2016 USAT Race Directors Symposium

Why I Attended the 2016 USAT Race Director Symposium
by Andie Talmadge, MS of FIT FUNdamentals
Race Directors from across the country converged at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on January 15-17, 2016 for a three day symposium designed to educate, motivate and inspire us to a bright and successful 2016 racing season. A colorful variety of speeches, workshops, presentations, social events and physical challenges ensured that everyone went home enriched and happy. This event was jam-packed full of positive, useful information without being overwhelming – a perfect balance of work and play. If it had to be described in one word – that word is rejuvenating!
The sessions educated us about the state of our sport across the country and its future. We learned about the Active Network upgrades and a new supplemental insurance policy for RDs, Community Relations, Paratriathlon Development, Post Event Reporting and — YEAH! — USAT has made the sanctioning process MUCH faster and it will be up and running by the end of January! One afternoon gave us the opportunity to meet with our specific regions. The Rocky Mountain Region had several very experienced RDs in attendance and a lot of great information and ideas were shared. Day 3 sessions included being a successful RD over the long haul, the rules and requirements for draft legal races, the new NCAA appointment as women’s triathlon as an emerging sport, and how utilizing social media can be a powerful and profitable tool. The Symposium was closed out by a report on the USAT Road to Rio which will undoubtedly increase race participation across the country this year.
Interspersed among the educational components we had opportunities to be motivated and inspired and have fun. The Friday evening reception gave everyone the opportunity to network and make new friends. Day 2 started with a 5 K fun run at 6:00am, a/k/a DARK and COLD-thirty! A huge group showed up with head lamps, lots of warm clothing and tons of positive attitude. BOCO Gear gave free beanies to all the participants, and despite the cold and the snow on the ground from the night before – it was a blast. Tri Tank was a fun new way for exchanging ideas.
The highlight of Day 2 was the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, a more formal affair where we got to hear the inspiring stories of the inductees and speakers. All of the information, motivation and inspiration we get by attending the Symposium workshops is only part of the reason it is a valuable investment of time and money for any race director. We were fed amazing breakfasts and lunches on all three days, plus appetizers and drinks during the Friday night reception, dinner at the Hall of Fame Banquet and a mind-blowing array of snacks and beverages all day long! Don’t forget the swag! (Of course there is swag – it’s triathlon)! T-shirt, water bottles, beanie caps, plastic cups, body glide, power bars, sport gels, backpacks, necklaces, RUDY project helmets for only $100 and more. Suddenly the price for the Symposium seems like quite a bargain!
The Expo featured vendors that were available all weekend long for shopping and exchanging ideas for our events. It gave us a chance to see what is new and innovative and they often had very helpful suggestions about ways to improve our events without breaking the bank.
We stayed at a beautiful, restful resort with an attentive, friendly staff, had full use of the fitness facility and 25 yard indoor pool, outdoor (heated) recreational pool and hot tub. Who doesn’t deserve a weekend away like this after the holiday season and before race production season getting moving full speed?
But even all of THAT is not why the trip is worth it. The very best reason to go is the connections you make with your peers. New friendships are formed, ideas are exchanged and we walk away energized, motivated and ready to make the next triathlon season the best it has ever been for our participants. Being part of a community that understands the level of professionalism being a certified RD brings to an event just feels good. We work HARD to make our events the experience that athletes will return for year after year and the Symposium is our reward and validation that what we are doing matters.
All of these things combined make the Race Director Symposium an event that should not be missed. The investment is well worth it.
An addendum message from USAT Rocky Mountain Regional Chair, Dan Frost:
The meetings were fantastic! Besides the Board of Directors and the regional council chairs getting together, the race director symposium was going on, as well as meetings of the officials coordinators and the collegiate conference commissioners. Included in this weekend was a block of time where all of the stakeholders of each region meet in region groups. In this block, my table had Dave Christen (Ironman), Jim Flint (former Rattlesnake RD), Joy Rasmussen (Steamboat Springs events), and Peggy Shockley (Loveland Lake-2-Lake RD for 16 years)…along with Mace, Carolyn, Andie, Byron, and Mercedes Decarli (other RMR council members). Super cool!