Go Back to School at the 2012 Portland Marathon Event Directors’ College

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

Don’t miss the 2012 Portland Marathon Event Directors’ College on October 4-6, 2012! This is a go-to event for anyone who’s interested in the nitty gritty of event directing and management.

We always get great feedback from our customers about how valuable this conference is, whether they’ve been in the business for decades or are newbies. What’s unique about the College is that you get to interact and learn from the best race directors in the industry in a very hands-on, interactive environment. When do you ever get this type of opportunity? (Plus, you get a backstage pass to one of the most well-run events in the nation!)

Here are a few things that we think make this event special and totally worth your while to attend: Continue reading →

5 Free Graphic Design Tools for Event Directors

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

Race directors often have to wear many hats and operate on limited budgets. You’re probably a manager, marketer, designer and logistician all rolled into one. When it comes to marketing, wouldn’t it be nice to have professional, creative graphic designs that will attract participants without stressing out your wallet? Well you can now.

Here are five easy online tools that will help you, the multi-tasking race director, take your graphic designs up a notch (for free!): Continue reading →

A Napkin, a Plan & a Handshake – Meet Akron Marathon’s Jim Barnett (Event Director of the Month)

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

Jim Barnett, race director of the Akron Marathon, is a guy who is business minded, detail oriented, and all about endurance. A retired Marine, he refers to himself as an “adventure athlete,” having been a recreational distance runner for 40 years, a cross-country skier, a long-distance wilderness canoe racer (110 miles), a Telemark Ski slalom racer, a technical rock and vertical ice climber, a whitewater kayaker, a private pilot, and a certified scuba enthusiast. (Did you have to catch your breath after reading that sentence?!) He’s completed the Flying Pig Marathon, climbed Mt. McKinley (Denali) in Alaska, and was one of the earliest whitewater kayakers to paddle the 234-mile section of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

Aside from his incredible personal accomplishments, Jim has taken the Akron Marathon from an idea to a tradition, all with a napkin, a plan, and a handshake. Continue reading →

Running USA 2013 Industry Conference – 10th Anniversary

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

We’d like to invite you to a big event. Running USA will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its Industry Conference next February in Savannah! Can you believe it’s been a decade? This event is truly one-of-a-kind because it brings together over 500 industry professionals to network, learn, and share their passion for the sport of running. Continue reading →

Profile of a Mob™-ster

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

After posting our introduction of Mob™ events, we began to wonder: who are these participants? The people who dress in costumes, crawl through mud pits, scale obstacles, run from zombies, and enjoy being covered in paint? What are these Mob-sters really all about? And we figured that event directors are probably asking the same questions. Continue reading →

10 Tips to Make Your Website Your Best Marketing Tool

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

With 245 million internet users across the United States accessing the web from their computers, phones, and tablets, it’s no surprise that your website should be the cornerstone of your race marketing plan. It’s your strongest marketing tool and often the first place participants go to get information or register for your event. To make sure your website is functioning like a well-oiled marketing machine, follow these ten tips: Continue reading →

Safe, Simple, Fun – Medical Support Planning for Events (Webinar)

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

Remember when your mom used to tell you, “Expect the best but plan for the worst”? When it comes to managing a race, most event directors live by this rule. And planning for something as important as medical support helps to ensure that your event participants have a great race, have fun, and stay safe. Continue reading →

Increase Registrations With the New “Just Redirect” Facebook App

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Shannon Fiack

You may know a thing or two about Facebook. Your organization’s page has a great cover image, tons of likes, and your fans seem to respond to what you have to say. But there’s one thing missing from your Facebook strategy: you don’t exactly know how it helps you increase real participation and real revenue. Continue reading →