RunSignup reports record-setting Thanksgiving day race participation
The platform had a record 1,330,726 participants registered to participate in 1,056 races across the country, with more than $3.2 million dollars raised for charities.
5 November 2024
In recognition of the remarkable efforts of race timers, the award honors those who have made a substantial impact on the endurance race industry.
RunSignup, the leading registration and technology provider for endurance events in the United States, is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Alan Jones Timer of the Year Award. In recognition of the remarkable efforts of race timers, this award honors those who have made a substantial and continued impact on the endurance race industry. Named after the industry’s pioneering figure, Alan Jones, RunSignup established the award to acknowledge and celebrate individuals who have contributed to the continuous improvement of the race experience for participants and spectators alike. The award will be presented during RunSigup’s upcoming 2025 Timer Education Summit in Tampa, Florida.
Alan Jones, the Founder of RunScore and Inventor of the Jones Counter, has been a trailblazer in the endurance community since 1970 when he first scored a race in real-time with a terminal connected to an IBM Mainframe. His contributions, including the invention of the Jones Counter in 1971, have had a lasting effect on the industry, with the device becoming the standard measuring tool for courses used in official certifications. It has been used to measure Olympic marathons since Montreal in 1976. RunScore continues to be widely used by timers to time events across the globe.
The Alan Jones Timer Award seeks to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked efforts of race timers who play a crucial role in the industry's success. Timers serve as the backbone of the race community, guiding organizers towards innovation, and improving the overall experience for participants. Previous Alan Jones Timer of the Year award recipients include:
Nominations for the Alan Jones Timer Award are now open. Individuals are invited to submit entries for deserving candidates. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2024. The award winner will be announced in January during RunSignup’s 2025 Timer Education Summit in Tampa, Florida.
“I’m thrilled to continue supporting this effort to recognize and celebrate our timers. This industry has deeply impacted my life and the lives of so many others. Timers’ work often goes unseen or is taken for granted, so this is a chance to shine a spotlight on those who work tirelessly to create positive experiences for participants,” said Alan Jones.
Bob Bickel, Founder and CEO of RunSignup, commented, “We launched the Alan Jones Timer Award to honor those in our industry who, like Alan, have made a lasting and far-reaching impact. Timers are the unsung heroes that both event organizers and participants rely on. We’re excited to see the nominations and to bring well-deserved recognition to this essential, dedicated group.”
Nominations for the Alan Jones Timer Award can be submitted here.
RunSignup, an employee owned company, is the leading event solution delivering the art of technology to endurance events and nonprofits. More than 30,000 events use our free and open platform to register over 10 million annual participants, raise more than $3 billion and grow their events. Our expertly crafted, open and all-in-one solution powers event revenue generation and supporter engagement through flexible registration, free event websites, free email marketing, integrated fundraising, and a suite of RaceDay Real-Time products. No subscriptions, no plans, no monthly fees.
To find out why customers like the Richmond Marathon, American Cancer Society, Vacation Races, and RaceDay Events use RunSignup, visit www.runsignup.com.
