A little over a year ago I began to feel like I, Kami Ellsworth the Race Operations Manager for the St George Marathon, was in need of some outside help, opinions if you will on how to improve our event. Opinions, ideas, suggestions from others not directly associated with the marathon, so I started researching Race Directors Conferences that are offered around the country. I soon learned that in order to attend any of these conferences it was going to cost me, the City, a pretty penny and with the economy in its current state I knew that was not going to be an option for me.

After talking to Kent Perkins, the Race Director of the St George Marathon we decided it would be a great idea to hold our very own Race Management Roundtable with the hope of building long lasting relationships with other race management staff, Race Directors and runners and creating associations not only state wide but within the Intermountain area.

So in January of 2010 the St George City Leisure Services department held its 1st annual “Intermountain Race Management Roundtable” in conjunction with the 28th annual St George Half Marathon.

Now each January we host this event for all race directors in the Intermountain region. Please join us, share with us and network with us as we learn from each other and build our events together.

Friday, November 9, 2012

2013 IRMR

Registration for the 2013 Intermountain Race Management Roundtable will open Friday November 16th. The cost will be $60 for the roundtable and $75 for the roundtable plus an entry into the 2013 St George Half Marathon held on Saturday January 19th.
Spread the word. See you in January.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday
7:30- 8:00 – Breakfast and Check-in
8:00-9:00 – Welcome and introductions of all attendees and their events
9:00-10:30 – Session I

10:30-10:45 – Break
10:45-12:15 – Session II
      
12:15-1:30 – Lunch and EXPO
1:30-3:00 – Sesion III
         
3:00-3:15 – Break
3:15-5:00 – Roundtables
-Big Races
-Small Races
-Starting a new race
-Sponsorships
Tentative Discussion Topics are as follows:
  • How to Create and Operate a Functioning Staff
  • Special Needs Participants
  • Race Innovation and Current Trends
  • How to Engage Sponsors and Gain Community Support
  • Building Family Friendly Events

Monday, January 9, 2012

Guest Speakers for 2012

This year we will be pleased to hear from many Race Directors from around the Intermountain area. Ryan Heck, race director of Huff to Bluff will share some of the lessons he learned from putting on a first year event and changes for the second time around. Ogden Marathon Staff will share insights on Kids Programs within your community to encourage Healthy Lifestyles. we will also be hearing from Mike Burns, owner of Burns Computer Services. Mike will be discussing Race Timing. Kent Perkins, St George Marathon Race Director will be sharing information gathered from runners all over the state on what Runners consider a "5 Star Quality Event".
We will be pleased to hear from many other race staff and we hope that each of you will come prepared to teach us and share you thoughts on improving events and runner satisfaction!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The 2012 International Race Management Roundtable Agenda!

Friday
7:30- 8:00 – Breakfast and Check-in

8:00-9:00 – Welcome and introductions of all attendees and their events

9:00-10:30 –
          Running Festivals, Relays and Fad Races
          How the increase in running events impact our communities
Kid Programs
          One year older and wiser too – Lessons learned after starting a new race
10:30-10:45 – Break

10:45-12:15 –
          Components of a 5 star event from a runner’s point of view
          Race Directors Checklist
          Feel Good from Beginning to End
          Elite Runners

12:15-1:30 – Lunch and EXPO

1:30-3:00 –
          EXPO’s
Communication and Logistics
Finish Line Management 

3:00-3:15 – Break

3:15-5:00 – Roundtables
-Big Races
-Small Races
-Starting a new race
-Sponsorships

We are so honored to be hearing from different race directors from all over the region who will share what they have learned and tips to help improve each event we host. Please join with us for a weekend of information, food, fun and RUNNING!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

IRMR 2012 is OPEN for Registration!!

2012 Roundtable Topics and Agenda

Intermountain Race Management Roundtable

What: The 3rd Annual Intermountain Race Management Roundtable held in conjunction with the ST George Half Marathon            

Where: Convention Center 1835 Convention Center Drive

When: Friday January 20, 2012 – Saturday January 21, 2012

Time: Check-in will be from 7:30 am – 8:00 am Roundtable will begin at 8:00 am

Fee: Conference only: $60, Conference plus discounted Race Entry $75, this included both the half and 5k

Schedule of Events

Friday

7:30- 8:00 – Breakfast and Check-in

8:00-9:00 – Welcome and introductions of all attendees and their events

9:00-10:30 – Topics TBA
 
10:30-10:45 – Break

10:45-12:15 – Topics TBA

12:15-1:30 – Lunch and EXPO

1:30-3:00 – Topics TBA

3:00-3:15 – Break

3:15-5:00 – Roundtables
-Big Races
-Small Races
-Starting a new race

Saturday

The Race begins at 9:00

We encourage all roundtable participants to get involved with the St George Half Marathon on Saturday January 21, 2012. Come be a volunteer, help behind the scenes, shadow race staff or receive a discounted entry of $15 to run! Please contact Kami Ellsworth to get involved.

