Augusta Striders Running Club 

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6Aug06

                                    Advice for Race Directors
    As webguy gets more smart stuff to add to this list, he adds it to the bottom.  So scroll down for the latest in race directing wisdom

• Make sure your race is listed on race calendars of these free running sites:

           www.rungeorgia.com

           Strictly Running     (these guys only list SC races)

           www.runaiken.com

           Running Journal.    (Look under "Event Calendar")

           Running On-Line     

           Running Times 

           www.coolrunning.com  (probably not free)

           Runners World  (probably not free - this site "traps" you and won't let you come "back")

• For information on COURSE CERTIFICATION click on www.usatf.org/events/courses
   
• The Augusta Striders can provide timing services. 
  The fee for timing equipment rental is $60.00         The operators fee is $20.00 
  These fees must be paid in advance.
  You will know that you have properly coordinated with us for timing services when you see
  "(timing provided by ASRC)"by your race on our race calendar.  (the local races only calendar)
   
• To minimize finish line / race results confusion, publicize the information found on Things Every Runner Should Know
       by including a flyer in your race bag and having a large sign at packet pickup. 
       If you have things to add to this list, send them to the webmaster.
   
• Ensure that the volunteer who is passing out the finish line place cards knows to give finish cards ONLY to registered
      runners who have a race number visible on the front of their person.  This will also minimize finish line confusion
      as the clock guy is not going to record a time for runners who do not have a race number.
   
• There are two cardinal sins in directing a race.  You can make mistakes,  but don't commit a cardinal sin!
       *  Cardinal sin #1 is to fail to properly and adequately mark your course. 
           A blind drunken monkey should be able to follow the course.  If he can, most of the runners should be ok.
           Even if you're paying them, you can't rely on police officers to serve as course monitors,  they have a higher
           calling and are not accustomed to staying in one spot directing runners (or blind drunken monkeys).
           Webguy ran a race where the police officer / course monitor left his assigned post after the first couple of runners
           made the turn.  90% of the runners got off course, got mad, and promised never to run that race again.
   Here's a great idea: In addition to course monitors, use a lead bike or vehicle who KNOWS the course.
           For every turn that you leave up to a course monitor, you increase your chances of the lead runners getting
           off course.  Case in point:  one race director recently had a course monitor show up on race morning only to
           disappear when he was suppose to report to his designated monitor point.  This course monitor was suppose to
           monitor the turn-around point of an out & back 5K and he simply disappeared. 
           Were it not for an alert LEAD BIKE who saw where I had clearly marked the turn-around point in chalk on the
           previous night, this could have ruined the race.  Of course the lead bike had to then make the quick decision to
           abandon his job as lead bike and serve as turn-around point monitor for the remainder of the runners.
  
       *  Cardinal sin #2 is to fail to ensure the distance is accurate.  Having your course certified by a USATF official is
           recommended but not required.  Most local courses are not certified, however, having a certified course is a
           "draw" for some of the more serious runners.  Ensuring your course is accurate will take time and shoe leather.
           Plan on walking your course AT LEAST 3 times using a variety of measuring sources.  Webguy has used a rolling
           engineers wheel in conjunction with a GPS device and walked the course 5 times to ensure an accurate course.
           Even if you don't jump through the hoops of official course certification, you can learn a lot and pick up some very
           helpful information about course measuring by reading up on course certification at www.usatf.org/events/courses.
   
• Many road races are held as fund raisers for 501c3 non-profit orgs.  More and more often, these races are offering "receipts" documenting the race entry fee as a tax deductible gift to the non-profit org.  These "gift receipts" are usually mailed out after the race.  Given that, demographically speaking, runners tend to be in the upper middle to higher income brackets they are more likely to itemize deductions.  Plan on offering this service and advertise it with your race info.  It certainly can't hurt.
   
• After your race, send the race results to our webmaster to post on our "race results" page.

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