What Do Race Directors Expect for the Running Industry in 2022?

ANNE BITONG // AKRON MARATHON RACE SERIES

As we look ahead to 2022, we are excited about celebrating the 20th running of our flagship marathon weekend in Akron. However, we can’t look forward without looking back. If we have learned anything from the past two years, it is to be receptive to change, be creative, and try new things. We have reflected on what is important to our organization, what has worked, and what hasn’t. At previous years’ conferences, races were told to find their “why,” which we honor and celebrate in our daily decisions. However, in 2022, it will be the year of “why not?”

Change has been a common theme over these past two years. Because of this, we’re more intentional in pushing our organization to continue to change for good, to adapt to modernize our traditional race weekend, and to tweak our event as needed for inclusion. At this year’s conference, we will be asking other races what their biggest learning lessons were from the past two years, and how they plan to incorporate those lessons into future races. We’re excited to rally our community through a year-long celebration and honor the tradition of the marathon weekend in Akron through new, modern ways.

MICHELLE JUEHRING // QUAD-CITY TIMES BIX 7

The challenges we faced the past two years were a springboard to amazing opportunities, the biggest being collaboration. 2021 was a huge success, thanks to the many heads (Mike Nishi of Chicago Event Management, Marcel Altenburg with Start Right, Running USA Zoom calls) and hands (volunteers, staff, health & city officials) that came together to develop & implement a safe return-to-racing plan. I am worried about the increased costs of labor, supplies & shipping tied with supply shortages. To meet normal deadlines, our lead times are much shorter. I’m fearful these tight deadlines might lead to less time in making educated decisions. I’m also worried about the mental, physical and emotional fatigue of my colleagues, who week after week, sometimes day after day, change our race plans, communicate those changes, all knowing it may change again before the ink is even dry. The finish line keeps moving and we all only have so much in us.

I’m curious if joy, kindness and gratitude can overcome.

I’m curious to see if the new wave of runners born during the pandemic will race virtually or transition to in-person competitions. I’m curious if joy, kindness and gratitude can overcome. I am looking forward to surrounding myself with the best in the industry and seeing people IN PERSON at the 2022 Running USA Conference!

I want to hear how my colleagues are doing, not only professionally, but personally. I feel the pandemic has removed many of our competitive barriers and we want everyone to be successful – when one of us wins, we all win. Learning, laughing, and reconnecting in person – I’m excited to see how collectively we can continue to grow our industry to be the best it can be.

TRISH PORTUESE // CHAMPIONSHIP RACING, LLC

I expect to see the running industry slowly coming back, due to participants not signing up. Registrations were down in 2021, I continue to expect that for 2022. Entry fees are going to go up which will continue to keep participation lower than pre-Covid. Costs to produce a race are going up, sponsors are not coming back, we’re all dealing with supply chain issues. Many charities lost their operations resources, so details on planning are not as crisp as they should be. I expect it will be several years before road racing takes off again and we are back to pre-Covid numbers.

RYAN CONRAD // J&A RACING

2022 is a year of curiosity for me. As event managers, we have the ability to change and re-energize the participant experience moving forward. Runners are changing and events should be a reflection of the running community. How can we be more inclusive of everyone from the registration process to the event weekend experience? How do we balance what legacy runners have come to expect with the wants of first-time participants?

We are in a powerful position within our industry to create positive change, but we need to foster relationships with each other beyond just our yearly conference. Relationships need to extend to the community (run clubs, run crew leaders, run specialty shops, and more). I think we can start to unlock what a 2022 participant is looking for versus a March 2020 participant.

TES SOBOMEHIN MARSHALL // RUNNINGNERDS, LLC

The first half of the year I think we will continue to see races being very Covid-19 cautious and transparent to participants. I think it is important for us to give all levels of comfort an opportunity to participate in our events safely. We also need to continue to plan for lower numbers of participants and increase costs of supplies and services until the new normal is established. As we get into the summer months, best practices will be more established, and we will see the new wave of runners begin to mix in with those who have been there all along. I’m hopeful that we don't lose too many runners to this time we are going through. I hope to see the major events and large scale events continue to set the standard and smaller events can follow suit and reap the benefits of safe and well organized road race events.

RYAN GRIESSMEYER // RACE DAY EVENTS

The Race Day Events crystal ball is still a bit murky but becoming clearer and clearer each day. We are excited to see participant numbers continuing to improve as well as customer events returning at a higher rate than expected. We are still a bit worried about events in certain areas that are still more restrictive related to Covid-19 as well as participant expectations and confidence in these same areas. We are curious as to how industry partners rebounded during these difficult times and expect to be discussing these thoughts at the Industry Conference in February. We are excited to see our fellow industry experts, trade stories and tips, and most of all continue to produce safe and fun events in 2022.

DAVE MCGILLIVRAY // DMSE SPORTS

One of my most favorite expressions since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 has been, “the comeback is always stronger than the setback.” Selfishly, for those of us in the event management business, I am praying and believing this statement holds true for all of us.

The comeback is always stronger than the setback.

So, what has changed? Well, first, nothing is consistent. Everyone is doing it their own way based on what the local officials will or won’t allow. Some races can go back to the way it was with one mass start. Others need to be more socially distant in their approach. Some are requiring wearing a mask at least until runners cross the starting line and others are not. Some are requiring evidence of vaccination and other are not. Some are Covid testing while others are requiring a negative test before picking up your bib number. And of course, all of this is different for different parts of the country. What is happening in Massachusetts is different than what is happening in Florida which is different than what is happening in other parts of the country. Needless to say, it is all very confusing and there remains so much uncertainty.

Race directors are faced with trying to keep everyone safe but at the same time trying to put on as “normal” a race as possible. It is a delicate balance between the two. For the past 2-years, a popular saying has been “the only thing that is certain is that everything is uncertain.” At some point soon this must stop for all of us to plan properly. We can’t keep planning with a moving target. For the time being though, we can only plan on what is truly a given now and need to remain as positive, flexible, and nimble as possible and not give up. No one can predict the future and everyone has their own opinion as to where this might all be heading. All of it is individual speculation. The best we can do is to plan for the here and now and hope for the best in the immediate future as we all patiently continue to navigate our way carefully and safely through this pandemic.