POST-RACE TIPS
Post-race activities, food, and entertainment will enhance your event tremendously; generally, the more the better.
Refreshments: pick easy foods, ones that don't leave much trash; control distribution as you don’t want early finishers to take more than their fair share leaving nothing for the later finishers.
Results: runners are anxious to know their (and others) results as soon as possible; posting the results properly is a talent, too; also, be sure to post the results on the internet as soon as possible but only when you know they are accurate.
Awards: most runners have enough trophies and plaques, many like merchandise awards; consider unique awards that no other race offers.
Awards ceremony: should be able to start the ceremony in less than one hour of winner crossing the finish line if 5K or 10K distance; some do winners first, some award them last to keep the crowd; the important thing is to move the ceremony along quickly!
Call/email in results: people like to see results in the local paper and in local magazines; it really is your obligation to do this immediately following the race.
Clean up: don't leave until venue is clean; the Race Director should always be the last one to leave the race; the more trash containers, the better; don’t be afraid to ask people / runners to help and to discard and recycling their own trash properly; you may even want to hire a crew to do this or at least appoint a separate volunteer crew to do the clean up as all your other volunteers and staff are exhausted by clean up time.
MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
Communications: arguably the most important item on race day; you must be able to communicate with your committee to solve and/or avoid potential problems and to keep things running smoothly and as planned. Two-way radios usually work best.
Control: equipment and volunteers are the two factors in maintaining control of your event; if you are short on either, you will lose control.
Port-o-johns: always have one of your committee members present when the port-o-johns are delivered; it is as important where and exactly how they are placed as it is how many you ordered; if they are placed improperly, then you end up minimizing their use; and, you need to be sure runners form single lines in front of each unit, not one long line.
Aesthetics: perhaps the look of your event is not the most important priority, however, it definitely is a benefit to add a festive and fun feeling to your event – this can be done with fencing, tents, balloons, banners and the like.
Referee / officials: make sure you appoint race officials; don't police your own event or it could be a PR nightmare for you if a controversy arises.
Volunteers: you need to make the “volunteers” aware that once they commit to help, they should feel as committed as someone who is on staff; if volunteers feel they will not be missed if they do not show, you will be in deep trouble; also, remember that it is better to have too many volunteers than not enough.
Don't lose money: this may be obvious but realize that if you do not financially manage your event properly and end up losing money, everyone loses as perhaps your even will cease to exist and that would be unfortunate for everyone involved.
Remember the basics: accurate course, start on time, offer plenty of water and provide accurate and timely results.
Finally: it is a business but it is also supposed to be FUN!