How To Choose A Running Event: 15 Things To Check Before You Enter

Finding a running event is easy. Finding the right running event for you requires a little more thought, particularly if you are committing several months to training or travelling a long way to take part. It can be tempting to see an impressive medal, an iconic city or a spectacular finish line and immediately enter. However, the race itself is only part of the experience, and the course, weather, start arrangements, accommodation, transport, entry rules and overall cost can make an enormous difference to how enjoyable your weekend becomes.

This matters even more when you are choosing a marathon or travelling overseas. By the time you have paid for flights, accommodation and your race entry, you could have committed a significant amount of money before you have run a single training mile, so spending an hour researching the event beforehand is time well spent.

1. What Is The Course Like?

Start with the course because this can completely change the challenge you are signing up for. Two marathons may both be 26.2 miles, but that certainly does not mean they will feel remotely similar.

Look at the elevation profile rather than relying solely on descriptions such as flat, fast or undulating. A course containing a number of relatively small climbs can become surprisingly difficult during the final few miles, particularly if you have trained almost entirely on flat roads.

Berlin, Chicago and London are known for relatively fast courses, while races such as New York and Boston present different challenges. If you are targeting a personal best, course profile should therefore be much higher on your list of priorities than it would be if your main objective were simply to enjoy the experience.

Scenery can sometimes provide a clue about what you are letting yourself in for. Spectacular coastal and mountain races frequently come with hills, and the Big Sur International Marathon in California is a perfect example, combining magnificent Pacific Coast scenery with a genuinely challenging course.

If you choose a hilly event, adapt your training accordingly. You need to prepare your legs for the course you are actually going to encounter rather than spending several months running on flat roads and hoping for the best on race day.

Read more about hill training here!

2. How Much Will The Race Really Cost?

The entry fee is only part of the cost of taking part in a running event. For a local 10K, your total expenditure may be little more than the entry itself and the journey there, but a destination marathon can become a substantial financial commitment.

Accommodation, train tickets or flights, airport transfers, meals, insurance and additional nights away can quickly add up. Before entering, calculate an approximate total cost rather than looking at the race fee in isolation, particularly if you are considering an overseas event.

Also check whether the race operates different pricing periods. Some events increase their entry price as race day approaches or as particular allocations sell out, so entering early can sometimes save money if you are confident you have found the right event.

3. How Difficult Is It To Get A Place?

Do not assume that entering a race simply involves visiting the website and buying a place. Popular events use several different systems, including ballots, random drawings, qualifying standards, charity entries and guaranteed entry programmes.

The London Marathon, New York City Marathon and Great North Run are among the events where demand for general entries can significantly exceed the number of available places. Other races use different systems, with Boston traditionally centred around qualifying performances rather than the conventional open ballot used by some other major events.

If your chosen race has a ballot or drawing, find out when it opens, when it closes and when you will discover whether you have been successful. You should also check when payment is taken because procedures vary considerably between events.

Most importantly, do not book expensive non-refundable travel on the assumption that you will get a place. Wait until your entry is confirmed unless you have another reason for making the trip.

4. What Other Entry Options Are Available?

Missing out through a ballot does not necessarily mean your race plans are over. Major events may offer entries through charities, international tour operators or other guaranteed entry programmes, although availability and eligibility will depend on the individual event.

Charity places can be a fantastic way to participate in a race while supporting a cause that matters to you. There will normally be a fundraising commitment attached to the place, so make sure you understand the target and are confident that it is achievable before accepting the entry.

International tour operators can also provide guaranteed places for certain events, particularly overseas marathons. These are normally sold as part of a travel package, so compare the total package price rather than viewing it simply as a way of buying a race entry.

Whatever route you choose, check the official event website first. It should explain the legitimate ways of obtaining a place and, where applicable, provide details of recognised charities and tour operators.

Read more about getting a race entry through a tour operator here.

5. What Happens If You Cannot Run?

Injury, illness, family circumstances and work commitments can all interfere with race plans. Before paying your entry fee, find out whether the organiser offers refunds, transfers, deferrals or some form of entry protection.

Policies vary enormously between races. Some allow you to defer your place to the following year, others permit transfers to another runner within a specified period, while some provide very limited options once you have entered.

