This guide offers advice to inexperienced race directors who wish to host a small 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Marathon to benefit a charitable organization. The advice contained within is based on my own experience. I ran a lot of races before I ever bit the bullet and directed my own. I thought I knew plenty to make a great race. But I quickly learned just how tough a race director's job is. Hopefully, my experience will help you avoid some mistakes, think of some things you might not have, and host a great race that your runners want to race every year.