myself and think about my next supported event and the people, time and dedication that it takes to make it happen.posted over 2 years ago
-
Like: Training! The motivation it provides for you to keep running. It took training and participating in an Ironman before I realized that the fun is the before stuff (training).
We all have and set different goals: time, finishes, placements, distance, or whatever. Usually the the higher goal, the bigger the accomplishment.
Even though I have competed in Ironman Hawaii, but my biggest accomplishment was some no name 1/2 marathon. I was ever so slightly injured and I wasn't sure I could be successful (it was my longest distance ever). I was teary eyed when I crossed that line. I was a heavy drinker, couch potato type smoker.
I could have ran thirteen miles in training, but the high was heightened ten fold by the atmosphere that the race provided.
Races Like: Atmosphere and energy!
Races: Like: I like watching these non runners (who are under trained) compete in a race ... and you know that they are finishing on heart alone! There skin is beet red and the hurt is just sooooo obvious! Defiantly Like. You never know if you are witnessing someones life being changed before your very eyes.
posted over 2 years ago
-
I really like how these guys did this:
DEFERMENT AND DOWNGRADE PROCEDURESWe all know that injuries often arise during training after we have registered for a race. The Oakland Running Festival has different options should this happen to you. We ask that you make your decision as early as you can to avoid issues and possible loss of fees.
DEFERMENT
If you become injured and cannot participate in the Oakland Running Festival in any capacity in 2010, you may defer your race entry until 2011. There is a $25 processing fee to do so. To take advantage of this offer, please mail a note stating your request along with a check payable to the Oakland Running Festival to the address listed at the bottom of this message. (This process cannot be completed via email or phone as we need written confirmation and payment to process your request.) Your deferment confirmation will be listed on our online confirmation page. In Fall of 2010, you will receive a customized race application that you must return to the event headquarters to complete the process. ALL DEFERMENT REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED WITH PAYMENT BY March 15th.DOWNGRADE
If you cannot complete the distance you registered for but would still like to participate in the Oakland Marathon Weekend, you may downgrade to a lesser distance. You will not be given a refund for the difference in entry fee. To do so, please call (410.605.9381) or email (customerservice@corrigansports.com ) your request and we will make the change in the system. Your new race confirmation will be listed on our online confirmation page. We encourage you to make this decision as early as possible as we cannot add runners to an event once its capacity is reached.The Oakland Running Festival does not allow for refunds or transfers of entry fee.
posted about 2 years ago
-
YES you definitely just listed my top two pet peeves!!!
posted over 1 year ago
-
Likes: swag, interesting scenery/routes, challenging myself
Dislikes: crowds, expensive fees, obnoxious runners
Loathes: disorganized routes so runners' paths cross over each other
posted over 1 year ago
-
I like beer at the end! :-)
posted over 1 year ago
-
Since we've opened the race shirt topic... how about a shirt that has a more discrete logo on the front of the shirt. Personally, they can put what ever they want on the back... I just would like the front logo as be something smaller and perhaps up on the left breast... not some huge graphic covering 3/4 of the front of the shirt that you can only really tell what it is up close.
Oh, reasonable colors in shirts.
How about elastic belts for the bib numbers... These should be something that could be made/acquired cheaply and be adjustable. *I've made my own from a small strip of waistband elastic and a couple knots...
posted over 1 year ago
-
Michael h. Thay do in nz Coast to coast.
posted over 1 year ago | edited over 1 year ago
-
like: post race food, first names on bibs (first came across this in a 5k in Madison last year, spectators can shout your name on the sidelines!) :))
dislike: poor timing. i like timing to be as efficient as possible, i understand when computer problems happen though. i was at once race recently where timing went all wrong, some times were missed and awards handed out to the wrong people. the organisers should have stuck around to explain and fix it but they were no where to be seen. "check the website", was their answer to multiple runner queries on the race. :/
posted over 1 year ago
-
I am new to running and recently did 2 of the PF Changs Marathon. I am gluten free and I was very sad to say that all I was able to eat at the finish line both times was a banana because the other options had gluten. Do you know of any great post race nutrition that is gluten free or even better any races that offer a gluten free option at the end? haha this is a far out assumption but maybe someone else has been in my boat before. I would love an assortment of food but unfortunately when you have a restricted diet it seems that options are few and far between at these races!! I would think that there are a lot of runners who also have gluten free diets!!! I am fine bringing my own snacks but it would be nice with a $90 entry fee to get a little something to eat right after instead of when I get to my bag!! Any ideas? Any suggestions? Any information would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks so much!
posted over 1 year ago
-
in reply to what Bo A. said:Since we've opened the race shirt topic... how about a shirt that has a more discrete logo on the front of the shirt. Personally, they can put what ever they want on the back... I just would like the front logo as be something smaller and perhaps ... read more
I don't want to get a race belt for every race. I purchased one of my own.
I think most runners LIKE bigger logos. When I run a marathon, I want to shout it to the world! ;)
posted over 1 year ago
-
in reply to what Kat said:I am new to running and recently did 2 of the PF Changs Marathon. I am gluten free and I was very sad to say that all I was able to eat at the finish line both times was a banana because the other options had gluten. Do you know of any great post ... read more
There is usually plenty of fruit. You really can't expect a race director to cater to a special diet. I personally don't always like what it is offered...usually because those last six miles I am craving something different. If I don't like it, I simply take something to tide me over and get my own food down the line.
I doubt there are a "lot" of runners on gluten free diets, since it should really only be used when medicinally necessary. (I know for some it's a kick, but studies show that unless you are highly sensitive, it is important to have it in your diet.)
posted over 1 year ago
Similar Discussions in Race Management - Race Operations
American Flyers Race Pacers0 responses/last response 5 months ago
Does this bother you?11 responses/last response 8 months ago
outdoor running vs treadmill13 responses/last response 8 months ago
Race Registrations1 response/last response 9 months ago
Race Medical Management Planning0 responses/last response 12 months ago
- Jordan shoes
1 response/last response about 1 year ago
Questions about holding a 5k/...1 response/last response about 1 year ago
Inexpensive races...11 responses/last response over 1 year ago
RD's on dailymile?6 responses/last response over 1 year ago
Fat Boy Bicycle Poker Run - R...0 responses/last response almost 3 years ago
Categories
General
Running
Triathlon
Cycling
Health & Fitness
Race Management
Dailymile Feedback
