I’ve heard stories about poor course markings or improper directions from course officials causing runners to go in the wrong direction. What happens to the results in such a scenario?
Read MoreAt the starting line of the Boston Marathon, the town of Hopkinton puts out a sign that appropriately reads, “It All Starts Here!”
Read MoreI always assumed that races were won on chip time, so when I started slowing down as the years went on, I moved more to the middle of the pack assuming that my chip time would be enough.
Read MoreI've heard that when the "call of nature" comes -- at the worst time and far from any convenient or appropriate location -- runners in a race often relieve themselves in a relatively public manner. What's a race director's policy toward this? How do you plan for it?
Read MoreIt’s tempting during the days and weeks immediately following a race to do as little as possible given the sense of exhaustion most of us feel.
Read MoreAs a race director with only one event under my belt, I'm curious: Have you ever had a race where you didn't have someone contact you afterward to complain about something? I'm not being sarcastic; I'm honestly curious.
Read MoreI just ran my second marathon and noticed many runners had friends on bikes to help them out with words of encouragement, etc. along the course. To what extent can spectators aid runners during a race?
Read MorePost-race activities, food, and entertainment will enhance your event tremendously; generally, the more the better.
Read MoreWhat are the accepted/required procedures for starting a marathon? Do you have to say, "Ready... set... go"? (Or "Ready... set... (bang!)"?
Read MoreI am a 21-year-old female runner, and I have completed two half-marathons and two full marathons. I am a PR-seeker and eventually would like to qualify for the Boston Marathon. One of my biggest problems with achieving a PR during a race has to do with discrepancies between my GPS watch and the race-course measurements.
Read MoreRaces should allow the transfer of race registrations. Many of us know what's it like to have registered for a marathon only to get an injury and lose the $100 or more.
Read MoreI hope you'll indulge me to mention a pet peeve of mine. It involves time limits. I've done a few marathons lately that announced a 6-hour time limit. I'm a walker and it takes me 5 1/2 to 6 hours to complete a marathon.
Read MoreDuring the past year, I have received a number of emails from runners who have participated in a few races I have directed complaining that the course was "too long."
Read MoreMore and more commonly, high-profile races are closing out at record pace. What an amazing phenomenon. But is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Read MoreYears ago when managing a race, all you needed to do is draw a chalk mark in the road and tell your runners to just stand behind it. No problem.
Read MorePlease, for the love of all that is running, let's get an alternative to the race T-shirt! Much as I love them, when you're running multiple events a year, after a few years it gets ridiculous.
Read MoreI finished the Louisville Derby Half-Marathon and noticed the thousands of finishers' medals waiting for their owners. How do race directors figure out how many medals to order for any given race without getting stuck with too many, or (worse) too few?
Read MoreI’d like to know why the fee is so high to register online for some races. It only makes life easier for the race organizers when I register online, yet for some races, they charge an extra $6 or more to register online.
Read MoreWhen I was in college, the phrase the morning after meant only one thing to me: a splitting headache after a night of one too many. Well, after 25+ years of directing events, the morning after means something entirely different and at the same time can sometimes be the actual cause of a splitting headache.
Read MoreI'm trying to get approval to hold a race. I am trying to design the run segment with safety being utmost. I have heard differing opinions on the way the course should be laid out.
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