Gavin Lightwood

The Planning and Delivery of Mass Participation Events

Perspective

• From....• The Race Organiser• The new race entrant

Previous roles

• Race Director – Edinburgh 10k, Great Scottish Run, Ignis Asset Women’s 10k

• Course Director – Edinburgh Marathon

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runbritain

• Launched 2009• Road running arm of UK Athletics• One stop destination for runners and race

organisers of races of all sizes• Re-investing in the sport - all licence revenue

goes back to athletics

Course Design

• Start• Finish• Route• Profile• May be more than one race• Race timings – start, first/last finisher• Interesting route• Finish area - easily accessible for friends/family,

PA.

Pre Race Planning• EPOG/EMPLAN/SAG• Route• TTRO’s – Road closures• Capacity• Medical provision• Business/Residents• Marshal positions• Sponsors• Signage• Accreditation• Catering/concessions • Event Manual

Recruit • Marshals – required for

course, start/finish, car parks, baggage, information point, water stations

• 300 + required for large race

• Recruited from clubs, charities, cadets, sponsors etc.

• On the road marshals should be over 18 – they can advise/assist but cannot direct traffic

Pre- Race• Predicted time – be honest as it helps the race

planning• If not fit don’t run even if raising money for

charity – there are plenty of other races• Pacers – it may be possible to be paced round• Energy drinks – test before the day• Long slow run – be used to being on your feet for

a long time• Read the pre-race information and familiarise

yourself with it

Race day!! • Travel to race – leave enough time and be aware of road

closures /diversions in place for race • Remember number, safety pins and Vaseline• Baggage- ensure you know where to pick it up at the end of the

race• Race information point• Loos – numbers based on Home Office Purple Guide, but never

enough when everyone needs at same time!• Medical conditions• Chip Timing• Getting to start line/Wave Starts – based on predicted time• Follow instructions – officials will have been fully briefed• JACC

Rules• MP3 players etc. – their

use is at the discretion of Race Director

• Numbers – don’t give number away

• Vests – if running for a club you must wear a club vest

• Keep on course

The course on the day

• Pre Lead and Lead car• Elites• Wheelchair race – could be two elements at front

and back of the field• Entertainment• The community• Hazards on route – sleeping policemen, kerbs,

discarded bottles, traffic• Sweep vehicle/cut off time

The Finish• Keep moving• Sand squad! • Water and other

sustenance• Goody bags and medals• Medical – from blisters

to trauma• Massage • Family reunion area

Post Race • Give feedback to

organisers – positive and negative

• Spread the word!• Results• Your image captured –

check online

What next – for the runner?

• Plan for your next race• scottishathletics.org.uk• runbritain.com/events• Join a club• Volunteer• Sign up for runbritain

handicap scheme

Race Handicap

• Revolutionary new online scoring system using golf format (scratch to 36.0)

• Updates automatically after every licensed race

• Creates unique free runners biog page with rankings, graph, training schedules, target times and head to head functionality

• Over 28,000 have claimed to date

Training

http://training.runbritain.com

What next for the race organisers?• Clear up – de-littering

squads, signage removal, press liaison, de-rigg of structures and equipment, storage, return vehicles, airport transfers etc.

• Publish results• Thank yous• De brief – in house and

multi agency• And.................

Start planning for next year...........

Thank you