Mike Malekoff’s Post

Let's talk plogging. Yes, picking up trash while running (jogging). I have hosted many of these events, and do it myself often (and wrote about it here https://lnkd.in/gmHuf4fB) I am trying to make these a regular occurence at race events, and want to make them as popular as some of the pre race shakeouts, especially as they are short (1-2 miles) and slow (typically travel at 25 minute pace). I have friends who are influencers or community leaders interested and willing to help the concept grow, but we are considering whether it is better to host it pre or post race: Pre-race: +Runners are excited and given an opportunity to channel that nervous energy into something good for our world +Slow running and fewer miles (where many shakeouts go too fast) is better prep - Runners may be nervous about bending down often and if it will affect their race -There are already SO MANY events going on pre race, how will this stand out? Post-race + Runners have completed their race and can feel good about making the experience more than running, its about being part of the community and giving back + There are a lot of opportunties the day after race - Runners may be too sore to bend down (especially after a marathon!) - Runners may have left Those are a few thoughts on each, but I would love your feedback. When is the best time to host a plogging event in your eyes?

From bustling cities to winding country roads, running events are creating an unprecedented wave of community connection. Each step is not just a sporting action, but also a way for us to build a more dynamic and cohesive society together. Let's join PDC to explore some interesting facts about organizing running events that you might not know yet! #sportevent #event #teambuilding

🚨 Time to commit to something BIG this season! 🚨 Whether you're looking to take on a massive ultra-marathon or challenge yourself to a weekly plunge, we’ve got you covered. The Cove Sports Recovery is hosting some exciting events and challenges, and NOW is the time to get involved: 🔥 8 Week Feel Fresh Challenge: Commit to one plunge session a week for 8 weeks to feel fresher, boost your energy, and recharge. Plus, you'll have a shot at winning amazing prizes like Lululemon gift cards, coffee vouchers, and more! Sign up here: 👉https://lnkd.in/g-S5CDBy 🌙 Sea 2 Sky Midnight Commuter 58 Ultra: A midnight ultra-marathon from Squamish to West Vancouver. This 58km race is designed for those who want to push their limits and experience something truly unique. Feel the cool night air, conquer the Sea to Sky, and recover like a pro at The Cove. Are you up for the challenge? 👉 https://lnkd.in/g4EEVpzj 🏃♂️ Commuter 1K & 500m Sprint: Short, fast, and intense! Whether you're racing for speed or fun, this 1km and 500m sprint (with a kids’ division!) is perfect for anyone who loves to run. And the best part? There’s prize money up for grabs, plus event shirts and hats for all participants. 👉 https://lnkd.in/g9U6MF5D ✨ Why You Should Sign Up: Whether it’s cold plunging or ultra-running, these challenges will push you outside your comfort zone and help you grow—both mentally and physically. Get fit, build a routine, and feel the satisfaction of reaching your goals. Be part of an incredible community that supports and cheers you on every step (or plunge) of the way! What are you waiting for? Sign up, commit, and let’s make this season one to remember! 💪 #FeelFresh #Sea2SkyUltra #Commuter1K #PushYourLimits #ColdPlunge #RunWithUs #TheCoveCommunity #ChallengeAccepted

We are thrilled to share the release of Running USA's comprehensive report on the top 100 largest U.S. races, brought to you in collaboration with Athlinks, a Life Time company and their Athlinks Insights product. Key Highlights: - In-depth analysis of race finisher data from 2019 and 2023. - Detailed breakdown of the top 100 timed races in the U.S. - Insightful trends on event types, locations, and demographic participation. The running industry has faced many challenges over the past few years, but this report showcases the incredible recovery and growth within our community. From near-halt in 2020 to record participation levels in 2023 and 2024, the resilience and passion of runners shine through! Don't miss the upcoming webinar on July 24 at 2 PM ET for highlights from the report. Sign up now and join the conversation about the future of running events. For more information and to download the report, visit https://lnkd.in/eVZPM4ae #RunningUSA #AthlinksInsights #NAC #RunningCommunity #PostPandemicRecovery #Runners #RaceTrends #PartnershipCelebration #EnduranceSports

