New to Race Directing? Here’s How to Start a Race as a Race Director

Your Home Base for Getting Started

Build your website
Promote your event
Manage race day
Get support along the way

Create Your Race Schedule a Call

Everything a First-Time Race Director Needs, in One Place

RunSignup gives new race directors everything they need to launch their first event, all in one free platform.

One Connected Platform

Manage registration, marketing, fundraising, and RaceDay all in one place.

Guided, No-Experience Setup

The Race Wizard walks you through building your race, step by step.

Support Whenever You Need It

Our support team is available 7 days a week to help you along the way.

Race Directors Love RunSignup

“We realized that with RunSignup, one company does what we are doing with five different vendors.”

Mike Wattigny — FRESHJUNKIE Racing

“The three biggest reasons we switched were the app check-in feature, the lower credit card processing fees, and the integrated volunteer portal. We’re thrilled overall.”

Amy Liotta — Event Director, Lobo Cancer Challenge

“I wish we would have switched to RunSignup sooner!”

Heather Schminke — Race Director, NCMC Turkey Trot

“We just love how easy the platform is to use — all the tools are so well designed for walk-run events.”

Jacquie Benestante — Autism Soceity of Texas

The Platform Race Directors Trust — By the Numbers

RunSignup powers more than 50% of the U.S. race registration market — here’s what that data says about what works for new races.

29.3%

Of race website traffic comes from organic search, making an SEO-optimized website essential from day one.

815 Million

Free emails sent in 2025, driving 12% of all registration dollars directly.

60.4%

Of participants were checked in with the RaceDay CheckIn App in 2025, at an average event of just 401 people.

Built for Your First Race Whatever It Looks Like

Whether you’re planning a neighborhood fun run or your first triathlon, RunSignup scales to fit.

Everything You Need to Launch Your First Race

Race Wizard

Get your race live in minutes with a guided, step-by-step setup — no registration experience required
Set up race name, date, location, and registration types without touching a blank page
Flexible enough to handle a simple 5K or a more complex multi-distance event

How to start a race as a new director

More Tools to Explore as You Grow

As your race grows, these additional tools are ready to turn on whenever you need them.

How it Works: Steps to Launch Your Race

Step 1: Set Up Your Race

Build your event with the Race Wizard, setting your race name, date, location, and registration types step by step.

Step 2: Spread the Word

Launch your free, branded race website and reach participants with unlimited email marketing.

Step 3: Manage Race Day

Check participants in with the RaceDay CheckIn App, then post real-time results as they cross the finish line.

Keep Learning as You Go

A few more resources to help you get comfortable before race day.

Walking Through the Race Wizard

Setting Up Your Payment Account

Going Through Your Dashboard

101 Webinars

View Recordings

Race Directors 201

Your Next Steps

Monthly Newsletters

General Resources for New Race Directors

Race directing is a big job, and there’s no single manual — here are a few outside resources we recommend.

Race Director 101

A terrific checklist and detailed guide from Championship Racing.

Check It Out →

Event Director’s Education

Practical advice from the Road Runners Club of America on topics like permitting and insurance, with an optional paid certification.

Check It Out →

Race Director’s Hub

A Facebook community of race directors from around the world — have a question? Ask!

Join the Group →

Race Director’s HQ

Free articles, resources, and vendor listings, alongside a paid membership program.

Check It Out →

Runners for Public Lands

Practical advice from the Road Runners Club of America on topics like permitting and insurance, with an optional paid certification.

C heck It Out →

Guide to Non-Binary Inclusion in Running

A free resource for organizers looking to create more inclusive events for non-binary participants.

Check It Out →

Ready to Run Your Race with RunSignup?

Create your race website today

Create Your Event Schedule a Call

What types of events use RunSignup as a new race director?

RunSignup is built for endurance events of every kind — 5Ks, walks, fun runs, and charity events are the most common first races, but the platform also supports triathlons, trail races, bike events, and swim meets as you grow.

Is RunSignup really free for new races?

