Road race directors know that they have great supporters for their marathons and half-marathons. Still, it’s essential to innovate and give runners something new. The more creative the racing, the better it is for runners and the races because it keeps people motivated and participating. Recently, we learned about one of the most innovative ideas for marathon racing, and it happened in Prague. So, we’d like to share this fantastic idea with race directors in the U.S.A. Who knows, perhaps someone will get inspired to do the same thing for road and vacation races in the coming year?
Innovating for Runners and Marathon Racing
The idea for Battle of the Teams occurred at RunCzech. These folks have been innovating for years and lead the Prague Grand Prix and other running events in that fabled city and throughout Europe. As many race directors and teams know, during the pandemic, runners face challenges. In short, many marathon races and road races got canceled for in-person racing. And while virtual racing was a great innovation, people love the energy that comes from racing with others—in person.
RunCzech, like so many others, did the same thing. But they amped things up a bit. So, while they hosted virtual races as well, they created races using airports and breweries. However, one of the most exciting ideas was Battle of the Teams. As explained in a press release, “The idea is to assemble four teams, each made up of eight marathoners chosen from among the best in the world, four men and four women, with each team supported by a different corporate partner.”
Runners get grouped into teams depending on their personal running bests for the past 48 months. However, the great part of this race is that the competition doesn’t end until the last runner passes the finish line. So, slow marathon runners and fast leaders must all finish for teams to win. A unique element for road racing is that it’s modeled on Formula 1 car racing. In that sport, each person earns points based on their performance. As a result, those who finish early are always cheering on their slower teammates. And, of course, the fans keep cheering, and in this case, the idea’s rather genius.
Quick Tips for Creativity for Leaders
As we know, runners want to get back to running in person. And this is an excellent thing for road race directors. However, that means that you’ve got even more competition for attracting runners. You see, people also want to travel, and if you combine that energy to travel and do road races wherever and not just in their hometowns, it means you need to step up your game.
So, how could you and your team come up with fantastic ideas like a Battle of the Teams? One thing you could do is take a look at the original Battle of the Teams race in Prague. In the press release, you’ll also see accompanying detailed information about how it works. Think about doing a similar race in your town and put your stamp on it.
Still, if you want to brainstorm ideas for your racers, follow some of these quick tips.
1. Survey Your Past Racing Runners
The reality is that things have changed. And while many would like to think we’re going back to the way things were before the pandemic, the fact is that things are a bit more complicated. For starters, the isolation created a lot of social anxiety. In other words, there’s a genuine concern by people to jump into large crowds. It’s all going to take time. However, a Battle of the Teams and focusing on smaller races may be a good start. Still, you need to know what your runners want and think. Surveying them is an excellent place to gather critical information.
2. Create an Idea Incubator
Once you and your road racing team have gotten some research and information, think about developing an idea incubator. In short, an idea incubator allows you and your team to think about different solutions. For example, you might see that your numbers for subscribers to your race are lower than expected. Because of it, you need to think about other ways to attract people. An idea incubator allows you to explore through an idea, such as a Battle of the Teams, and also raise other solutions to whatever challenges you see for your marathon or race.
3. Ask the Right Questions to Innovate for Your Race
Again, you want to attract more runners and supporters to your race. As we know, that’s always a good thing, but innovation takes asking the right questions. For example, perhaps you want to attract elite runners to your race, but you don’t know how to do it. Well, for you to succeed in innovating, you need to ask the right questions. MIT’s Hal Gregersen suggests leaders do question bursts. So, instead of coming up with many ideas, the process centers on asking questions about the challenge you face. Ultimately, by asking questions, your team will come up with more innovative solutions.
We hope you enjoyed this article about Battle of the Teams and our tips for innovating. If you end up doing your version of Battle of the Teams, tag us on social @Sneakers4Good, and we might share your road race with our followers. And don’t forget, sneakers from your marathon or road race have value for a cause of your choice and the planet. Do something extraordinary for sustainability and the environment and become a drop-off location for Sneakers For Good.
© 2021 Sneakers4Good. All Rights Reserved.