Race Services
AORTA conducts and assists in numerous races in the Auburn-Opelika communities throughout the year. We have the knowledge, experience and equipment to assist in organizing road races from a one-mile dash to a half marathon. Using state-of-the-art technology, we are able to accurately record and post race results within hours of race completion.
Specifically, our race services include:
- Planning assistance to the race director from registration to race day.
- Advertisement on AORTA’s main website.
- Runners bibs at no additional cost.
- Finish line “arch” setup with finishing “chute” (pictured above).
- PA system for pre-race, post-race announcements, and music. Also used to call out runners' names as they cross the finish line.
- Course markers placed at all turns and critical locations to guide runners.
- Award listings upon race completion provided to the race director.
- Start/Finish line video.
- Online race results. Also listed on AORTA’s website.
We continuously accept applications for local races to include in our club race series. However, due to the high demand for these services during the racing season, AORTA may be unable to fulfill every request. Here is the current list of reserved dates.
** Note: Due to the limitations of local volunteer availability, we can only support one race per weekend and only those within the Auburn/Opelika metropolitan area.
2024
Sat, 01/27/24: Big House Hustle 5K (Canceled for wx)
Sat, 02/10/24: *Reserved*
Sat, 02/17/24: *Reserved*
Sat, 02/24/24: Nourish Spring 5K (Opelika)
Sat, 03/16/24: KD Shamrock 5K (AU Campus)
Sat, 03/23/24: Cary Woods PTO 5K (Postponed UFN)
Sat, 03/30/24: Colors for Children’s Fun Run (AHS)
Sat, 04/06/24: Circles Fun Run (Canceled)
Sat, 04/13/24: Book It For Drake (Town Creek Park)
Sat, 05/25/24: Down The Tracks 5K (Opelika)
Sat, 05/25-08/31: Auburn City Market @ Town Creek Park
Sat, 06/29/24: Run for a Summer of Second Chances
Sat, 08/31/24: Not recommended - AU vs. Alabama A&M
Sat, 09/07/24: Not recommended - AU vs. California
Sat, 09/14/24: Not recommended - AU vs. New Mexico Lobos
Sat, 09/21/24: Not recommended - AU vs. Arkansas
Sat, 09/28/24: Not recommended - AU vs. Oklahoma
Sat, 10/05/24: Mercy Medical 5K/10K (TBD)
Sat, 10/12/24: AORTA Tough Ten / Tough Two
Sat, 10/19/24: AU Vet School 5K
Sat, 10/26/24: Unity Wellness AIDS 5K (Town Creek Park)
Sat, 11/02/24: Not recommended - AU vs. Vanderbilt
Sun, 11/03/24: Beat Bama Food Drive 5K (Sunday - AU Campus)
Sat, 11/09/24: Walk of Life 5K (Opelika Sportsplex)
Sat, 11/16/24: Not recommended - AU vs. ULM Warkhawks
Sat, 11/23/24: Not recommended - AU vs. Texas A&M
Sat: 12/07/24: 2024 Jingle Jog 5K / Santa Stroll 1-Mile (Toomers Corner)
Sat: 12/14/24: 2024 Toys for Tots 10K / 5K /1-Mile (WMR Elementary)
2025
Sat, 03/29/25: Book It For Drake
Sat, 10/11/25: AORTA Tough Ten / Tough Two
Thu, 11/27/25: Moores Mill Turkey Trot
Sat, 12/06/25: Auburn City Jingle Jog / Santa Stroll
Sat, 12/06/25: AORTA Toys for Tots
If you are interested in using AORTA to support your event, please fill out and submit the request form below.
Online AORTA Race Services Request Form
To request AORTA’s race services, click HERE** to fill out the online form and we’ll contact you shortly to begin organizing your race! The baseline fee is $450**. We require race directors setup online registrations through www.RunSignUp.com as we found it to offer the best experience and interface between race directors, runners, and AORTA race services.
**Notice: Due to the recent rising costs for race bibs and other essential race equipment and supplies, we must adjust the race services fee from $400 to $450. We appreciate your understanding of this cost increase, and want to assure you that we remain committed to delivering the highest quality service at a competitive price. We will continue to provide the best possible service for our customers.
AORTA Race Director Guide (Updated 09/20/2023)
Download and use this as a step-by-step guide, tailored specifically for the Auburn/Opelika area, with actionable items to check-off as you go through each of your event planning and execution phases.
The State of RunSignup and the Industry
Quick Hits: Under Utilized and Oft Missed Features and Tools
Virtual Races and Challenge Event: Real World Case Studies
Modified In-Person Events: Adapting Real Races for COVID-19
What To To About Turkey Trots and Other Hybrid Events For Fall
Barbara Herzog: Cultivating Fundraisers to Increase Donations
Trish Portuese: Race Checklist - Preparing for the Best to Avoid the Worst
Jen A. Miller: What Your Runners Want
Andy Younger: Race Promotion & Running Community Collaboration
David Gottlieb: Streamlining Race Day for Your Volunteers
Troy Robert: Race Day Technology for Races of All Sizes
These online videos provide insights from Race Directors, Timers, and Industry Professionals during the annual RunSignUp symposiums reveal best practices in race production. Learn from their Success!
RunSignUP Technology: Now and in the Future
- Year in Review, Top Ten List, E-mail Marketing, Racejoy, Boston
Marketing Techniques to Grow Your Race
- Methodology, Creating Events, Scheduling, Planning, Promotion, Discover What Works
Building a Year-Round Community Grow Your Race
- Building the Event, P3R (Pittsburgh 3-Rivers Marathon) The Branding
- Building Community/Relationship, Marketing, Social Media, The Future of P3R
The Synthesis of Races, Stores, and Training
- Community Involvement, Playmakers,Running & Walking Community
- Partnership Before the Race, Partnership During and After, Teams and Series
Technology, Packet Pickup, and Creating a Brand
- Streamlining Events, RungSignUp Features, Results
- Packet Pickup, Widget Technology, Why RunSignUp?
Donations and Fundraising
- Nonprofits: Own Race or Partner, Passion for Events
- Charity Partnering Benefits, Donations, Partnerships, Keep ‘Em Coming Back!
Growing a Small Race
- NC Troopers Footchase, Brand Promotion, Alternative Participant Options
- Community Partnerships & Social
Marketing like a Marketer
- Critz Tybee RunFest, Promotions/ Other Features, Sponsors & Community
Corporate Teams
- Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk, Captains are Key, Why Corporate Teams
Race Director Logistics
- The Ohio Challenge Series, Focus of a Series, Branding of a Series, Competitive Walking
What Your Timer Does
- The Art of Timing, Switching to Online, Online Registration, Timer Collaboration
Participant Managing
- Participant Management, Questions, Pre/Post Race Communication, Ambassador Program
Active.com: Strategic Event Planning Playbook (pdf) 
This interactive playbook will help you put together a race strategy that will increase your event revenue throughout the participant journey.
Active Webinar: 10 Tips to Increase Event Revenue (1:01:06)
Find out how you can increase your conversion rates, boost registration numbers, and increase your bottom line, whilst creating an amazing event experience for your participants!
Active.com: Race Director's Checklist (pdf)
This interactive checklist is designed to ensure that you don’t overlook the small things that could have a large effect on the success of your event.