Are you up for a bit of friendly industry competition? Then join The Leasing Foundation Wings For Life World Run Club!   The 2024 Wings for Life - Spinal Cord Research Foundation - Run is taking place on Sunday 5 May at 12pm (UK time) and we’re looking for athletes, fun runners, total beginners, wheelchair users, walkers and cart-wheelers (pretty much everyone!) to sign up and join the Leasing Foundation Run Club - you can do this here: https://lnkd.in/eCED69S9   How does the Wings for Life World Run work? At the Wings for Life World Run, everyone starts at the same time, worldwide. This is at 11:00 am UTC. That means participants in the UK start at 12:00 pm, in Germany at 1:00 pm, in Florida at 7:00 am and so on...   There is no finish line. We’re all in it together against the Catcher Car which begins its chase 30 minutes after the start signal passing runners and wheelchair users one after the other until the race ends. Everyone just needs to run as far as they can until the Catcher Car catches up with them.   Fun runners, for example, make it to kilometre 5. Professional athletes power on to over 60 km. Your result is NOT how quickly you run, but the distance you cover.   Where can you run? You can run anywhere – this is a virtual app race. However you can also take part in a physical race – this year in the UK, there is one in London (Battersea Park), Coventry and Nottingham. And also locations all over the world.   Cost: It costs a mere £22 per person to enter. No additional sponsorship needs to be raised, unless of course you want to! 100% of all entry fees goes to spinal cord research.   Next steps: Get a company or running club team together and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eCED69S9 We're also setting up a Strava Club under the same name so you can log all your training miles (we'll let you know once this is sorted).   As you know we love a bit of friendly competition so we’ll be keeping an eye on which company/club has the most runners and then who runs the furthest on the day. Will you be a winner?    More information about the event can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eyJwGqf2   We’ll look forward to seeing you!

🏅Event producers share many of the same incredible qualities as gymnasts. They are: 𝐔𝐛𝐞𝐫-𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝: Every detail matters, and event producers have the concentration to make sure nothing is overlooked. 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜: Creating memorable and visually stunning events is their forte. 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞: Adaptability is key, and they excel at pivoting quickly when needed. 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤: Efficient and effective, they keep everything on track. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠: They handle the pressures of event planning with grace and resilience. 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: Just like gymnasts, they masterfully balance multiple tasks to ensure a seamless event experience. Our team embodies these traits to deliver exceptional results. Ready to see what our skilled event producers can do for your next event? #EventProducers #InnoviaTeam #EventPlanning #SkillsInAction #GymnasticsInspiration

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 13 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 1 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐣𝐢 | 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 Bandit's Instagram CTA was simple: "Drop your bib # in the comments, we've got photogs on course for you 🤝 ". This sentence exemplifies why Bandit Running continues its meteoric rise in the running industry. These 13 words do the following: 1. 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - Runners need to engage with the post 2. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝) - Engagement = Free professional photos 3. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 - Runners supporting runners 4. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 - A professional photo running the Boston Marathon 5. 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 - Word spreads like wildfire. 6. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 - After tomorrow, when these runners think of a running brand or the Boston Marathon, Bandit will be the first brand that comes to mind. Congrats to Bandit for putting runners first. Nick West & Tim West are building something special. And congrats to all runners, supporters, volunteers and event staff putting on the Boston Marathon. You are all stars! #spencerspotlight #bandit #running #bostonmarathon #sports #sportsmarketing #marketing #creativemarketing #instagram #contentmarketing #events #eventmarketing #content #runningcommunity

Earlier this year the online system provided by England Athletics which race organisers (like me) use to promote and manage events, and by runners to register for events moved from Run Britain to a new system - RunEvents. As well as the change being poorly communicated, and the system being far more clunky to use for race organisers, it's also a real pain for runners having to create a new account and to register for events. Whilst most of our previous and new runners have managed to register on the RunEvents system, this is an example of an email from one of our previous runners who has tried but failed to register. Whilst I think his abuse towards us is unacceptable given we had no input or choice to move to the new system, I do feel for him, and it's a reminder to organisations to make sure you do engage users properly in designing, testing and implementing systems. If it's not improving the user experience and it's making things worse, something has gone very wrong, and it's not only the users who are impacted. It's also those organisations who rely on systems. Whilst I understand that the new RunEvents system has benefits including helping to process payments automatically to race organisers rather than manually, the old system worked very well for organisers and runners. Whilst organising races is a hobby of mine which I've done in my spare time for over 10 years, it really made me think about the similarities with digital systems used in healthcare (the area I work in). If clinicians and patients have a poor user experience because of a badly designed and / or implemented systems, it's the people working in the NHS who take the flack, not necessarily the system provider and for me that's a really important point that system providers need to take into account when designing and implementing systems.

Marketing. Real marketing. More important now than ever

Sportales 2nd Edition "Run Fast & Party Hard" is out! ⬇ Click on the image to read the full story! #sports #runclubs #hoka #newbalance #nikerunning #sportjournalist #businessofsports #business #newsletter