The panel style webinar will explore why endurance organizations should prioritize participant loyalty and community-building before growth slows
MIAMI, Fla. — June 24, 2026 — haku, the global leader in endurance event technology, announced their planned webinar on retention strategy. It’s clear that participation demand remains strong across much of the endurance industry. Registrations are healthy, events are filling or even selling out, and many organizers are focused on attracting new participants.
But according to haku and Track Shack, that may be exactly why retention deserves more attention.
On July 8, haku and Track Shack will host a live industry webinar, Retention Matters Most When Your Demand Is Strongest: Why Community Matters More Than Ever in Endurance Events, examining why the most successful event organizations focus on participant loyalty during periods of growth, not after registrations begin to decline.
The discussion will challenge a common industry assumption that retention only becomes important when acquisition slows. Instead, organizers will explore how strong participation demand can mask churn, create dependence on acquisition, and distract organizations from building long-term participant relationships.
“Many organizations only shift focus to retention when their registrations decline or slow,” said Jackie Levi, Chief Strategy Officer at haku. “But what the strongest organizations do differently is focus on retention when registrations are growing or high and stable. The trouble is that growth can hide loyalty problems, which means the best time to strengthen participant relationships is before you feel pressure to.”
The webinar will feature Jackie Levi alongside Jon, Betsy, and Chris Hughes of Track Shack, one of the most recognized community-driven organizations in the U.S. for endurance sports. For decades, Track Shack has built its business around creating year-round engagement, meaningful participant experiences, and a strong sense of belonging that extends far beyond race day.
“Events bring people together, but community is what keeps them coming back,” said Jon Hughes, Co-owner of Track Shack. “We’ve seen firsthand how relationships, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging create loyalty that lasts for years. We’re excited to share what we’ve learned with fellow event organizers.”
During the webinar, attendees will learn:
Why strong participation demand can create retention blind spots
How leading organizations think about participant lifetime value
The role community plays in driving loyalty and advocacy
Practical strategies for increasing retention before, during, and after race day
What organizations can do today to build more resilient event businesses for the future
Registration is now open:
Title: Retention Matters Most When Your Demand Is Strongest: Why Community Matters More Than Ever in Endurance Events
Date: July 8, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
About haku
haku is the leading technology platform for endurance events. Its all-in-one solution helps event organizers manage registrations, fundraising, memberships, marketing, e-commerce, participant engagement, and event operations through a single connected platform. With the industry’s only native CRM and AI-powered insights, haku helps organizations increase efficiency, strengthen participant relationships, and drive revenue growth beyond registrations. Trusted by leading endurance brands around the world, haku delivers the flexibility, scalability, and security organizations need to create exceptional event experiences.
About Track Shack
Track Shack of Orlando opened for business in 1977 as a small retail operation focused on selling running shoes and apparel. Owners Jon and Betsy Hughes were awarded Florida’s Retailer of the Year 2015 by the Florida Retail Federation. Jon and Betsy also own Track Shack Events, a sports marketing company that specializes in marketing, management, and production of active lifestyle events. The award-winning professional staff has earned Track Shack Events a reputation as one of America’s top sports marketing companies. Track Shack Events co-produced the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Orlando. The mission of Track Shack Events is that each event produced will benefit the entire community – runners and walkers, sponsors, and charities.