Forums >General Running>How would one go about planning and directing a marathon?
I live in Destin area Florida. We have two half marathons nearby. The closest marathon is in November in Pensacola. Otherwise, the closest marathons are 4-5 hours away. The weather is great in the spring (Feb-Mar) for a full. I have a charity in mind, but don't know where to go next?
Jodi
PR:
Half: 1:48 (March 3rd, 2013)
Full: 4:05:40 (March 17th, 2013)
2013/2014 Goals:
Sub-4:00 hour Marathon
Sub- 125 poundsSub- 1:45 hour half.
A Saucy Wench
Is the point the charity or is the point the marathon? You can do it as a fundraiser of course, but it isnt necessary. Do you have any other races nearby? My suggestion is to hook up with the running group who does one of the halfs (unless it is a big corporate race machine) or some other LOCAL race and shadow the RD for a race. If there is a club that puts on a LOT of races shadow and then write up a proposal. You can do them independently for sure, but sometimes you can really save on advertising and more importantly, event insurance if you team with an established race series (road runners club of america for example)
I have become Death, the destroyer of electronic gadgets
"When I got too tired to run anymore I just pretended I wasnt tired and kept running anyway" - dd, age 7
Right on Hereford...
If you have a location in mind, find out the managers in the area and what you need to do for permits. If there's other races there already, finding out from those RD's is a great starting point.
There is also a marathon in Tallahassee in early February, which is around 2.5 hours away.
Half Fanatic #846
By By USATF Posted Monday, 29 April, 2002
The entry blank should contain the following information:
Promote the race with help of the following methods:
Assign race photographer
During the months preceding the race, the following tasks should be accomplished:
Volunteer committees established and captains appointed for:
Runner's information prepared for distribution and/or posting on race day:
Final details for a smooth running and safe race:
Course/informational signs posted Volunteer/Official area assembled
Press area assembled
Preregistered runners area
Post registration area setup
Start/Finish line equipment in place:
Medical area setup
Water stations materials in place:
Course material in place
Results area functioning:
Refreshments area functioning:
Awards area functioning:
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I came accross this in my local running club's links. I've also seen a reference to a RD's Handbook before, but couldn't find it.
Sorry (hey, my longest post ever) - I just meant to post the link!
"I don't always roll a joint, but when I do, it's usually my ankle" - unk. "Frankly autocorrect, I'm getting a bit tired of your shirt". I ran half my last race on my left foot!
Thanks. I think I'm going to draft a proposal for the track club after my 5k/10k (as director).
Kalsarikännit
Get enough porto-johns
I want to do it because I want to do it. -Amelia Earhart
old woman w/hobby
That's for damn sure, porto-johns. And it would be nice if they were stocked with toilet paper.
steph
Or you can put on a trail race.
Pigtail Connoisseur
Key items:
With that, most everything else is in the details.
Something witty
I was just the first time RD for a small 5k (we had 275 runners). The church I am a part of asked me if I would direct one and I thought "5k sure, bit of work but can't be that bad". The race went great, and feed back from the runners and community was fantastic, we raised a little better than $4,800 for the charities, but.......Wow, was it a lot of work, more than I ever expected and I had a lot of help.
The moral of my post is being an RD can be fun and rewarding experience but putting a race together takes more than you expect. Take the total hours you think it will require....triple it and add 20 or so.....for a 5k.....
I am sure I will be much more efficient next year, and the time investment will not be so huge, but for the first time around be prepared.
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
I'm RD-ing my third race this April. I know it's a lot of work. I just really, really enjoy doing it. I love the community I live in and I really think that a marathon would be huge boost to our tourism, plus I would really like it to benefit my son's school. They are an ABA- based autism school. Right now they are looking for land to build a long-term facility, right now they are renting office space at a church and another mall. A large event like a marathon, could really get the ball rolling and get them the funds they need to have a marathon. Since directing a 2 5Ks and now a 10K, I have a lot of contacts in the running world.
I was just the first time RD for a small 5k (we had 275 runners). The church I am a part of asked me if I would direct one and I thought "5k sure, bit of work but can't be that bad". The race went great, and feed back from the runners and community was fantastic, we raised a little better than $4,800 for the charities, but.......Wow, was it a lot of work, more than I ever expected and I had a lot of help. The moral of my post is being an RD can be fun and rewarding experience but putting a race together takes more than you expect. Take the total hours you think it will require....triple it and add 20 or so.....for a 5k..... I am sure I will be much more efficient next year, and the time investment will not be so huge, but for the first time around be prepared.