After canceling RTO again, Reno's Race178 partners with Running Tours USA
Runners leave the starting line during the 2018 Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, the signature event produced by Race178. For the second year in a row, the Reno-based race production company canceled the event due to the pandemic.
Photo: Shelby McAuliffe
With coronavirus cases dropping and vaccinations rising, one could argue there is finally light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. So much so that many of Northern Nevada’s marquee events that gather thousands of people together are planning to return this year after being shelved in 2020. And the companies and organizations producing these events are hoping to see ticket sales rise and restrictions dip as the calendar flips to summer. Some organizers, however, have accepted that getting back to business-as-usual is a long ways away. That’s the case for Race178. For the second straight year, the Reno-based race production company scratched their signature event, the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, a 178-mile team relay from Reno to Tahoe and back again. The popular RTO event, which traditionally draws hundreds of teams and thousands of runners, accounts for 75% of Race178’s annual revenue, said company owner Eric Lerude. “It was a difficult decision to not put on the RTO again,” Lerude said. “We were just looking at all of the factors. The RTO is not your normal little 5K where you can maybe spread some people out and get the race done. The RTO is all about bonding and being in close proximity to a lot of people over 18 to 36 hours, depending on how long it takes to do the event. “And to try for social distancing and mask wearing and keep everybody safe, it would’ve been too stressful for us as race organizers, and, I think, for most participants.” Last year, Race178 pivoted by putting on three virtual challenges — Run Reno-Tahoe Virtual Run Adventure, Run Nevada Virtual Run Adventure, and Bay to Black Rock Virtual Run Adventure. These, Lerude said, provided “some revenue,” but nothing compared to the company’s in-person events, which, along with the RTO, include the Leprechaun Race 5K (which was virtual this year) and Reno Running Fest, a fall event with a TBD status still for 2021. In response, Race178 is looking to keep the company up and running by giving runners new ways of exploring Reno-Tahoe during a pandemic. The company pivoted once again this year, teaming up with Running Tours USA to offer running tours in the Reno-Tahoe region. “The Running Tours USA organization was looking to expand into different markets,” Lerude said. “We started talking in the fall and we figured this would complement the other things we do very well. So, we started working on it and got it put together earlier this year.” The result? Lerude and his three-person staff came up with a variety of 5K tours (and one 10K) through Reno’s scenic and historic areas as well as one 5K on Lake Tahoe’s east shore. Race178 also offers customizable private tours in Reno-Tahoe that can range from 3-20 miles. Lerude said Race178 has about half a dozen longtime Reno-Tahoe runners on board as independent contractors to serve as the tour guides. “Adding running tours this year is another step toward diversifying our offerings and trying to keep our business going,” said Lerude, noting he realizes that tours will not make up for losing their large-scale races. “Given that the tours will be for smaller groups of runners, we don’t expect to generate significant revenue, but they will allow us to connect with new and existing customers on a more intimate basis while doing what drives us the most — showcasing our community through getting out and running.” Lerude said the tours not only cater to visitors and newcomers to the region, but also local runners looking to learn — and perhaps see — more of what the area offers. Above all, though, he expects most of the demand to come from visitors. “We have a lot of out-of-area businesses with offices and headquarters here who bring in a lot of employees to visit for work purposes,” Lerude said. “That’s the real market, focusing on visitors one way or another. And our region obviously attracts visitors, and running tours are something that are becoming more popular around the country.
"Just like food tours and walking tours, people like to get out and learn about the place they’re visiting.”
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