Things I've Learned In Walking/Running, Part 5

What to Expect of a Race Organizer … this can get a bit subjective, since personal tastes, experiences, and the nature of the organizer shape expectations, but I would summarize my answer to my question very simply: a great race experience, from signing up through leaving after the race is over.

In this day of the Internet, a race should have reasonably complete information available online in a timely fashion. Things like location, date, course map, and, except for “flat” courses, course profiles are essential for a prospective participant to know a race exists and whether it would be interesting and suitable.

Registration should be easy – no complications, no cul-de-sac gotchas. There are several companies that handle registrations and such for organizers, whose processes are very smooth. The registration site should generate an immediate confirmation email.

Information is critical. Besides basics like venue location, date, and times, an organizer's website should give details about parking, entry fees, start/finish area location, timing, T-shirts, finisher's medals, special awards, and - much more importantly – course details (map, elevation profile, aid station locations). In other words, a race participant should have a reasonable mental picture of how to get there, where to find the start area, and what to expect their race day will be like.

Production details should be organized and – from the runners' perspective – smooth. If problems arise, they should be handled as best and quickly as possible. Check-in should be smooth and quick, whether on days before the race or on race day. Restroom and porta-cans should be sufficient to preclude long waits.

The course should be clearly marked, with monitors to direct people, and watch for runners who are injured or in trouble. Aid stations, minimally, should have water, sports drink for longer (>5K) distances, and some rudimentary first aid.

The finish area should be welcoming, with a smooth flow to direct recent finishers out of the way of those coming behind them. Handing out finisher's medals should be quick and congratulatory. There should be snacks and drinks nearby that are suitable for recovery. Aid stations and the finish area should be well supplied, even for the very last finishers. If race T-shirts are given out at the finish, even very late finishers should receive the size they specified when they registered (being slower, my size being unavailable is a pet peeve!).

Race T-shirt practices vary,both as to type and when given out. Some organizers give tech T-shirts for all distances. A few (usually charities) give cotton T-shirts for all distances. Some give tech Ts for half marathon and longer distances, and cotton for 5K and 10K racers (with an option to pay to upgrade to tech). Some organizers give out T-shirts before the race, some to finishers. I like the latter less, because I've twice found on finishing that my size was no longer available. Both races were with the same organizer, who had had a larger than expected number of late registrants (twice!). Because of this and an unsatisfactory experience attempting to resolve the problem, I avoid that organizer's races.

Like race T-shirts, finisher's medals are tangible mementos of the races. A few small charity races do not give out medals; for that purpose and context, I think that is fine. Some somewhat larger charity races give out medals that are semi-custom off-the-shelf awards company medals. Large charity races and race organizer businesses usually give out custom-designed medals (it is becoming common for the ribbons to be custom-designed as well).

I adjust my expectations of a particular race's “swag” according to the nature of the organizer and size. Generally, I expect simpler from a smallish charity race, and nicer from a larger organizer business.

In “chip” timed races preliminary results should be posted online quickly, and racers notified by email. Within 24 hours is very common, and I've seen some races posting on race day evening. There should be a way for racers with a concern to have it addressed.

The above are all nutsy-boltsy tangible things. A large part of an enjoyable race experience is the people. Friendly and helpful staff and volunteers are critical. Less easy to control, friendly and encouraging racers are also important. Personally this is a factor that has inclined me to prefer small-medium sized races, and has brought me back race after race to several local organizers who do well with the people factor.