Organising a fun run? Here are five steps to making it a success

The route is sorted; the relevant authorities have been informed; and you’ve sorted out all the insurance liability forms.

Now it’s time for the fun bit!

Summer’s almost here and you don’t have to look far to find charity fun runs, half marathons and marathons taking place in towns and cities across the country.

After months of training and pounding the streets, you’ll see thousands of runners heading for the start line, looking to challenge themselves, break personal bests – and raise cash for their favourite charity.

But what makes these events such a draw for participants? Is it the thrill of the run? If you know a runner, you’ll know what an adrenaline rush they get from putting on those trainers and completing the 5k, 10k, 12k, or even marathon.

They deserve respect for crossing that finishing line – but organisers can thank them and show their appreciation by presenting them all with a custom medal that commemorates their hard work.

Although many people enjoy doing something for others and love to raise awareness and vital funds for the charity of their choice, any fun run needs to have plenty going on for the spectators and supporters, too.

So, here are our top five tips to ensuring that any fun run or road race you organise is a success for organisers, racers, and – most importantly – the charities.

Sponsorship and publicity

Try to get corporate sponsorship for the event to offset the cost of staging it. You can thank main sponsors by adding their name to those all-important medals and custom badges and build up excitement about the event in the local media with adverts and a handful of good news stories and photo opportunities weeks before it goes ahead.

Merchandise

Inviting charities to set up stalls, display information boards and sell a variety of goods is a great way to raise awareness and to bring in extra money. Make sure you have plenty of made-to-order badges and other affordable merchandise such as silicone charity wristbands.

Reward the runners

It might not be all about the winning, but runners love to collect their participation medals that prove they did their bit. If you get enough sponsorship, you might be able to provide wristbands, t-shirts and badges, too.

Reward the volunteers

The army of volunteers who ensure that the race is safe and legal and marshal the route will welcome a thank-you. Create a special, bespoke medal just for them to show you appreciate their hard work.

Make it fun

A road race isn’t a road race without runners dressing up in an assortment of mad costumes. Encourage this sense of fun by inviting runners to dress up and award a prize or a different medal to the best one.

There are plenty of ways to show your appreciation – why not come to Badges Plus for locally made, reasonably priced artisan medals, wristbands and badges? For more information about the way we work, please download our eGuide Buying British - Why it’s important now more than ever.

Guest Post: Robert James is the director of Badges Plus, a family-owned, British manufacturer of quality, hand-finished badges and other keepsakes. You can read more of Robert's articles by subscribing to the Badges Plus blog here. You can also find him on Google+ and Twitter.