Archive: October 2007

Area 5Ks look to grow

With competition heating up, area race directors find new ways to attract runners

by Katie Koerner

For mid-Michigan runners, the summer months can be the best times of the year. It seems that when the heat rises, so do the number of participants who run road races. The question, though, that remains on the minds of many race directors in the area is how to get the most runners at an event.

In years past, 5K races (approximately 3.2 miles) attracted only the most serious and well-trained runners in the area. Today, however, 5K race events are attracting all ages and all levels of athletes. This is because there is often a cause or social event that is tied to the race. Due to the sheer number of races (on any given weekend there is at least one event in the area) and the popularity of longer runs like a 10K (8 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) or marathon (26.2 miles), races sometimes struggle to find runners.

“5Ks are beginning to lose support, as the half marathon is the new distance to complete,” said Jerry Smith, a local race director who recently helped set up the first Hawk Island Triathlon. “With the entrance fee for races around $25 each, it becomes very costly for athletes to run a race every weekend,” he added. Therefore, with the dropping number of participants, 5Ks cannot make the amount of money needed to be a productive race.

Sure, the top runners in the area show, lured by prizes or points for a race series, like the popular Playmakers Race Series, but race directors realize there needs to be an attraction for all skill levels if you want a good field to participate. As more races in the area pop up on any given weekend, the number of participants is seldom guaranteed.

The nationally recognized Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure is a 5K with an exception. Easily the largest turnout for any race in Lansing, the proceeds from each race are donated to the Susan G. Komen fund for breast cancer research. Since this is such an important and well known cause, year after year this race is able to attract thousands of people in each city where it takes place in. The 2007 Lansing event had 975 runners and countless walkers cross the finish line.

However, for most Lansing area races, smaller organizations or charities are the backbone to the events. These charities are not as well known, and do not have the power or ability to promote a 5K race like those whose support and cause is much larger. The participants in most local road races have wavered from year to year, with only a few area races showing signs of a moderate increase in attendance.

One race that has done well in 2007 is The Leslie 5K. Directors JD and Chere Pepper have seen an increase in their event, in its third year, because of promotion, a strong cause (a community food bank) and sponsors. They even changed the day to improve their opportunity of driving in more runners.

“Putting a 5K together is not easy, and we are very pleased with how it has grown,” Chere said. “By paying attention to details, changing the date, and keeping it well organized it can grow. The Leslie 5K is a great example of this.”

The Leslie 5K had 69 runners in 2005. In 2006, the race was held on the same Saturday morning in August during a busy community festival, and also a popular morning for other area 5Ks, and it improved to 82 runners. With their new formula and a new date, they drew nearly 200 runners this year.

“We were really excited to see such a turnout,” Chere said. “We’re now looking for new sponsors and ways to improve for 2008.”

The Mason State Bank 5K, a race whose proceeds are donated to the Mason Public School Foundation, started in 1989 with less than 100 participants. In 2005, the race had a total of 624 runners and walkers. In 2006, the race had 585 runners and walkers. This past May, the race had 616 finishers with Gov. Granholm as a participant.

Dave Hinkle, race director, relies mainly on the community support he finds within Mason. “We have kids and adults both who don’t participate in any other race, but run the Mason State Bank 5K,” he said. With the advanced technology we have today, Hinkle finds local 5K races “are turning into events where you need to leverage technology and focus on customer service.”

Everything from electric chip timing, online race registration, food lines and awards are expected now at race events. These amenities take time and money that some race organizations cannot put forth.

“There are many races to choose from now,” Hinkle said. “If you don’t deliver a high quality race, runners will choose another event the following year,” he added.

Another event that has become popular is the Food and Fitness 5K. This race earned over $5,800 this year for the Greater Lansing Food Bank, while registering 686 runners for its March race. This number was up from the 2006 total, in which 648 runners were registered. The 2005 race took a slight hit with 385 registered runners, in comparison to the year before which brought in 444 runners. In 1998, only 281 runners competed.

Another event, the East Lansing Dinosaur Dash, a race benefiting the Michigan State University Museum, has also had an impressive turnout through the years. Only recently, however, did numbers show an increase. The 1998 race registered 709 runners, which was more than the 2003 and 2004 race, which drew only 666 and 629 runners, respectively. In the 2006 race though, a total 875 competitors completed the 5K run which is the highest number in the race’s history.

The future of 5K road racing seems unknown with the varying amounts of runner participation in each race. According to Smith, 5Ks for serious runners are looked at as “sprint” races. Some of these runners are now moving toward “pace races” such as 10Ks, half marathons, and triathlons.

One thing that has kept 5K road racing around is the friendly and family oriented atmosphere, which lets less serious athletes compete while helping a cause that is important to them.