Hosting one of the popular themed runs (zombies, color, Santa, etc.) draws a different crowd than a typical run, and must be organized and marketed differently.
The theme is a successful gimmick to attract participants, says Bryan Ganek of Adrenaline Sports Management. “It’s a race, yes, but we are creating an atmosphere of fun, that is family friendly and corporate friendly. It’s more of a social event than a regular race.”
Because these events are social, much of the marketing is done via websites and social media to reach potential runners, as well as spectators who might come downtown to see, hundreds or thousands of Santas or zombies running down the street.
Increasingly, downtown organizations are turning to producers of “canned” events that already have a public and media following, interested sponsors, and a process that keeps things running smoothly.
Here are 17 runs that get social:
NYC Triathlon (Diaper Derby, Doggie Dash, Underwear Run)
The full article appeared in our print edition. To always get the full story, read Downtown Idea Exchange.