Tips for holding your own 5K charity running event.
Yesterday, Precise completed another day’s work at the subway 5K run at Strathclyde Park. Our Roadshow Stage, compere and race clock were all in attendance and doing their bit to make the event a success. As ever, the runners stole the show and did themselves proud.
Running has seen a surge in popularity since the Olympics. With gym memberships often seen as a burden, people are instead turning to the convenience of simply popping on a pair of trainers and heading out onto the street. The ease with which distance and performance can be reported on smartphones has transformed the way people keep fit.
5K is regarded as the ideal starter’s distance and, as such, has spawned a number of charity events, like the Subway run, which raises money for Heart Research UK.
If you’re thinking of holding your own running event, it’s unlikely you’ll struggle to find participants, but we’ve got three simple tips to help you get started planning your big day.
1) Choose your location and date
Sounds too obvious, but this needs some thought. The bulk of charity races are typically held throughout the summer. Whilst running can be enjoyed regardless of Mother Nature’s mood, warmer weather makes it easier on the spectators, and you want as many of those as possible to turn up!
Picking a good venue can make or break the event. People will flock to a nice venue. Local parks are the obvious target, but also consider the possibility of school grounds, the owners of which might be more than happy to get involved in the day.
2) Set a budget, find sponsors
A budget for a charity event is essential. As a general rule of thumb, the event should cost you the same amount of money you’re charging participants to register. Your budget is going to tell you whether or not it will make sense to put the event on. If you find you’re only going to break even with your entry fee, it’s time to look for some sponsors.
Bear in mind every cost – tents, signage, website design, labour, public address system, timing kit, etc. There’s a lot to consider, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you can turn a profit for your chosen charity. Sponsorship really is key, though – attend local networking events and really get to know your local businesses. If you put the time in with them, they’ll want to help you and will get involved.
3) On the day
This is it, the big day. It can be overwhelming for first-time race directors, but the key is assistance. You can’t do it all. During the planning of your run, you’ll naturally build a support network for the event who will be on hand to help make it a success. Ensure individual people or teams are in charge of parking, registration and available for general assistance for those attending.
Leave the technical aspects to the professionals! Precise have been providing sports event services such as race gantries, staging and comperes for years and it is often these elements which will give your day a professional sheen the Olympics would be proud of!
If you’re planning a running event, we wish you the best of luck!