Yes. Every core RunSignup tool — registration, websites, email marketing, and fundraising — is free to use, with no long-term contracts or subscriptions. The only cost is a payment processing fee (6% + $1 for carts under $250), which is usually covered by participants rather than the race.

Do I need registration experience to use the Race Wizard?

No. The Race Wizard walks you through setting up your race name, date, location, giveaways, and registration types step by step, so you don’t need any prior experience to get your race live.

How long does it take to set up a race website?

Most new directors can get a basic race website live in under an hour using the point-and-click Website Builder. From there, you can keep customizing — adding pages, branding, and content — at your own pace as your race grows.

What support is available if I get stuck during setup?

RunSignup’s support team is available 7 days a week to help with setup questions. You’ll also find a full library of how-to articles, setup videos, and webinars in the Knowledge Base to walk you through each step.

Need a Timer?

Browse our Timer search for a Timer new you.

More Blogs for New Race Directors

Power of the RaceDay CheckIn App

August 26, 2026

Unlock the Power of the RaceDay CheckIn App

In 2025, 50% of all races on RunSignup used the RaceDay CheckIn app. 60% of all participants — 7.3 million people — were checked in with it, across races ranging from 200 participants to 26,800. Many race directors and timers view RunSignup’s…

May 7, 2026

Getting Started with RunSignup: What to Expect During Onboarding

Setting up a new race on RunSignup is exciting, but we know it can feel like there are a lot of moving pieces to manage all at once. Our onboarding process is designed to help guide you through race setup, payment account…

April 17, 2026

Your Reason to Attend RunSignup University: Intro Classes

With the third annual RunSignup University coming up in just a few months, we’ll be taking a look at the best reasons to take the leap and attend in-person. We already dove into Study Hall and Workshops, and this week we’re taking…

March 26, 2026

Your Reason to Attend RunSignup University: Workshops

With the third annual RunSignup University coming up in just a few months, we’ll be taking a look at the best reasons to take the leap and attend in-person. We already dove into Study Hall, and this week we’re taking a look…

February 20, 2026

RunSignup University 2026 Heads to the Midwest

RunSignup University is back and ready to enroll it’s 3rd class! The educational conference is heading to Saint Paul, MN this June for a two day event full of hands-on workshops, introductory classes, industry updates, and one-on-one time for all your technology…

January 20, 2026

How Do I Get Started with RunSignup?

Ready to set up your first race on RunSignup, and not sure where to start? Welcome! RunSignup is a self-serve platform, meaning you can get started with RunSignup anytime, whether you’re ready to go live soon or simply want to test out…

October 31, 2025

Renewing or Creating a New Race? How to Decide What’s Right for Your Event

A common question we hear from race directors is “Should I renew my race or create a new one?“ It’s a fair question. Both options are available in RunSignup, and at first glance, they can seem pretty similar. But the choice you…

September 8, 2025

Back to School 1st Period: Race Director 101

This is the first class in our Back to School series reviewing the key content and updates from the last year before you dive into the busy fall race season. This class covers the crucial RunSignup knowledge you need to set up…

August 26, 2025

RunSignup, TicketSignup, GiveSignup: Which Product is Right For Your Event?

As a company, RunSignup is fully focused creating the comprehensive, end-to-end event technology that event directors deserve. To meet the wildly different needs of different types of events, RunSignup offers three separate technology products: All three platforms are built on the same…

July 28, 2025

How Much Should I Charge For My Race?

Every race director wants to know the magic price that strikes the perfect balance between participation and revenue. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula that tells you what your race should cost. And, with rising prices over the last few years, the…

July 21, 2025

How Much Does RunSignup Cost?

If there’s one question we get more than any other, it’s “how much does RunSignup cost?” The simple (and accurate) answer is: RunSignup is free for all races! But as a company that values transparency, we’ll take a minute to break down…

January 9, 2025

Guest Post – What Timing Technology is Right for Your Race

This is a Guest Blog from our friend Tony Sapp of Negative Split Productions. Accurate race timing is fundamental to the success of any event, ranging from small community fun runs to large-scale marathons and ultra-endurance challenges. With technological advancements, race directors…