RunSignup Releases Tools for Coronavirus Emergency Planning

March 13, 2020

Moorestown, NJ – In response to the wave of Coronavirus-related restrictions on public gatherings, RunSignup has released new tools to help race organizers navigate the process of postponing or modifying their events. While some events are outright cancelling, many others are working towards a flexible postponement and/or moving runners to a virtual race option, and these tools are geared towards reducing chargebacks and refunds by improving communication with participants and providing alternative options for events.

The new Postponement Tool is a pop-up that can be enabled on a race’s dashboard. This tool allows races to quickly setup a message that will appear on their RunSignup race website indicating the status (postponed, cancelled, changed to virtual, etc) and then allow participants to choose their preferred action. The participant options are fully customizable by the race director, and they can pick and choose the options they want to show. The default options include:

• Stay In Race: this allows runners to stay in the race for the postponed date
• Switch to Virtual Race: this lets runners opt for a virtual version of the event
• You can keep my registration fee: this allows runners who are declining to run to support the event by not requesting a refund
• Get a refund: this allows a runner to be refunded

The tool creates clean, clear reports of each participant’s selected option and allows the race director to take the appropriate action. The customization options mean the pop-up can be used for easy communication in a variety of scenarios, including a “options coming soon” or “the race is continuing”. An automated email version of the same content will be released soon.

In addition to the new Postponement Tool, RunSignup is gathering best practices and recommendations into a new hub at runsignup.com/coronavirus. This site covers the options a race director has if normal operations are interrupted, including deferrals, refunds, race transfers, and virtual races, as well as recommendations for compassionate, effective communication with participants.

RunSignup Founder and CEO Bob Bickel said, “This is obviously a hard time for race directors and the running community as a whole. We’re working together with our customers, and they are focused on finding solutions that will allow runners to engage in the sport in ways and at times that are safe and appropriate. With some patience, compassion, and teamwork, we can all get through this.”

You can access a webinar covering recommendations for races and a demo of the Postponement Tool, as well additional information for race directors here: https://runsignup.blog/2020/03/12/webinar-recording-and-follow-up-coronavirus-planning-and-tools/

About RunSignup

RunSignup is the leading all-in-one platform for endurance and fundraising events. More than 20,000 races, supporting over 8,000 nonprofits, use RunSignup’s free and integrated solution to save time, grow their events, and raise more. Built on a powerful CRM, RunSignup delivers the art of technology to power the entire race cycle, with promotional tools, registration, a full fundraising platform, and a suite of RaceDay products – including the runner-tracking app RaceJoy and race timing software, RaceDay Scoring. For more information, visit www.runsignup.com