Chase Charlie includes virtual race

During the virtual race participants will be able to run the distance on their own time, use a timing device of their choice, and submit their running time to the Chase Charlie results webpage on chasecharlie.com.

Five committees

With Ball State’s emphasis on immersive learning, it became increasingly important to give students the reins in coordinating and directing the races, according to Professor Liz Wanless. The students alone cover everything from operations, to guest services, to finances for the Chase Charlie Races.

Morgan Olsen and Ben Snider, senior sport administration majors, are this year’s event directors. Under Wanless’ instruction, the two event directors lead the class, however, they have chosen a divide and conquer method in managing their committees.

Olsen oversees guest services and operations, which mainly focuses on sign ups. Operations “has a massive list of things they take care of,” she said. “Anything you think would physically go into a race.” This committee sets up everything for the race, including measuring the courses, as well as finding volunteers and purchasing shirts and medals.

Snider oversees the marketing, sales and revenue, and finance committees. He explained marketing’s main goal for this year is to make people aware of the races.

“Last year we had just under 200 people attend the event, so this year the goal is to break 200,” Snider said.

The sales and revenue committee oversees race sponsors.

“One big thing [Wanless] really emphasizes is sponsorship because in the sport industry you have to get sponsorships for basically everything,” Olsen said. “This class demands the students to physically go out and get a picture with a business owner asking if they want to sponsor the race.”

While each student must have a hand in getting event sponsors, the sales and revenue committee manages those sponsorships.

Community engagement

Last year, the event lost approximately $300, so this year the finance committee’s goal is to avoid loss.

“In my opinion $300 is worth it for the experience to run an event…but it’s not a good lesson for students too…it’s good for the experience but you don’t want to teach students to run an event that doesn’t make money,” Snider said.

The class also wants to make the Chase Charlie races more community centered by grabbing the attention of kids in Muncie. To do this they are advertising at the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and pitching presentations in Muncie elementary schools.

With these goals in mind, the class decided to make some updates to the races such as new T-shirts and a change of atmosphere.

“For the environment, we want everything to be really up to date and upbeat. We will have a DJ out there which will make it really fun…and we are going to try to be excited the whole time,” Olsen said. She and Snider laughed at the idea of trying to remain upbeat knowing they will be working a long day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Funding opportunities

Prices for the races range from $8 to $35, depending on the package participants choose and whether they pre-register. Proceeds from the races will go to the Sport Administration Fund for Excellence, which gives students the opportunity to attend conferences.

“The money really does help out a lot. Six students were just chosen to go to a conference in October and everyone who has gone has gotten an internship,” Olsen said.

Olsen and Snider both stressed the importance of the conferences and how planning the Chase Charlie races helps Ball State students stand out from the crowd.

“One thing our professors are really good at is understanding that sport isn’t just textbooks, like when we go to conferences and can say to potential employers that we were able to put on a 5K,” Olsen said.

Wanless agreed, and explained that Ball State’s sport administration program has given students the opportunity to gain an understanding for the real world through immersive learning.

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