Runner complaints
A very unhappy runner sent a detailed complaint about a race to Chicago Athlete magazine, which printed his grievances in the Letters to the Editor section of its June issue.
It's unfortunate the runner had to resort to such a public display of discontent. Although the race only attracted half the field he observed, his complaints still reflected a genuine disappointment with some basic organizational facets of the event.
There are a number of methods race directors can employ to deal with complaints, but the best course of action is to produce a quality event.
Proofread all of your printed information before it is published or posted, to ensure it is clear, correct, complete, and up-to-date. Contract with reliable vendors and arrange delivery of product and equipment earlier than you'll need it. Be sure all race personnel are well-trained. Produce accurate results quickly - most runners expect them to be posted before the end of the day they raced.
It may not be possible to entirely eliminate dissatisfaction. But you should be able to promise what you can deliver, and then deliver what you promised.