Running Industry Response to COVID-19
Editor's note: Running USA, the non-profit trade organization for the sport of road running, has been working to advocate for the running industry as a whole since the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting the United States in late February. We are part of the Endurance Sports Coalition, which is asking Congress for direct relief for the businesses and non-profits affected by mandatory event cancellations.
Hundreds of Running USA events have been moved, cancelled or transformed as a result of the pandemic, and we have tracked those changes here.
Our vendor members have put together a tremendous breadth of content related to this pandemic and you can find that here.
We’ve organized this page in such a way that you can easily:
Take Action
Be Informed
Protect Your Business
Read Future-Focused News
We encourage you to contribute links to this page by emailing them to us at leah@runningusa.org. We will continue to update this page daily.
We appreciate your support of our ongoing virtual race camps, content and advocacy. If you would like to support us, we encourage you to become a member of Running USA today and be part of road running’s most dynamic non-profit organization.
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Take action
Voice your support and join Running USA in asking Congress for relief for the endurance industry
Anyone can participate in asking Congress for endurance industry relief here: https://www.endurancesportscoalition.org/take-action
General info here: https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/Join-Running-USA-in-asking-Congress-for-relief-for-the-endurance-industry.aspx
Join the coalition here: https://join.endurancesportscoalition.org/
Latest Running USA Virtual Race Camp: Virtual Event Case Studies
In this Running USA Virtual Race Camp, we'll hear from three spring events that had to rapidly switch to virtual runs due to Covid-19. They'll share what went well, what they learned and pitfalls to avoid. Learn from their experiences and apply the lessons to your events. Speakers will include Tanner Bell of Ragnar Relay, Allison Corbett of P3R and Amy Frostick of J&A Racing Inc..
Listen to the recording
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View previous Virtual Race Camp recordings to stay informed on best practices and the viewpoints of industry peers.
Use the Contractor Directory to find resources for rescheduled events, or list your availability.
Find support, ask questions and join ongoing industry peer discussions online:
Running USA Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/106718176920351/?source_id=152384698126880
Event Professionals Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EventPros/about/
Be informed
A statement from Running USA on COVID-19 and its industry impacts:
https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/A-statement-from-Running-USA-on-COVID-19-and-its-industry-impacts.aspx
Running USA member race organizations affected (nationwide list):
find the list of cancellations, postponements, general statements and virtual runs here
Running USA article: Stepping Up for a Return to Scalable, Smart Events
https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/Stepping-Up-for-a-Return-to-Scalable--Smart-Events.aspx
Official guidelines from CDC, WHO and USATF
CDC Mass Gathering Guidelines
General COVD-19 Readiness Resources from CDC
USATF resources
World Health Organization information
Protect your business
U.S. Chamber of Commerce webinar series: Navigating the Return to Work
https://web.cvent.com/event/09e3fc00-f29c-4fbf-9f16-d9f585c43722/summary?rp=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Guide to Federal Small Business Stimulus Aid Programs:
https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/federal-small-business-stimulus-aid-programs-guide
CARES Small Business Guide and Checklist
https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
COVID-19 Resources for Non-Profits
https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/covid-19-resource-center/
SBA Disaster Assistance
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP--Fact-Sheet.pdf
Small Business Relief Tracker from Forbes (includes state-by-state resources);
https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannegarrett/2020/03/20/small-business-relief-tracker-funding-grants-and-resources-for-business-owners-grappling-with-coronavirus
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Resources page
https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus
Video of U.S. Chamber of Commerce Briefing held on 3.30 (emergency funding for nonprofits)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZqDIKBc3G0
2020 Sponsorship Outlook from IEG
Download PDF here
Insight for small events dealing with COVID-19 (content resource)
Download PDF here
By Lonnie Somers, owner and Chief HAL Officer, HAL Sports and Running USA board member
Event Cancellation Insurance and COVID-19 (content resource)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in early March, Running USA has received a high volume of questions about event insurance and the options for future event cancellation coverage.
Find answers here: https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/Event-Cancellation-Insurance-and-COVID-19.aspx
Find additional content resources from Running USA vendor members (extensive list)
Read future-focused industry news
Recent articles suggest the nationwide lockdown could bring new runners to the industry. Here are some articles that might make great sharing pieces for your social channels.
ESPN: Coronavirus has changed the course for races big and small
https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/29137444/coronavirus-changed-course-races-big-small
CNBC: Some marathon races may not survive the pandemic
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/17/some-marathon-races-may-not-survive-coronavirus-pandemic.html
How is the pandemic affecting the running industry?
https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/05/22/how-is-the-pandemic-affecting-the-running-race-industry/
Endurance Sports Sidelined by Virus Join the Race For Federal Relief
https://about.bgov.com/news/endurance-sports-sidelined-by-virus-join-race-for-federal-relief/
What Will Endurance Races Look Like When They Come Back?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/sports/coronavirus-triathlons-endurance-races.html
SportsTravel talks to Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger about running participation trends
https://t.co/wcAn3ajYxl?amp=1
COVID-19 has us running, but race industry at a standstill
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/john-niyo/2020/04/09/covid-19-has-us-running-but-race-industry-standstill/5121671002/
Running USA Commentary: Get Ready for the Third Running Boom
https://runningusa.org/RUSA/News/2020/Running-USA-Commentary--Get-Ready-for-the-Third-Running-Boom.aspx
For the marathon community, what's best in the long run isn't great for long runs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/29/marathon-community-whats-best-long-run-isnt-great-long-runs/
Running, biking and outdoor shops look for creative ways to stay afloat
https://buffalonews.com/2020/04/03/coronavirus-covid-running-cycling-biking-outdoors-coronavirus-retail-online-stores/
Running has become a therapeutic outlet for local residents
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/sports/article/21125960/running-has-become-a-therapeutic-outlet-for-local-residents
Running Safely During Coronavirus
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a31439358/running-during-coronavirus/
Running from Coronavirus: A Back to Basics Exercise Boom:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/sports/running-exercise-coronavirus.html
Running is the Outlet That Unites Us All During the Coronavirus Crisis:
https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2020/03/24/running-boom-exercise-coronavirus-pandemic-olympian-alexi-pappas
NYT Running in the Time of Coronavirus
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/well/move/running-coronavirus-hong-kong-marathon.html