I like tradition. I direct four events that have been around for at least 25 years, and in a world that changes as much as ours, I'm proud of them. Sometimes, though, tradition works against innovation. The courses, dates and race lengths are part of the 'tradition' package. To break out of that mold, we're creating The New Race.We now have incredible tools that promote nimbleness. Communication is quick, and with social media everyone has a chance to have their voices heard. Events have been a little slow to adapt. It's time for run/walk events to become user-generated. Rather than event directors, sponsors and municipalities calling the shots, why not open the process? Why not look for ideas that are new, fun and maybe even a little crazy? Why not create The New Race?
My idea is simple: find out what runners and walkers think is missing from the Minnesota running scene and create a new event. We're not going to worry about making it big or doing it more than once. We'll just take a good idea and run with it.
What event would you like to see? What venue would be perfect? What time of year is event-deficient? What premium would you love to receive? Give us as much or as little information as you want: race length, date, course, theme, whatever. Tell us why you think we should do it. We'll collect a handful of finalists, perhaps even mashing together a few different ideas, then put them to a vote.
Just to get you thinking, here are a few of my ideas:
- a one-hour relay on a track or closed loop
- an indoor event that allows you to sample different workouts: yoga, kettle bells, etc.
- an uphill mile
- a long relay that starts and finishes in the Twin Cities metro
Feel free to take and twist those or start from scratch. No idea is too silly or too challenging!
It's easy to submit your ideas:
- Go to our Facebook discussion page and post a comment;
- Send your comment to me on Twitter by using @cfullerrun and hashtag #thenewrace;
- Send E-mail to Chris.Fuller@TSLevents.com.
We'll collect ideas until 9/30/09, and then get back to you with the best. Ideas that don't make the cut for this event might find their way into other TSL events. The New Race is as much an idea incubator as it is an event.
Be a part of something new, something special. Help us create a new tradition of innovation. Help us create the The New Race.
