Bob Bickel--RunSignUp.com

<p>Back in his college days at Bucknell University, Bob Bickel trained 100 miles/week, and pushed his 10,000-meter time down to an impressive 29:07. Then he took his electrical engineering skills into the tech industry, and enjoyed several modest successes. </p><p>Next he opened a running retail store in Moorestown, NJ, and a few years later decided he could improve upon existing race registrations platforms. He was right. </p><p>Run Sign Up has become the dominant road race registration platform in the U.S., because it&#39;s simple to use, and free for race directors to implement. </p><p>What more could a volunteer race director ask for?</p><p>We spoke to Bob about his own running career, what he learned from the team philosophy that made Bucknell a regional powerhouse in cross-country, and how he views the demographics of road racing in the U.S. today. We were particularly struck by one key statistic.</p><p>According to Bob, only 6 percent of U.S. race participants participate in the top 100 races--the mega races that get nearly 100 percent of news coverage. In other words, 94 percent of U.S. runners take part in local and regional races. That&#39;s what makes the sport so deep and strong.</p><p>For more about Run Sign Up, check out this <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/2360936670110394663#">10-minute YouTube video,</a> or read Bob&#39;s <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/2360936670110394663#">&quot;Trends Update&quot; for mid-year 2026.</a></p><p><strong>WHERE TO FIND &quot;RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT&quot;</strong></p><p>Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you&#39;ve selected your favorite app, search for &quot;running state of the sport.&quot;</p><p>With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links.</p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/9119165603382505886#">APPLE</a></p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/9119165603382505886#">SPOTIFY</a></p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/9119165603382505886#">YOU TUBE</a></p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/9119165603382505886#">AUDIBLE</a></p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4781434704182974775/9119165603382505886#">I HEART</a></p><p><a href=