What You Need to Know Before Organising a Marathon

Published
07/05/2023

Marathons can be fantastic events that bring communities together and promote exercise and healthy living. Many marathons are held for a charitable cause, and they can raise incredible amounts of money to help those in need.

If your town doesn’t host a marathon, or if you want to raise money for a cause close to your heart, organizing such an event is actually easier than you might think. However, there are a few things you need to know before you get started. Find out more below.

Don’t Go at It Alone

Marathons are large-scale events that involve hundreds, if not thousands, of people. While they might seem relatively simple, given that they are essentially just a big race, managing so many people at once has the potential to get complicated and stressful.

If you want to organise a marathon, it’s important you don’t attempt to do everything yourself. Working with a partner such as Massive, who are expert mass participation sports events organisers, can be just what you need to get your marathon off to a flying start.

By working with Massive, you’ll have access to event staff as well as a highly knowledgeable event management team who have experience working with major brands such as Nike and Adidas. This will give you the support you need, and you’ll be able to organise a successful marathon.

Remember the Paperwork

Marathons take place in towns, cities, and along country roads. As a result, they can cause a level of traffic disruption, which is why you need permission from your local authority if you want to organise and hold a marathon of your own.

This step is essential. Holding a marathon without the correct permissions could see you face punitive action, and you could be charged a large fine.

You’re also going to need insurance. Running a marathon is an intense physical workout, and there’s always the possibility that entrants could injure themselves. As the organizer of the event, you could be held liable for any injuries that occur. Public liability insurance will protect you should any entrants suffer injuries during the marathon.

Market Your Marathon

For your marathon to be a success, you’re going to need to attract entrants. It’s not simply a case of organizing your marathon and hoping for the best. You’re going to need to actively market and advertise the event to raise awareness and spread the word.

Social media is the best tool for this. With billions of users across the world, social media is the perfect way to reach a mass audience. If your marathon is fundraising for a charitable organisation, speak to them about delivering a marketing plan, as you’ll be able to make use of their existing brand to advertise your event. 

There’s a lot to think about when organising a marathon, but with the proper planning and preparation, you can ensure that your event is a success and that all entrants have an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.