Contact:
Kami Ellsworth
Race Operations Manager
435-627-4503
Kami.ellsworth@sgcity.org
 
Read what Race Directors are saying about the Intermountain Race Management Roundtable:
 
"I enjoyed the conference and can't think of what I would change about it off hand. I do feel that over time it has the potential to grow and prove even more successful. It was great to network with people doing similar things. If nothing else, I would come every year just to make contacts"
 
"Thanks for putting on such a great event. I learned a lot and met some great people."
 
"I think that the roundtable went really well. You did a great job! It was all relevant and useful. It's fun to be with a group of people who have shared the race director experience and understand the challenges."

Thursday, February 3, 2011

More Feedback

"Thanks to the great team of KK (Kent and Kami).  I'm sure there are other team members under your guidance who help contribute to your success, please tell them I think they belong to a professional group--most excellent.  The IRMR was a pleasant surprise to me as I didn't expect that kind of pertinent information to be discussed as well it all occurring in an environment that truly felt supportive among colleagues.  I think we're lucky that the group wasn't too big as it contributed the bonding that occurred.  I made some great friends and wonderful networking connections in multisport.

Kent did a fabulous job presenting and I consider him the top Guru in Utah.  But what sets him apart is his humility, selfless and vision. He's a great leader!

Yes, I'll be back! "

"Kami, thanks for putting on a great event again. I think the time spent there is invaluable.
Overall it was very beneficial and the thoughts that were shared were helpful. We will plan on attending again next year and will hopefully be ready to run in the race this time! We hope you will join us for a race this year. "


"Thanks for all you have done for this conference and the marathon.  As a marathon participant every year, I have always wondered who was sending all those notices and emails.  It was good to put a face with the name.  Thank you for your help and future support of us and other communities that are trying to more or less copy the success of St George. 

The roundtable was very beneficial and as we get our race up and running I think it will be even more so in the future.  I am sure that we did not talk about every single issue that can and will come up with a race but it feels like we talked about most of them." 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

2nd Annual IRMR : 2011

The 2nd Annual Intermountain Race Management Roundtable was, in my opinion, a success.
With just near 50 race directors and race staff from all over Utah, California and Idaho there was plenty of valuable information shared.

We networked with brief introductions and event descriptions.


During the breaks we visited and shared ideas and tips with one another

Presentations were given on "Planning for Weather Extremes", Social Media", "Loyalty Programs" and "Going Green"...just to name a few.
We shared Race apparel and race memorabilia.

...and we ATE GREAT food!

Here is what our Race directors have to say...

 "This was a wonderful and very worthwhile weekend for me!  Runners are just plane decent people who care for each other; running is just the most successful and actually least competitive sport in terms of how we usually think of competition; runners inherently know that there is only one race in LIFE and that is with ourselves.  Thus we all appreciate each other's successes and know that every time someone crosses the Finish line there is something magic and wonderful we can all wahoo about.  The whole drive back home to Pocatello Sunday morning I was sharing the information I had gathered with others; it was safe; hands free!  And that hasn't stopped."

"You have done something really really good in bringing everyone together and the size of the group was just perfect for being productive.  The seminar was a very good value, the morning snacks were good and plenty and the lunch was killer quality.  Somebody sure did you/us a good job.  I sure plan on being there next year!
"

"The IRMR went very well.  I was still able to extract some great information.  The roundtables are great for networking.  Thanks for all your work on this.  I will continue to attend."

See you in 2011!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

What you will HEAR, SEE and FEEL!


Aside from the agenda topics already listed below, we have special guest speakers joining us this year.


Paul Jewkes will be presenting on Social Media and the importance of getting yourself ONLINE.

Paul, A self proclaimed "geek" has a love for all things Internet.
He currently holds his "Dream Job" of Internet Marketing for the St George and Zion Area Tourism Department. Paul has been actively engaged on the Internet since the mid 90's teaching himself -coding, graphic design, and social media. He has been married for 8 years and is the father of two.








Also we will have the honor of hearing from Jeff Gardner, Ironman St George Race Director who will share tips, do's and dont's and techniques to organize, market and host an event with great success.

Jeff, athlete and race director is a two-time IRONMAN, with finishes in Florida in 2005 and Arizona in 2008. He has also participated in more than 50 other triathlons, and several marathons. Jeff played a key role on the committee responsible for bringing the IRONMAN event to St. George. His experience with IRONMAN, his role as Race Director for several local events and his knowledge and involvement with civic agencies were a major factor in coordinating details for the event. Jeff was Race Director for the 2005 and 2006 Kanab Triathlons, 2005 Utah Summer Games Triathlon, 2005 Kokopelli Triathlon, and the 2007 SHAC Triathlon.

We are excited to have you join us for these amazing speakers as we too have learned A LOT from both of them. We know you will feel just as excited as you learn new ideas, skills and make achievable goals.
See you soon!