I think it was around late 1979 that I started being a road race director. Being a race director came about after a poorly organized race held here in San Marcos that had runners saying that they will never come back to San Marcos races again. The organizer tossed a large box from his pickup with the race shirts for runners to dig through it looking for their correct size. When we finished the race we were handed our finish and place card. About 10 yards further we handed the card back to an assistant without filling in our name or age group. When it came time for awards nobody knew who won.
I have been asked how I became a race director. I tell them by watching mistakes, making mistakes, learning to never to assume anything, and learn the warning signs from volunteers. A few examples might help you understand some of things that can go wrong with a race.
After taking a course certification course I decided to put on a race out at Country Estates. I made a starting banner, direction arrows, finish buckets, and even designed the race T-shirt. I recruited about five people to help with registration and direction people. I entered the race thinking that things were set. At the starting line a neighbor must not have liked my banner as it was on the side of the road tipped over. As we ran to the first turn my direction arrow pointing to the left was being played with by a kid. He left the arrow pointing right. As I approached the turn I noticed the lead runners were all turning right to RR12 heading for Wimberley. I yelled at them and got them turned around. At the finish I noticed the runners just standing around. All my volunteers for registration thought their job was over and had gone home. It took some time but I managed to get the winners and awards correct. My Gatorade mix person tried to read directions instead of pouring the whole can in the five gallon cooler. Trying to figure out how many 3 ounce cups go into five gallons was just too much math. I found the Gatorade mix by the side of the pool giving the local ants a feast. I decided then that if I ever become a race director I will never run in the race. My first race was a disaster.
