All of us have thought and wondered about what else goes on at the races that we run besides the actual running.
What do those huge entry fees go towards?
How about the expo and the sponsors?
What kind of logistics does it take to put on a large race?
The answer to these questions, and countless others, is far more
complex than we can imagine…and it only gets bigger with the size of the
race.
On the show today to help dive into all these questions is Phil Stewart.
Phil is the owner of Road Race Management and has been the race
director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run in Washington,
D.C., which attracts well over 15,000 finishers annually, for over 20
years.
In this interview we discuss many key details that are involved in putting on a race, including some of the potential pitfalls.
Some of the key points of our discussion included:
What goes on behind the scenes of a major race event,
from the all-important permit process to the “wrap-up” process that can
take months after the actual race dateThe Cherry Blossom race’s commitment to the elite
runners that are invited every year and its desire to be seen as a real
sporting eventThe financial aspects, including the topic of entry fees as well as sponsors and where they usually come fromSome of the rewarding parts of being a race director and road racing’s unique combining of elite and everyday runnersIf you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go behind the scenes a major race, you’ll love this sneak peak.A Sneak Peak at What it Takes to Organize one of the World’s Largest Races