http://www.racedirector.org/blog/ Making race running event directors better. Gulo Blog http://www.gulosolutions.com en-us Association of Running Event Directors Copyright 2010 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#1000073 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#1000073 Yes, there are more 5k races than any other distance but the report found that 'core runners'' favorite distance is the half-marathon. Dates and times for races vary by local custom. Young singles like Saturday races so they can party that night and sleep in Sunday morning. Churchgoers prefer Saturdays. Municipal governments prefer Sunday races so Saturday business traffic is not disrupted (except for communities where Sunday church is part of the culture for most people). Those who work on Saturdays prefer running or volunteering on Sundays. Start times should be as early as possible (see today's blog post). People will travel farther for longer distance races, race distances that are less available, and race locations that offer non-racing, entertainment venues. There is no magical distance. 2010-07-15 17:53:58 David M. Patt, http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#1000072 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#1000072 Are there any additional statistics that could be pulled out of the top 4 responses? Are there preferred dates/times for serious or casual runnerwalkers. Is there a magical distances from an event where an event is considered too far to travel to? What is the most popular race distance (I'd assume 5K)? What constitues fun? I bring these questions up as they are important for events trying to understand their market and how to best reach out to further grow the event. 2010-07-15 15:56:33 Andy Edgar http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/07/why-people-run-and-race.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#1000071 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#1000071 Thanks for the comment, Kent. We think races benefit from paying the online fee themselves. It makes it easier to get entries and runners don't feel trapped, tricked, or soaked for extra money. (We pay the fee for members who join online). 2010-06-03 11:35:29 David M. Patt, http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#1000070 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#1000070 I can not believe how many races are charging the processing fee for online registration. How about the trend to make you search for the price? AND THEN tack on the processing fee! Please keep evangelizing this. 2010-05-25 16:45:21 Kent http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/05/online-trap.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#1000069 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#1000069 Thanks, Pat. Our tech guy is checking into it. 2010-03-29 12:51:20 David M. Patt, http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#1000068 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#1000068 did you know that google reader can't feed your blog posts to readers? 2010-03-26 20:28:12 Pat Monahan http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2010/03/exploiting-race-closings.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000067 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000067 David, I think trailrunners use hydration devices in races more than roadruners for these reasons: Trail races can have just as many aid stations as road races, but trail races usually have terrain and elevation issues that road races don't...so it takes longer to get between aid stations. Trailrunners are also used to training in conditions away from civilization, so they tend to be more self-sufficient. (There aren't Starbucks and 7-11s in the woods). Ben 2010-01-10 16:04:16 Ben http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/12/course-error-costly.html#1000066 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/12/course-error-costly.html#1000066 The lead motorcycle in the Tucson Marathon took the leader the wrong way on Dec. 13th. He was dq'd too. I wonder if he got the prize money? By the time I went by that corner, there was a volunteer making sure we all went the long way. 2009-12-18 17:36:00 Pat Monahan http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/12/course-error-costly.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000065 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000065 Most runners do need to stay hydrated, Gary, so races - including a 5k - should have water at aid stations. For many people, 5k is the fartherst they've run. It's not just a quick sprint. 2009-12-02 17:59:07 David M. Patt, http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#postcomments http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000063 http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#1000063 Going green...makes sense to take care of the environment, but to me the recyclable cups make more sense as race directors can guarantee the cups get recycled while carry- along plastic bottles may or may not be recycled -- as that's up to each individual runner/walker. And the issue isn't just during the race -- post race often includes some kind of sports drink and/or water in plastic bottles along with food...doesn't matter if it's a 5K or marathon. But that's almost more difficult to go green there as even if you clearly mark 'recycle your plastic bottles here,' people still throw other trash (banana peals, wrappers, etc.) into it...(fun to sort out THAT sticky mess in order to recycle) and refilling used plastic bottles, unless carefully done, would be a great way to spread viruses as people tend to rest a pitcher on the lip of their bottles or stick there bottles up against the tap to fill it (especially if runners are serving themselves after a hard race). So, all that to say, going 'green' is a whole lot of work from set-up to tear-down and has to be done carefully to protect the health of participants. 2009-12-02 09:56:34 Dan Van Veen http://www.racedirector.org/blog/2009/11/water-bottles-instead-of-cups.html#postcomments