The Reggie Awards – our playful nod to “registration” excellence – celebrates event organizers who create extraordinary experiences within the athleteReg community. Each month, these passionate individuals share their stories, strategies, and the magic that makes their events uniquely special. Ready to share your victory story from the podium? Introduce yourself here.
This month’s winner showcases how leveraging customer support, discovering innovative features, and utilizing PledgeReg can streamline event management and exceed fundraising goals.
Event Overview
Event Director: Amy Rusiecki
Event Name: Vermont 100 (VT100), plus a series of events through Beast Coast Trail Running
Event Registration Site: https://www.runreg.com/vermont-100
Event Website: https://vermont100.com/
How many years have you been organizing this event? I took over the reins over a decade ago (yowza!), but it was after the 25th edition of the VT100 so I walked into so much history.
How many participants attended your most recent event? The VT100 is capped at 450 runners, and regularly fills (including a hefty waitlist).
Tell us about your event:
The VT100 is one of the most historic 100 mile running races in the US, and is the only one to still hold a 100 mile ride (yes, on horses!) concurrent to the run. The event is a fundraiser for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, and (as a nod to that connection) became the first ultra or trail race to have an adaptive athlete category officially recognized. The course itself passes through incredible views of the Green Mountains, past iconic white picket fences and red barns, and pastures with cows.
Customer Support Experience
How would you describe your experience working with RunReg’s customer support team? I chose to work with RunReg due to their exceptional customer support – which is unparalleled in the registration industry. They truly listen to what race directors want, and work to build those features into the system.
Can you share a specific instance where RunReg’s customer service helped you solve a challenge with your event? One race that I organize (through Beast Coast Trail Running) is the All of the Above Trail Fest – which is an event that aims to push the boundaries regarding what it means to be truly inclusive. One important element to us was that we didn’t want to force runners to select a gender when they registered (no matter if runners identify as male, female, non-binary, agender, etc. – all of the above are welcome to run with us!). Anyway – RunReg took the time to hear my vision, and then work with developers to make this a reality. I am stoked to see that this feature (the option to select whether gender is collected when runners register) is now a standard feature that every race director can choose when they set up an event.
Feature Evolution & Innovation
Which RunReg features have you seen improve or evolve since you began using the platform? RunReg has always been creating more flexibility over time, and every feature makes things easier for me as a race director! One such simple (yet incredibly time-saving feature) was the ‘waitlist’ feature where I can basically say ‘please just pull the top X runners from the waitlist and into the event at once’ rather than me individually pulling each runner off the top of the list.
RunReg also recently added an option (under the ‘edit’ option for a searched runner) to change categories. So, now when a runner drops from the race, it is a one-click solution. When I started with RunReg, we had to edit the runner, scroll to the bottom of their reg info, change their category, and then save it – so it was a many-click solution.
What RunReg innovations or updates have had the most positive impact on your registration process? Beyond the simplification of dropping runners and pulling from the waitlist (discussed above), the day-of reg check-in has allowed us to assign bib #s in real time – to limit the waste of unused bib #s, but also to allow us to track who shows up and starts vs. who is a no-show. This is hugely beneficial to both the race management as well as the timing company.
Fundraising with PledgeReg
What fundraising goals have you been able to achieve using PledgeReg? Oh man – the Vermont 100 is one of the largest fundraisers for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, and we’re grateful that PledgeReg makes it easy to make fundraising happen. In my first year as the RD, I created a charity runner program, now called the Team Run 2 Empower, that gives runners the opportunity to gain entry into the event through committing to fundraising. It’s helped us to fundraise nearly $1 Million in the 10-years that I have been directing!
Can you share a success story related to your fundraising efforts using PledgeReg? I think a key to what has made fundraising so successful is PledgeReg’s ability to edit so many elements. I can write in a sample ‘donation ask’ email (but runners can update and modify). I can adjust the donation amounts to make them make sense for the charity (i.e. I put a $30 donation as the cost for a visually impaired vest, which blind skiers wear to be seen on the ski slopes). These innovations and the ability to make things unique for the event, and personalized for the participant, has created a situation where the VT100 increases the funds raised and impact on Vermont Adaptive year after year!
Just for fun
What’s the signature element or tradition that makes your event uniquely yours? (The thing participants rave about year after year!) I think what I aim to do is to keep things fun and celebrate each runner. Whether you’re finishing first or last, have finished umpteen times or are running trails for the first time – everyone is awesome and deserves to be celebrated! We have fun, wear costumes and glitter, give out a lot of high fives and hugs, and do our best to share our passion with every runner out there. (To be fair – I am also blessed with some of the best and most enthusiastic volunteers, which makes such a huge impact on events!)