How To Organize a Marathon Event

Marathon events are a fun way of participating in a challenge while doing some good for your body too. They are the most fun with a challenging and enthusiastic crowd.

Planning and organizing it needs a lot of special expertise. Having the ability to slow down and look at the big picture to see where everything fits is vital.

Always be sure that your event goes off without a drawback.

And organize the marathon for both the runners and the audience to have an exciting time.

By the end of this article, you'll have all the information on how to organize a marathon event that none will forget. Keep reading.

A. Reasons for hosting an event

Hosting a marathon for no reason doesn't give anyone the incentive to participate.

But, having a specific cause or aim in mind to support the event enthuses the complete community. It could be sponsors, candidates, and viewers.

Oh, and the aim or goal behind the event behind could be anything. For example,

1. Raising money for charity
2. Awareness for a worthy cause, or
3. Fun theme

The more creative/noble the cause, the easier it'll be to market the event and also to make it a successful event.

B. Date of the event

To fix the date of the marathon, you have to take several factors into consideration.

First, you need to check the weather forecast for that time. The long-distance marathon makes the weather conditions more vital.

It can be just as difficult to run in heavy rain as it is in scorching sunshine. Choose mid-season for more pleasant weather.

Second, review several other events that are taking place on the date you are considering. Major sports events, such as national or international competitions, can loosen your participant's interest in your event.

To attract maximum participants, try to assume their availability and set a date accordingly.

C. Marathon venue

For successful marathon planning, choosing a venue is key. You may want it to happen in a rural or urban area. But it must always be held on a road.

For the urban area, you'll have to acquire the necessary permits. Contact the town hall to make request and collect important information about the options available.

Before confirming the venue, look at some points:

1. Outline your route so that the race is smooth
2. Avoid major hurdles
3. Mild climbs and descents are acceptable, but climbing and jumping obstacles are not
4. Runner's safety should be the top priority
5. The route used should be well maintained

Once the route is outlined by you, you must decide:

1. Start & finish points
2. Markings along route
3. Refreshment points for the runners

D. Budget management

The budget is decided according to the distance of the marathon. Marathon is the longest type of race, so you need to budget it accordingly.

Create a temporary budget taking into considerations all the expenses that your event will bear as:

1. Communication
2. Refreshments as drinks and snacks
3. Awards
4. Signage
5. Sound system, etc.

E. Sponsors

All marathons are financed by sponsors. Sponsors are more likely to collaborate with you if you offer them visibility.

Whether through banners, flags, goodies, flyers or sponsor's logos at different spots at marathon.
Also, don't forget to mention them in your communications. For example, website, social networks, newsletter, flyers, posters, etc.

You should offer different tiers of sponsorships. Depending on the size of investment, you can then offer them a greater or smaller visibility.

You can also set up booths for sponsors nearby the refreshment points. People at the event will visit these booths to purchase items from them.

F. Ticketing

Setting up an online ticketing system prior to the event is always favoured.

Tools such as Ticket Generator help you do it all. It also helps generate secure tickets for your marathon easily.

It provides you with all the customizations on the ticket. In addition to it, each ticket carries a QR Code that cannot be copied. And when people show these tickets at the entry gate, event coordinators can scan the QR Code with their phones

It hardly takes time to verify each participant or the audience. That means you not only figure out a fast but also a secure way to do so. Isn't that amazing?

If used, Ticket Generator has many advantages:

1. Collecting registration fees before the event to fund other expenses
2. Creating the record of all participants with contact details in order to communicate with them
3. Forecasting the number of participants and spectators. It helps make adjustment of refreshments and awards accordingly
4. Offering shorter distance marathon options also for those who don't wish to commit to long distance

G. Safety

Running a marathon is a very strong and energetic exercise for the body. Injuries can happen during such events, so you must do everything you can to avoid this.

Insurance is important to be done for all. As an organizer, to protect the participants, have the insurance that's precise to the event, even if your association is already insured.

Insurance such as: Organiser Public Liability covers damage to the venue, goods, and people present.
It is also very important to get a consent form signed by each and every participant.

Mention all the terms & conditions in your consent form such as:

In case of any mishap you will not be responsible

Participants are physically fit for the marathon
Participants have no medical history
Pregnant ladies or physically unfit are not allowed

H. Medical Presence

It is always recommended to have a medical presence ready.

This helps implement tactics to avoid serious injuries and illness. Doing so will keep you covered during pre-event planning, race day preparation, and post-event evaluations.

The three general categories of injuries faced by the marathon participants include:

1. Medical conditions
2. Musculoskeletal injuries
3. Dermatologic complaints

The prime goal of the medical team is to safeguard the well-being of all participants.

The secondary goal is to avoid local emergency rooms by providing proper treatment for injuries.

I. Refreshment Points

There should be plenty refreshment options on the route to keep participants hydrated and energetic.

You can think of having local restaurants set up shops as refreshment points. It would help to turn your race into a full-sized event with everyone having fun and enjoying.

So, now you must be thinking what can be provided:

Water and sugar supply point at some distance
Complete refreshment points with water, fruits, marzipan, gels and energy drinks on particular distance
First aid kit at all refreshment points
Along with all refreshment points, have multiple bins to ensure cleanliness.

J. Volunteers

It takes a lot of people to make marathons run smoothly on race day. To avoid requesting the services of a private company, call on volunteers.

These volunteers provide great help in:
1. Distributing bibs and refreshments
2. Preparing the route
3. Ensuring safety on the route during the race
4. Setting up at water and sanitation stations
5. Assisting with all other necessary tasks on the day of the marathon
The more people are involved in the marathon, the better entertainment people will have. Oh, and not to forget, the volunteers too will feel a sense of home-grown pride.

K. Awards/Prizes

Finally, it is very important to praise all the participants. You should congratulate all of them properly with medals and certificates.

Proceeding towards handing out the medals and trophies you can call them on stage one by one.

This article will help you to plan and organize a successful marathon event.

While summarising, do remember all the important aspects and tips for your event.

Find a noble cause for your event along with the best suiting date for it.

Search for sponsors and volunteers as per the cause you're organizing the marathon for.

Keep all these tips in your mind and have a blasting and successful marathon.