So here I am playing at being some sort of “expert” with all these race recaps I do…and after seeing a friend redoing all of HER race recaps I came to the realization…
I’m doing it wrong.
Frankly, I should’ve been providing that all along.
But HOW do you judge a race? What really makes it great, and how do you MEASURE that consistently from race to race?
Well, I figured it out. 5 key areas that make a great (or not-so-great) race.
What Makes A Race Great?
2. Race-Day
3. The Course
4. Support/Swag
5. Post-Race
Those five categories are it, and you average them to get an overall score. What falls into those categories will vary from race to race, but when you want to qualify and quantify how a race is doing and you want to compare it to other races, this works. This will allow you to fairly compare, I think, most races. Let’s break down what kinds of things can fall into each category.
1. Pre-Race
I’m not talking changing rooms and water bottles, this category is all about your experience BEFORE you even show up to the venue to lace up your shoes. In order to have a good race-day experience, it’s important to be provided with all the important information ahead of time. The Pre-Race category considers (but is not limited to) the following:
- Availability/accuracy of information about the race before signing up
- Ease of sign-up process / confirmation email
- Ability to contact race company / race director if necessary
- Availability of pre-race bib pick-up
- Quality / execution of pre-race expo (if applicable)
- Any and all pre-race communication including website updates, email / email newsletters and week-of-race reminders/updates
- Availability, ease, and organization of parking
- Ease/availability/frequency of shuttles, if parking is off-site
- Adequate volunteer/staff presence (not under-staffed/unable to handle crowd)
- Volunteers / staff are knowledgeable on things they should…well…KNOW
- Ease of registration/bib pickup (if on race-day)
- Adequate communication (start time, delays, important information, etc)
It doesn’t matter how well-organized, easy & smooth everything goes if the course is garbage. Some races’ claim to fame is their course itself, and many people consider difficulty level and scenery when choosing a race.This category is ALL about the course itself, and considers (but is not limited to) the following:
- The course is as described (maps, elevation charts, & distance are accurate/as-described)
- Visual appeal of race course
- Difficulty level of race course (i.e. a “family fun run” doesn’t have 32% grade hills)
- Course is easy to follow / well-marked
- Traffic management (if applicable)
Success or failure, and the rewards therein, are important, This is where things like water stops, finishers/podium medals, t-shirts & more come into play. These are the things that help you finish & help you remember your finish. This is also where that “special something extra” comes into play. “Support/Swag” considers (but is not limited to):
- Availability of water/aid stations on-course (if applicable)
- First-aid/medical on-course & at festival (if applicable)
- Restrooms/port-o-johns at festival & on-course (if applicable)
- “Other” volunteers on-course (morale, obstacles, etc – if applicable)
- Finisher’s medal (if applicable)
- Awards for top finishers (if applicable)
- Availability of (free) T-shirt, including correct size (if applicable)
- “Extras”
- Availability of water post-race
- Availability of food (i.e. bananas, etc) post-race
- Quality of post-race festival (if applicable)
- Are they just trying to sell me something?
- Results posting
- Awards ceremony (if applicable)
- Availability/quality/accuracy of beer / post-race libations (if applicable)
