LOLZLetter 86 | How Tes Turned Her 1300 Person Half Marathon into a High-Level Virtual Race
Welcome!
Over the last week, I had the privilege of talking to several race directors about how they handle their races during the COVID era. Originally, I thought I would write a single newsletter with recaps from different race directors. However, on my phone conversations and interviews, I stumbled upon something great. Instead of creating a single newsletter, I want to create a series of how race directors handle races.
This week I wanted to focus on how Tes, from Atlanta, turned her 1,300 person race into a high-level virtual race. In the following weeks, I'll focus on how races from around the country have hosted in-person races.
So Back to Tes from Runningnerds, LLC. Tes is a race director in the Metro Atlanta area.
Race Name: The Race "Pivot Edition”
The Race is a half marathon & 5K weekend event in Atlanta that supports black-owned businesses, charities, and neighborhoods.
Due to COVID, Tes has had to defer or cancel a race every single month. This isn't uncommon for race directors. While many of her races were postponed until 2021, she combined two of her races into a virtual challenge in May and June.
Today we are focusing on how Tes is handling her largest event, "The Race" on October 3rd and how she turned the 2020 version into "The Race Pivot Edition."
A few months ago, Tes was at a critical cross-road. Cancel The Race for 2020? Turn it into a challenge? Will it be virtual?
Something that gets lost when race directors give full refunds to participants is the money that goes to charity. The Race has many charity partners and supports multiple black-owned businesses.
In 2020, the Race has over 15 charity partners. $5 of EVERY race registration fee is put into a Charitable Impact Fund and given directly to community charities.
Some of the charities The Race directly impacts are: Black Girls Run Foundation, Back on my Feet, Vower, Girls on the Run-Atlanta, ARTiculate, Ronald McDonald House NW FL, We Love BuHi, Georgia Justice Project, City Living NY, Black Girls with Green Thumbs, and StreetCode Academy.
You can directly donate to any of them here.
So What did Tes Decide for The Race?
For 2020 she gave people the following options:
Defer to 2021
Refund
Participate in The Race: "Pivot Edition"
She found many people were supportive to keeping their entries. Here are a few statistics.
45% are still running the virtual race
45% deferred to 2021
10-12% asked for refunds
Another 400 people have signed up for the virtual race (including me!)
So, back to high-level virtual. What does that mean?
The Race offers all of the physical participant gifts:
The Race 2020 participant shirt, medallion, commemorative race bib, & patch
Virtual Expo, Social & Speaker events
Live Digital Race Event on Charge Running App
Contribution to The Race 2020 Charitable Impact Fund
This year there are multiple level ways to participate:
5k
Half Marathon
Bike Ride
Digital Only: 5k, 13.1, or bike ride
Digital Only registration includes:
Digital commemorative race bib & digital finisher badge
Race 2020 Virtual Expo, Social & Speaker events
Live Digital Race Event
Contribution to The Race 2020 Charitable Impact Fund
The difference is the digital option does not have any physical participant gifts.
(This is a feature I wish many in-person races had, sometimes you don't want another t-shirt. Plus, $5 is still donated to charity!)
Right now, The Race currently has people signed up from 35 states and 4 countries. Can newsletter subscribers help fill all 50 states?
The states missing are: Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Finally, I asked Tes if the Pandemic has changed how she will plan future races and she said yes. While nothing is set in stone, she mentioned having virtual race options for events allows people from all over to run and support important causes. For instance, living in California, I am now signing up to run The Race, and you can run too!
I appreciate Tes giving me time to talk about how she is handling racing in the COVID era. Many people forget, but races are small businesses too. Virtual Racing "might not be for you," but for many race directors, it's how they can keep their businesses afloat and give back to the charity partners.
I am so motivated and excited to sign up for this race as my first half marathon, post-stress fracture. I created a team: LOLZ Team. (The password is “newsletter”). I would love for you to consider joining me on October 3rd.
It doesn't matter the event you do; anyone can join our team. Even the $20 digital-only option still donates $5 to the Contribution to The Race 2020 Charitable Impact Fund. Consider joining and supporting a great race and causes.
Next week, I'll be talking to a few race directors who have held in-person events.
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
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Article: A High-Profile Female College Coach Steps Away for Another Big Job
Article: Connecticut Runner Seeks Living Liver Donor
Article: In a Naked Pandemic Race, You Can Leave Your Hat On
News: Inside the Bay Area's Lightning Saige (Not running-related, but what we are dealing with out in CA.)
As always, thank you to everyone who reads, shares, and subscribing. Subscribing and sharing are what helps the newsletter grow so I appreciate all that do that.
Stay healthy and safe.
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