San Marcos has had three races the past three weekends for area runners. For most runners entering these races, they hope that it will be well-organized and the race shirt and awards are worthy of the entry fee. What most runners do not realize is the amount of work and decisions made by about five or six behind-the-scenes race committee members. A race does not just happen a few days before the race. A few of the decisions the race committee must make before the race can take place are many and often complex.
It starts with selecting a date for the race. Will there be other races on the same day? Usually a minimum of three months of planning are needed. It is better if the planning begins five or more months in advance. Then the decision of where will the race be held is decided. Is it in a city where permits are needed? Is it at a location that organizers will need permission to use the site? Will police manpower be needed for traffic control?
What are you going to call your race? A catchy name that catches the runner’s attention is needed. And how far will the race be? A 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon, or even a marathon needs to be decided. Will the race have multiple distances, or maybe a relay event? Why do races have to be in metric distances? Most runners have no clue how far a kilometer is. Why not have a race in miles that most runners understand? What charity is the race for? What about the race logo that will go on the shirt? Too big and runners do not like it because it prevents evaporation when running. Too small and nobody can see the race name and who organized the race. Who designs the logo?
