Turkey trots are just a week away, and it’s shaping up to be a big year, with more than 600 Thanksgiving Day races collecting registrations on our platform. We’ve already done a full masterclass on Hosting a Turkey Trot (you can find that here), but we wanted to provide a quick last minute checklist – especially for those races that may be a little rusty after forgoing an in-person event in 2020.
Race Week Checklist
Communicate with your timer. Make sure you and your timer are on the same page about each race day process below!
- Communicate race day logistics. Create and schedule free emails to participants with every what, why, and how detail, and use replacement tags to customize that message with bib numbers, start times, and more. Then, add a custom page (or section on your cover page) for logistics, and consider creating an FAQ to limit questions for your customer service.
- Confirm supplies and swag. Supply chain issues are creating delays on a range of products. Double (and triple) check any outstanding delivery dates and prepare a back-up plan for anything that doesn’t arrive.
- Prepare for race day registrations! Customize your pre-sets for On Site Registration. We also recommend leaving online registration open through the start time, with QR codes and volunteers available to help late-comers register on their own phones.
- Train Your Volunteers for check-in. The RaceDay CheckIn app is super-easy and can be accessed from a volunteer’s own phone or device, but you still want a training ahead of time (with a practice run-through) to limit lines on race morning. You can now check your volunteers in on the app, too!
- Have a power plan. Remind everyone to bring fully charged devices – and provide some power source for unexpected recharging. A hotspot can be key if you don’t otherwise have wifi on-site.
- Review your start line plan. 2020 popularized a range of new start line options. Make sure you and your timer (and your participants) know how any wave starts or open starts will work!
- Don’t neglect your virtual participants. In early numbers, virtual participants make up 8-10% of all Thanksgiving Day registrants. Make sure they feel included and appreciated with digital bibs, dedicated social media posts, and reminders to log their results!
- Prepare your post-race follow-up. Set up your finisher certificates and links for results and participant-uploaded photos before runners arrive in the morning to ensure they can find their placement and rewards by the time the turkey hits the table.
Got all that? Get excited to for the return of the busiest racing day in the US!