Consider hosting a race for charity to support your community.
Though planning a successful running event can be an arduous experience, having a strategic plan and the support of family members and friends can ease the organizational process. From location to advertising, a planner oversees every aspect of the event. Whether you want to organize a race for charity or have a recreational run, your initiative to create and follow a decisive checklist will be rewarding for you and the participants in your event.
Instructions
1. Determine whether you want to plan a recreational race or a race for charity. If you plan to organize a charitable running event, determine the organization you would like support. You can select a local or national non-profit organization, such as an animal shelter, clothing or food donation center, or The American Red Cross.
2. Plan an organizational meeting and get your friends and family members on board. Select a date, time and location, such as your house, and then speak to your friends, co-workers and family members about getting involved in the planning of your event. If you are on a social networking site such as Facebook, create an online invitation and send it to everyone on your friends list.
3. Contact the non-profit organization if you plan to host a running event for charity. Notify the representative from the organization that you are planning the event and would like to donate the profits to the organization. Ask the representative if the company would like to aid you in advertising or planning the event.
4. Select a name for your event. The name will be used to showcase and advertise your running event and should be relevant to the cause or essence of the event.
5. Select a location for your event. The course you choose should be appropriate for the race you are planning and should be a safe, danger-free zone for the runners who enter the event.
6. Determine which local government office issues permits in your town or city. Depending on where you live, the office can vary. You can also contact your local police department for direction in this matter. Contact the office and let the official know all of the details of your event. He or she will ask you to fill out a permit application. Depending on the town of city you live, you may be able to fill out and submit the paperwork online. If not, pick up the application from the office, fill it out and submit it. You will most likely have to pay a permit fee, which varies depending on your city or town.
7. Create a flier to showcase your event. You can minimize your costs by creating an eye-catching flier in Microsoft Word and printing it out at home. Add flair to your flier by using bright colors and graphics. Be sure to include all of the details for your event, including the name, date, time, location and contact information.
8. Post the fliers in your community. Ask local businesses if you could place one of your fliers in a store window or leave a few copies on the cashier's counter. If your running event is for charity, you can also ask local business owners if they would like to support your event and donate money to the charity. Some popular grocery stores have bulletin boards in the entrance or exit of the store. Grab a few pushpins and post the fliers in any local grocery stores that offer this service.
9. Research local or online companies that create race number bibs. Determine a rough estimate of the amount of bibs you will need for the event and then purchase them. You may want to purchase extra bibs in case you have a better turnout than you expected.
10. Purchase awards or prizes, if you plan to reward the winners. Consider purchasing trophies or ribbons for the first, second and third place winners of the race. Depending on your budget, you can also purchase T-shirts for the other participants. Research different companies that specialize in selling trophies. Depending on the area you live, you may be able to find a local company that sells trophies. Use the phone book, or the online version of the Yellow Pages, to find a service. You can also find a handful of web-based companies that sell trophies, and then compare the styles and prices of the trophies with those at a local store.
11. Purchase needed items for the race, such as finish line tape, water coolers and cups. The finish line tape will be used to determine who wins the race. Instead of purchasing water bottles, purchase large water coolers and cups. The runners should stay hydrated on their run. On the day of the race, you can set up stations throughout the course that have water available for the runners. You may also want to purchase refreshments for the event, which you can set up at the end of the course. If you do not have enough money in your budget for refreshments, consider asking friends and family members to prepare food and refreshments.
12. Contact the individuals who will be volunteering at the event, and speak to them about their job at the race. Volunteers will be needed at the registration table, water stations and end station, which has water and refreshments available for the runners.
13. Arrive early on the day of the event, and have the volunteers aid you with the set-up process. Determine where you would like to place the registration table, water stations and end station, and have the volunteers help you setup each station throughout the course. Set up the finish line tape at the end of the course. When you're finished with event preparations, be sure to have volunteers greet the participants when they arrive.
Tags: your event, running event, would like, family members, companies that