About Us
The Association of Running Event Directors was formed in 2005, by David M. Patt, CAE, former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Area Runners Association. Our mission is to ensure that running event directors can obtain the information and training they need to produce quality running events.
Many running event directors have limited knowledge about races. They work or volunteer at hospitals, park districts, chambers of commerce, charities, or other small organizations that produce events to raise funds for a worthy cause or to offer an exciting activity to a community. Their expertise is often in a field other than race management.
The Association of Running Event Directors has conducted educational sessions and offered individual consultation on race planning, marketing, sponsorship, volunteer recruitment, course management, and event administration.