The document describes virtual challenge events, which allow participants to complete activities like running miles or pushups over a period of time to reach a goal. It provides examples of challenges and how race directors can use tools to set them up, track participant progress, and add optional maps. Finally, it discusses strategies for promoting challenges through email marketing, referrals, teams, Facebook ads, and influencers to engage participants and drive registration.
2. What’s a Virtual Challenge Event?
❖ The Race Director sets up a Challenge. Participants endeavor to reach a
goal or compete with others over a period of time.
❖ The Challenge participant completes Activities over that set period of time.
The activities can be whatever the race director determines: miles run,
kilometers cycled, pushups completed, laps swum, etc. Activities can be
submitted with or without a time, depending on how the race director sets it
up.
❖ The activities can be Tallied to show the total of the activities over time:
miles run in 4 days, push ups done in a week, etc.
3. Let’s See Some Examples of
Challenges, Activities, and Results
12. Maps
❖ Maps are optional - KML File Upload
❖ Many tools to create maps -
MapMyRun, Google Maps-
>YourPlaces->Maps, etc.
❖ If you are using a popular route (i.e.
Appalachian Trail, Oregon Trail, etc.) -
google the route’s name and “kml file”
- you will likely be able to download for
free
14. The Basics
❖ Design a website - cover page, domain, content
❖ Offer unique swag that celebrates accomplishment
❖ Engage where people spend time - Facebook Group
❖ Pricing: $40 or above
○ Swag and shipping are your only fixed costs
○ But this is a 30-60+ day engagement - need to factor in customer support
○ GVRAT - $60, shirt and medal
16. Email Marketing
❖ Promote your challenge to your email list
○ Timers, nonprofits, large races/series generally have really big email lists
❖ If you don’t have a very big email list, think about
partnerships that you can make to have a wider audience to
market to
○ Example: Partner with a nonprofit. In exchange for 3 email blasts to their
donor list, they get all donations
17. Email Marketing
❖ Use RunSignup’s free email marketing platform
❖ Include a strong call to action
○ Price increases and deadlines
○ Time-limited coupon
❖ Highlight exclusive swag
19. Referral Rewards
❖ Automate rewards for referrals
○ Refer 5 friends and get $25
○ Refer 10 friends and get an exclusive
hat
❖ Promote referral program to make it
successful
○ Registration follow-up emails with
referral link
○ On website
20. Teams
❖ Promote teams
○ Team challenge functionality coming later in June
❖ Offer team size discounts
○ Get 10 members and everyone gets a $5 refund/discount
21. Facebook Ads
❖ Custom Audiences
❖ Targeted zip codes
❖ Feature images
with exclusive swag
22. Influencers
❖ Not every challenge is going to have Laz…
❖ But chances are you know people in your community who are
influencers - leaders of running groups, coaches, Rotary Club
members, etc.
○ Engage them to participate in the challenge and share with their networks
