What makes a race “good”
Since I began running almost 13 years ago, I have raced over 100 times. Some of these races were local charity 5ks, some were country marathons, and one was even a major marathon in a big city. When I started racing, what mattered most to me was a finisher t-shirt and a medal. Now, those are at the bottom of my list of what I look for when I am choosing a race. In no order, here are my qualifications on determining if a race is worth my time, effort and of course, money.
A certified course. What is a certified course you might ask? It’s a course that has been independently measured to ensure the distance advertised is the distance you are racing. Have you ever raced a 2.9 mile 5k? If you were going for a PR attempt, that could be fairly annoying. How do you tell if a course is certified? Most of times, the race will advertise it as a certified course. This is especially important for the marathon distance and anyone who is trying to get a Boston-Qualifying time, as the B.A.A will only accept results from certified courses.
Amenities - are there porto potties, fuel, and water stops along the course?
Course route - if the race is run on roads, are the roads closed to traffic, and will there be police or volunteers at intersections to ensure runner’s safety? Closing roads costs race directors money. I’m willing to pay more for a race if I know it will be a safe course. Is the course CLEARLY marked so that runners know where to go? Nothing is worse than finding out you made a wrong turn, maybe inadvertently cutting the course short, or adding mileage. Having volunteers who know the course at key points is also very helpful.
Race expos - If a race doesn’t offer race day pickup, make the expo worth my time and have some cool merchandise, or at least relevant vendors. I’m not looking to purchase new windows when I am picking up a race bib, but I may sample a new electrolyte drink or energy bar.
Safety - will there be EMS on site? Will there be bike support along the route with walkie talkies in case of an emergency? I have been in races where I have been pretty much alone on a section of the course and have thought to myself, if I have an issue will anyone know? It’s dangerous especially in summer heat or warmer climates not to make sure there are volunteers or EMS who will be able to get to any point of the course quickly in case of an emergency.
A punctual race - if a race is advertised to start at 7:30, start at 7:30. Runners have nutrition dialed in and standing around waiting for 10-20 minutes can affect fueling strategies for longer races. Obviously sometimes races are delayed due to weather concerns for safety, but other than that, there’s really no excuse.
I get that medals and fun swag can make for great pictures (who doesn’t love #medalmonday), and I see there place in racing. But, I can go out and run an uncertified 10k around my neighborhood any day I want, without paying $50-$75 or more. With this most recent running boom, I hope race directors put value on accurate courses, safety, and amenities along the race route, and less emphasis on a huge medal that will most likely be tossed in a landfill.
