Creating the Nike+ Human Race 10K Course
"Having 25 cities around the world racing against each other on a single day is a great concept. We were excited when NIKE came to us with the challenge of designing the course for New York," said Peter Ciaccia, New York Road Runner's Vice President of Event Development Production.
In early spring, executives from NIKE reached out to Peter and his event team with the idea of New York City being part of the world's largest race. With the sport of running on display during the 2008 Olympics, the opportunity to branch out and have runners at all levels participate in a race that would embody runners throughout the world seemed like a logical fit for New York City. The challenge, however, was to ensure that a course would be designed in order to meet the standards and needs of all individuals racing.
"When you are given the task of designing a course that will feature 10,000 runners, all at different levels, you want to make sure that everything is thoroughly considered. New York Road Runners has a long history of designing top quality courses and we feel that the Nike+ Human Race 10K course in NYC meets that standard," stated Jeff Decker, New York Road Runner's Event Manager.
With a list of potential routes, along with certain factors to consider (mainly a post-race concert scheduled), Peter, Jeff, and the rest of the faithful members of the event team went out in search of a course that would feature the finest runners in New York City. For months, the planning phase was a series of back and forth talks, with Jeff and Richard Krupa (Senior Manager of Event Management & Logistics, New York Road Runners) heading out on bikes to potential locations. The decision was finally made that Randall's Island would be the appropriate location; it is capable of holding 10,000 runners and a post-race concert.
"Whenever we design a course outside of Central Park, there are numerous organizations and departments that must be involved. In this case, we worked closely with the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, NYC Parks Department, along with NYPD and the MTA. There are so many things to consider," commented Mr. Ciaccia.
And to the credit of the New York Road Runners, making sure to cross the ‘t' and dot the ‘i' is second nature. When designing a course, everyone involved in the process goes into worst case scenario mood, leaving no stone unturned. Everything is discussed and analyzed ranging from the potential weather, transportation, medical assistance, the number of volunteers needed, and even where to place water stations and bathrooms.
"We take every race very serious, whether it is in Central Park with 2,000 runners or through the streets of Manhattan as in the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE with more than 10,000 runners. It is important every race is prepared with diligence and expertise," added Ciaccia.
Now with the Nike+ Human Race 10K a few days away, Peter, Jeff, Richard, and the rest of team at New York Road Runners are putting the final touches on the course. With meetings involving the NYPD, MTA, and NIKE throughout the remaining days, the stage is set on Randall's Island to host the world's largest race. Without the dedication and commitment shown by New York Road Runners, 8.31.2008 might not have been possible.
Side Bar:
The two loop USATF certified course will start between Icahn Stadium and the East River. The course will circle the outer part of the island and shift into an inner loop in order to separate runners and eliminate potential congestion. The race will finish in Icahn Stadium. The Nike+ Human Race 10K will begin at 6pm and the post-race concert, featuring the All-American Rejects, will follow the conclusion of the race. The race is open to spectators, with perfect visual accessibility from Icahn Stadium. Volunteering opportunities are also still available. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit NYRR Volunteer Opportunities.
To view the course map, click The Nike+ Human Race 10K Course
In early spring, executives from NIKE reached out to Peter and his event team with the idea of New York City being part of the world's largest race. With the sport of running on display during the 2008 Olympics, the opportunity to branch out and have runners at all levels participate in a race that would embody runners throughout the world seemed like a logical fit for New York City. The challenge, however, was to ensure that a course would be designed in order to meet the standards and needs of all individuals racing.
"When you are given the task of designing a course that will feature 10,000 runners, all at different levels, you want to make sure that everything is thoroughly considered. New York Road Runners has a long history of designing top quality courses and we feel that the Nike+ Human Race 10K course in NYC meets that standard," stated Jeff Decker, New York Road Runner's Event Manager.
With a list of potential routes, along with certain factors to consider (mainly a post-race concert scheduled), Peter, Jeff, and the rest of the faithful members of the event team went out in search of a course that would feature the finest runners in New York City. For months, the planning phase was a series of back and forth talks, with Jeff and Richard Krupa (Senior Manager of Event Management & Logistics, New York Road Runners) heading out on bikes to potential locations. The decision was finally made that Randall's Island would be the appropriate location; it is capable of holding 10,000 runners and a post-race concert.
"Whenever we design a course outside of Central Park, there are numerous organizations and departments that must be involved. In this case, we worked closely with the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, NYC Parks Department, along with NYPD and the MTA. There are so many things to consider," commented Mr. Ciaccia.
And to the credit of the New York Road Runners, making sure to cross the ‘t' and dot the ‘i' is second nature. When designing a course, everyone involved in the process goes into worst case scenario mood, leaving no stone unturned. Everything is discussed and analyzed ranging from the potential weather, transportation, medical assistance, the number of volunteers needed, and even where to place water stations and bathrooms.
"We take every race very serious, whether it is in Central Park with 2,000 runners or through the streets of Manhattan as in the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE with more than 10,000 runners. It is important every race is prepared with diligence and expertise," added Ciaccia.
Now with the Nike+ Human Race 10K a few days away, Peter, Jeff, Richard, and the rest of team at New York Road Runners are putting the final touches on the course. With meetings involving the NYPD, MTA, and NIKE throughout the remaining days, the stage is set on Randall's Island to host the world's largest race. Without the dedication and commitment shown by New York Road Runners, 8.31.2008 might not have been possible.
Side Bar:
The two loop USATF certified course will start between Icahn Stadium and the East River. The course will circle the outer part of the island and shift into an inner loop in order to separate runners and eliminate potential congestion. The race will finish in Icahn Stadium. The Nike+ Human Race 10K will begin at 6pm and the post-race concert, featuring the All-American Rejects, will follow the conclusion of the race. The race is open to spectators, with perfect visual accessibility from Icahn Stadium. Volunteering opportunities are also still available. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit NYRR Volunteer Opportunities.
To view the course map, click The Nike+ Human Race 10K Course
