Resuming Races Resources
Running USA is creating and aggregating content on the returning of member running events around the U.S., including documentation like operations plans, state and city guidelines, and case studies on past events. If you have a story to share or a document to submit, please reach out to leah@runningusa.org, director of marketing and communications, for next steps.
Flying Pig Pivots Runner Packet Pickup
With the entire running industry looking for unique and safe ways to serve its participants, thousands of finishers for the Cincinnati Flying Pig and Queen Bee events took advantage of this past weekend's open-air Kroger Packet "Pig-Up" to claim their medals and premium gifts in a socially distant manner.
Published: Oct. 19, 2020
Spectrum Sports Management Launches California Coalition of Endurance Sports
The coalition’s intention is to gather members from the endurance sports world so that they can speak with a united voice as one cohesive business unit, which is imperative to the health and economic vitality of the events, participants and communities.
Published Oct. 16, 2020
A Dedicated Runners' Perspective on Virtual Events
Running USA member Patrick Stiegman has fully embraced running through the challenges of 2020. He shares his thoughts on races and engaging mid-pack athletes.
Published Oct. 8, 2020
Virtual Race Camp: Resuming Live Events in Minneapolis
On Sept. 3, three members of the Twin Cities in Motion team (Virginia Brophy Achman, Eli Asch and Ed Whetham) briefed over 120 industry peers on their first in-person race held since the pandemic began. The first MNy 250 Series event had less than 225 participants.
View the presentation recording
See the webinar presentation slides
Check out the Minnesota statewide guidelines
Video: ARE Event Productions Holds the Socially Distanced Druthers Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon
Published: October 1, 2020
Watch the video:
Find out more about the event in this link to its participant Q&A, shared by Josh Merlis, president of ARE Event Productions.
A Guide for Participants: Are Running Events Safe?
Published: Sept. 11, 2020
Lonnie Somers of HAL Sports authored this guide specifically for running event participants who may have questions about their health and safety as events begin to resume.
Download the participant guide
Moving Forward in Minnesota
Published: Sept. 9, 2020
In July, Grandma’s Marathon of Duluth, Minn. held its first race since COVID-19 halted most road racing nationwide. “Our city approved it, and it went fantastic,” said Shane Bauer, executive director. Grandma’s Marathon produces a year-round schedule of a dozen running and walking events in normal times, including its flagship race, Grandma’s Marathon.
Read the article
See the event operations plan
Q&A: A Proactive Approach to Resuming Events in Indiana
Published: Sept. 3, 2020
The Indiana Sports Corp’s Indy Ultimate was in the streets of Indianapolis in late July. Race director Caleb Kolby answered questions about the planning and operations process.
Read the Q+A
See the event case study
Case Study: NYC Runs Holds First Race in Six Months
Published: Sept. 2, 2020
Founder and CEO Steve Lastoe shares his takeaways from the event with Running USA and even more importantly, his operations plan
Read the case study
See the operations plan
Event Producer Takeaways: Lonnie Somers, HAL Sports
Published: Sept. 3, 2020
"Reviewing the events we have done, things have gone exceptionally well. Here are takeaways that hopefully will be useful if you plan to execute an in-person event during the pandemic," writes Running USA board member Somers, co-founder of HAL (Healthy, Active, Living) Sports in Denver.
View the overview
See the full document
Stepping Up for a Return to Smart, Scalable Events in Colorado
Updated: Aug. 14, 2020
Industry veterans Andrea Dowdy and Creigh Kelley worked with Colorado officials to create COVID-era event guidelines, taking care to make them practical and useful to events nationwide. On Friday, August 14, Creigh Kelley shared that the final guidelines had been approved by Denver officials.
Read the case study
See the Denver guidelines
Making a Case for the Cape Cod Marathon
Published: Aug. 5, 2020
Ultimately, the Cape Cod Marathon was not approved. This article was written several days before the final Town Council meeting that determined the event would pivot to virtual.
Read the story
See the proposed event operations plan
Additional Known In-Person Events by Running USA members
Marine Corps Marathon's Aug. 22 races for 300 people: https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/MCM-Organization-Hosts-First-Live-Event-Series.aspx
NYRR Held the Return to Racing Pilot 4 Mile on Sept. 27 for 200 people: https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/new-york-road-runners-plans-bring-back-races-october
The Welcome Back 5K in Denver, set for Oct 10, is sold out: https://www.runcolfax.org/denver-events-2/welcome-back-denver-5k/