Winter photo opps
What makes a race photo newsworthy?
A world class athlete setting a new record. A spectator cheering in a striking manner. Event volunteers stacking hundreds of water cups.
Or, runners competing in cold or stormy weather.
The Reindeer Ramble, in Chicago IL, caught the eye of television reporters as runners were filmed carefully traversing a snow-covered course that was caked with layers of thin, dangerous ice.
It's unfortunate that runners are often portrayed as eccentric, but if you are staging a winter run, it's hard to shed that image. The worse the weather, the more likely a reporter will shoot a photo.
If you expect snow, rain, sleet, fog, or wind at your race, be sure to disseminate press releases to print and electronic media. You'll be out there anyway, so you may as well garner whatever publicity is available.