Oregon Road Runners Club Race Director Workshop

Oregon Road Runners Club proudly presents the 2014 Race Director Workshop. This Workshop is geared towards current or future organizers of running and walking events. If you are thinking of putting on an event, at this event you will learn the basics: selecting a distance and setting a course, securing insurance and permits, promoting your event to attract registrants and volunteers, and more.

This year's workshop includes an emphasis on youth running. We have invited community race/run organizers to help you create a running program at your child's school, put on a distinct event exclusively for kids, adding a kid's race to your existing race, or develop a race to benefit a school or youth organization.

After the workshop, attendees will be able to shadow an ORRC Race Director at an upcoming event and continue to work with them to learn more about putting on a safe, accurate and fun event.

For more information, please email ORRC President Steve Wright at president@orrc.net.

When: Saturday, November 1, 2014

What time: 9:30 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. - See agenda below

Where: Oregon Sports Offices at 4840 SW Western Avenue, in the same building as the Bingo Hall and Hot Shots Billiards, but with a separate entrance on the northeast corner of the building.

Register: Online for $33 per person. Registration includes a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, and a binder with RD resources and a thumb drive with materials in electronic format. You'll also get some ORRC swag including a pair of socks!

Agenda:

9:30 a.m. - Doors open, snacks provided; come early to network
10:00 a.m. - Getting Started: Learn how to select your race distance and route, secure the appropriate permits create a great race
11:00 a.m. - Marketing and Communication: Develop your race's brand, create your marketing plan, and attract registrants and great volunteers. Learn about how to leverage social media and email communication.
11:45 a.m. - Safety: Learn from an experienced Race Director what you need to create a safe start/finish area and race course, how to create an emergency plan and create a safety-first environment for volunteers and participants.
12:15 p.m. LUNCH SERVED
12:20 p.m. - Finance and Insurance: Find out how to create your race budget and what types of documentation you'll need for donation and tax purposes, and learn about what is and isn't covered with various insurance options.
1:00 p.m. - Focus on Youth Running: 10-15-minute presentations from local youth running club and event organizers on how they started and grew their programs.

Presenters for Youth Panel:
Jim Hayhurst, Hayhurst Kids Triathlon - a kid-only multisport race that attracts hundreds of athletes each year for the sole purpose of getting kids moving
Lisa Peters, Atkinson Running Club - an elementary-school based run club where more than 100 students participate in a weekly lunchtime run club with the support of teachers and community volunteers
Laurie Jenkins, Liberty Fit - a program at Liberty High School that gives students the training, resources, and support they need to go from "not an athlete" to finishing a half marathon in six months
Geli Heidelberger, Boones Ferry Elementary Jogathon and Community 5k - Boones Ferry Primary Fun Run 5k celebrates running with a morning jogathon for the kids and a community 5k for the grown-ups.
Jeff Werhman, ORRC Blue Lake Run and Turkey Trot Kids Runs - Find out from a veteran youth race coordinator and retired elementary P.E. teacher how to add a youth event to an already established event.

2:00 p.m. - Youth Running Panel: Our moderator will get the youth running presenters to open up about how they handled aspects including participant safety, incentives and rewards, and the unique care required when putting together an event for kids.