Do not assume that getting injured automatically entitles you to your money back. Read the cancellation and withdrawal conditions before entering, particularly if the race itself is expensive.

If you are booking accommodation and transport at the same time, check those cancellation conditions as well. Losing a race entry is frustrating, but losing the cost of an entire overseas trip can be considerably more expensive.

Read more about withdrawing from a running event here.

6. What Weather Could You Face?

Historical weather is worth researching, but treat it as a guide rather than a prediction. You are trying to understand the range of conditions you might encounter rather than attempting to forecast race day several months in advance.

Consider temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind because all of them can affect your performance. A race taking place during winter is not guaranteed to be cool, while spring and autumn events can sometimes experience conditions that are very different from the seasonal average.

The New York City Marathon is a good example of why you should prepare for a range of conditions rather than one expected temperature. November in New York can produce very different race days from one year to another, and your clothing and hydration strategy may need to change accordingly.

Weather also matters before the gun goes off. You could spend a considerable amount of time outside before a major marathon starts, so investigate how the start system works and whether you will need old clothes or additional layers to stay warm while you wait.

7. What Time Does The Race Start?

A 6am start creates a very different race weekend from a 10am start. Early starts are common in warmer destinations because organisers want runners on the course before the hottest part of the day, which can mean waking several hours before sunrise to eat breakfast, get dressed and travel to the start.

Find out what time your wave actually begins rather than simply looking at the headline race start. Large events can release runners across multiple waves over an extended period, so the first runners may start considerably earlier than you do.

Once you know your likely race schedule, replicate some of it during training. If you expect to eat breakfast at 3.30am before an early marathon, race morning should not be the first time you discover whether your stomach is happy with that arrangement.

The start time will also influence where you stay and how you travel. Check whether public transport is operating early enough and, if you are staying in a hotel, whether breakfast will be available when you need it.

8. How Easy Is It To Reach The Start?

Getting to the start can be one of the most overlooked parts of choosing a race, particularly for point-to-point events where the start and finish are miles apart. Find out whether runners use public transport, official buses, shuttle services or their own vehicles and how much time the organiser recommends allowing.

Some of the world's biggest races have extensive transport arrangements to move tens of thousands of competitors to their start areas. Smaller events can be very different, with parking, road closures and limited public transport potentially creating their own challenges.

Do not rely completely on taxis or rideshare services without checking the road closures. Thousands of runners trying to travel at the same time can make what normally looks like a short journey considerably more difficult.

You should also research the journey after the race. Walking another mile to a railway station may sound easy when you book your hotel six months beforehand, but it can feel very different after running a marathon.

This is vital race day support!

9. What Support Is Available On The Course?

Find out exactly what the event provides rather than assuming there will be regular water, sports drinks and gels. Larger races can have extremely comprehensive support, while smaller events may expect runners to be much more self-sufficient.

Look for the number and approximate location of water stations, whether sports drink is available and whether gels or other nutrition are supplied. If the organiser publishes the brands it will be using, you may be able to practise with the same products during training.

This information can influence what you carry on race day. If only water is provided and you normally consume several gels during a marathon, you will obviously need a reliable way of carrying them yourself.

It is also worth checking the availability of toilets, medical support and pacers if these are important to you. None of these factors automatically makes an event better or worse, but knowing what is available means you can arrive properly prepared.

10. Do You Have To Collect Your Race Number?

Never assume your race number will arrive through the post. Many major marathons require runners to visit an expo or race registration venue in person before race day, and this can influence when you need to arrive in the city and how many nights of accommodation you need to book.

Check exactly which days registration is open, its closing time and what identification or confirmation documents you need to bring. If you are flying to an overseas race, leaving collection until the final few hours can be an unnecessary risk if your flight is delayed.

Other events post numbers in advance or allow collection on race morning, so there is no universal system. Always check the arrangements for the particular event rather than assuming they will be the same as your previous race.

An expo can be an enjoyable part of a major marathon weekend, but collecting your race number is the important part. Build it into your travel plans from the beginning rather than treating it as something you can fit in if you have enough time.

11. Where Should You Stay?

The closest hotel to the finish is not necessarily the best hotel for your race. Research where both the start and finish are located and how the event recommends travelling between them before deciding which part of the city is most convenient.

