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Much of the following information was developed over many years, initially when I was serving as the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Road Runners and later when I became the race director of the Bolder Boulder. The articles were written to assist those who through running clubs had at least some familiarity with the process of putting on a road race.

In this revised version some information has been reorganized and new material added to address questions by race directors who want to start a new event, increase the size of their present race or simply become more efficient.

Before delving into planning and logistical concerns, I have to issue my standard admonition: putting on a road race is not usually a good way to make money for an organization or a charity. The success of the Race for the Cure series is one of the few exceptions. Not only have the number of events and the sizes of the fields increased dramatically in the second half of the 1990s, but the donations raised for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation have been remarkable.

Part of the reason for the success of these originally for-women-only runs is that they began with an emotionally-charged "cause" . raising money for breast cancer research. Although a growing number of road races have charities or non-profit organizations as beneficiaries, none has had the success of the Race for the Cure.

The pros and cons of naming an organization as the beneficiary of your event will be discussed in Chapter 21, but you should not expect your race to increase in size and popularity just because of a charitable affiliation. The bottom line is still creating an event in which the participants have a good time. My experience tells me this is best accomplished by planning, organization and attention to detail.

Dealing with the details and trying to build and improve your race may mean putting proceeds back into the event, and this may conflict with the concept of generating funds for a beneficiary. You will have to balance the various objectives of your effort.

Regardless of the size of your race its success enhances our sport. Whether your goal is to promote physical fitness, fundraising or fast times, the staff of the Bolder Boulder wishes you good luck.

Bill Reef

12/31/97