Towing cars
Race directors usually do their best to provide an optimum starting area for runners. A wide street - cleared of cars - eliminates course backups and allows runners to get off to a quick start. A cooperative city government can be counted on to remove cars on race morning before runners arrive.
The Ravenswood Run, a 5k on Chicago's north side, has benefited the food pantry of a local church for the last eleven years. The race tallied a record 2,502 finishers this year and provided a cleared street - curb-to-curb- at the start and along the beginning of the course.
The City of Chicago notified residents of the race day parking ban and towed the remaining cars before the event began.
Still, many residents were shocked to find their vehicles gone on race morning and miffed at having to spend $160 to retrieve them from the auto pound.
Even if residents were adequately notified, they were still angry about the towing. Many felt it was unjustified and claimed that alternative parking sites were not available.
When conducting a race in a congested, residential neighborhood, it is important to balance the needs of the runners against the desires of the community.
Resident complaints could lead to the City forcing the event to relocate, limiting the number of registrants, or placing other restrictions on the race. The City may even refuse to grant an event permit next year.
A narrow race start might be better than no race at all.