For a point-to-point marathon, staying near the finish may make your journey after the race much easier but create a longer and earlier journey on race morning. Alternatively, staying close to the start could make the morning straightforward while leaving you with a difficult journey back after finishing.

Prices can rise sharply when tens of thousands of runners and supporters arrive in the same city, so accommodation is worth investigating before committing to an entry. This is particularly important in smaller destinations where the number of conveniently located hotel rooms may be limited.

Look beyond distance on a map as well. A hotel two miles from the start but directly beside the correct railway line could be considerably more convenient than somewhere only one mile away requiring several changes.

If breakfast is included, check what time it begins. A fantastic hotel breakfast starting at 7am is not much use if you need to leave at 5.30am.

12. Is This Actually The Right Race For You?

After researching everything else, come back to the most important question: why do you want to run this particular race? Your answer should influence which of all the other factors matter most.

Perhaps you want a fast course and a personal best, in which case elevation, congestion and weather should be major considerations. You might instead want incredible scenery, huge crowds, an iconic destination or simply an event close enough to home that you can sleep in your own bed.

There is no universally perfect running event. A huge city marathon with tens of thousands of runners may be one person's dream and another runner's nightmare, while a beautiful rural race with limited crowds and basic aid stations could be exactly what someone else is looking for.

Think about what matters most to you before entering. Choosing a race that matches your objectives is much more important than choosing the event everyone else appears to be talking about.

13. What About The Medal And Finisher Goodies?

Medals, T-shirts and finisher gifts are part of the fun, and there is nothing wrong with considering them when choosing an event. Some races have become famous for elaborate medals, distinctive clothing or unusual finishing rewards, while others deliberately take a simpler or more sustainable approach.

However, finisher goodies should probably come after the practical questions. An impressive medal will not compensate for discovering that your hotel is two hours from the start or that the course contains considerably more climbing than you expected.

If medals are important to you, check what finishers receive because there is no guarantee that every race will provide a traditional metal medal. T-shirts can also be handled differently, with some provided before the event and others reserved exclusively for finishers.

Some of the finisher goodies can be very different to others!

14. Don't Forget The Cut-Off Time

One important consideration that is easily overlooked is the race cut-off. This is particularly relevant if you expect to be towards the back of the field, are returning from injury or are considering a particularly challenging marathon or ultramarathon.

Check both the overall finishing cut-off and whether there are intermediate checkpoints that must be reached by certain times. Some events reopen roads progressively, which can mean runners have to maintain a particular pace throughout the course rather than simply finishing before one final deadline.

Also find out what happens if you miss the cut-off. You may be asked to leave the course, continue on pavements without official support or board a sweep vehicle, depending on the rules of the event.

A generous cut-off can make a race considerably more welcoming for slower runners. If you are uncertain whether you can comfortably meet the required pace, this should be one of the first things you research rather than something you discover after entering.

15. Check Event Reviews

The official website tells you how an event is supposed to work, but previous runners can tell you what it is actually like. Search for recent race reports, reviews, videos and social media posts to see whether the experience matches the organiser's description.

Pay particular attention to comments that appear repeatedly. One runner complaining about queues or organisation may simply have had an unfortunate experience, but dozens of runners raising the same issue is more significant.

Reviews can also reveal useful information that is difficult to find on an official website, such as congested sections of the course, difficult journeys from the finish, long toilet queues or unexpectedly exposed stretches in bad weather. Equally, they may identify brilliant crowd support, exceptional organisation or parts of the route that make the event worth entering.

Make sure the reviews are reasonably recent because races change. Routes, organisers, start procedures and aid stations can all be different from those experienced by somebody who ran the event ten years ago.

Final Thoughts On How To Choose A Running Event

So, how do you choose a running event? Before entering, make sure you are comfortable with the course, likely weather, cut-off time and level of support. You should also understand how entry works, what happens if you cannot participate and whether you need to collect your number before race day.

Then look at the wider logistics. Work out the realistic total cost, where you would stay, how you would reach the start, how you would get away from the finish and whether flights or other transport make the trip practical.

Finally, ask whether the race actually suits what you want from your next event. A little research before entering can prevent a lot of unnecessary stress later, and if the race still looks like your dream event once you understand the course, cost and logistics, there is a good chance you have found the right one.