Trail Running Event Insurance: What You Need to Know

Trail race event insurance is important because it helps protect you from financial loss and unexpected issues that could arise during the execution of an event. The policy also helps to protect landowners, cities, sponsors and others at the event as well.  

Here are some key items to think about when purchasing event insurance:

1. Is my event eligible for RRCA, USATF insurance or can I go through someone like ATRA for insurance?
2. Is the standard $1,000,000 in coverage sufficient for the landowner, govt agency or park that I am trying to use?
3. Besides the landowner, who else needs to be added as an additional insured on the certificate?
4. How many people do I estimate will attend the event?
5. Does the insurance policy I am looking at have any stipulations within waivers, such as with regard to pets, headphones etc.?
6. Event insurance is NOT general business insurance. It is geared toward specific dates. You may want to include the days your are setting up and tearing down your event.

Event insurance is easy to find and the sooner you purchase your policy the better the price you will get. The cost of insurance is also determined by how many people you have at an event. It can be a relatively low expense, however the more people that will need to be insured, the higher the cost.

Most landowners, park owners or govt sections will want the industry standard of $1,000,000 in coverage on a given policy. And remember that all insurance policies are not the same, you will want to make sure to note the differences in waivers, pets allowed and so forth.

Every insurance carrier has different policy restrictions and needs. Some may not allow dogs, some may require an in person waiver. When you choose an insurance provider they have a list of requirements you should be aware of.

Where Do I Find Insurance?

If you are putting on an event via USA Track & Field (USATF) and having the event sanctioned through them, you can get insurance via the USATF.  In the past USATF used Epic to handle the liability insurance. 

If you are a member of Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) or have a race with them than you can also apply to use their insurance as well. They provide insurance for trail events as well as road events.

If you are not putting on something through the USATF or RRCA then you can use ATRA (American Trail Running Association) event insurance via Nicholas Hill. They offer same day pricing and immediate downloadable certificates.