Do you use a referral program for your race event? If not, you are missing out on opportunities to increase revenue and attract new participants. Read here to find out the best type of referral program for your event.

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🍫 Turns out you don't have to eat the chocolate to get the benefit: a new study found that simply smelling dark chocolate before leg day helped participants crank out significantly more reps than sniffing water, and curbed their hunger afterward too.

🔥 Wildfire smoke, drought, and shifting closures are forcing Colorado race directors into an unfamiliar role this summer, weighing air quality data and evacuation risk just to decide whether an event can go on. Some races are getting canceled while others push forward, and organizers say the balancing act is likely to continue all season.

🚗 A press vehicle plowed through the barriers just 500 metres from Sunday's Tour de France stage finish in Corrèze, and the aftermath is more serious than first reports suggested. Eight spectators were hurt, one critically, and prosecutors have opened an investigation into the driver.

🚲 A trove of well known bike brands could soon change hands, after German antitrust regulators cleared the way for Singapore's Dutech Group to potentially acquire Accell Group, though Austrian and Polish approval and a final agreement are still pending.

📈 Giant Group's June revenue jumped nearly 16% year over year, its second straight month of growth, even as rivals Merida and Ideal Bike posted declines for the same month.

FoCo Fondo Presented by Fat Tire returns to Fort Collins, Colorado for its 11th edition on July 19, 2026, with a full elite race livestream on YouTube and a $15,000 equal prize purse split across the men's, women's, and non-binary fields. Two time defending champion Lauren Stephens headlines the women's field. FoCo Fondo

Diplo's Run Club held its inaugural Denver 5K at Cheesman Park, drawing more than 8,000 participants to open the 2026-27 national season. Cooper Castelar won the men's race and Nell Rojas won the women's race, with the series heading to Philadelphia on July 18. Mascot Sports

Registration for the 2027 DATEV Challenge Roth sold out in 15 seconds for individuals and 18 seconds for relay teams. A Late Entry Draw is now open through November 9, 2026, offering at least 300 individual and 25 relay spots for the July 4, 2027 race. Challenge Family

Carlos Javier Quinchara Forero and Lirany Gómez Gutiérrez defended their titles at the 2026 XTERRA South American Championship in Paipa, Colombia, racing at 2,500 meters above sea level. Quinchara finished in 2:06:45 and Gómez in 2:42:51. XTERRA

Kieran Storch and Demi Birch of Australia won the men's and women's professional races at Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum in South Korea, finishing in 3:51:04 and 4:37:16 respectively. The win marked Birch's first middle distance victory. Challenge Family

Registration is open for the 20th Annual San Diego Resolution Run, scheduled for January 9, 2027 at Mission Bay Park, Tecolote Shores in San Diego. The race offers half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances along a waterfront course. San Diego Running Co.

What Referral Program Works Best?

We know that referral programs work. In a recent data review, we found that 8.1% of registrations came from referrals, with 74.5% of those registrants being new to the race. But how should you decide on the best referral setup for your race? It depends on your priorities.

Options Include:

There's no one-size-fits-all best for referral programs. But that doesn't mean you need to fly blind. Take a look at what has worked for races this year, and pick the referral program that best matches your priorities and race setup. Referrals boost registrations!

Momentum has launched the Vida E+ EX, an urban e-bike featuring a 500W SyncDrive Move S motor, Cruise Mode, and an optional 0 Start throttle. The step through ALUXX aluminum frame offers a 40 to 55 mile pedal assist range, UL 2849 certification, and a 300 pound load capacity. Momentum

Beyond The Breakers, the annual open water swimming summit scheduled for November 14 to 15, 2026 at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, has announced Dryrobe will continue as its Official Change Robe for a third consecutive year. Endurance Swimming, LLC

Suunto has renewed a three year partnership with the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run through 2028, continuing its role as the event's official Timing and Wearables Partner. The 102.5 mile ultramarathon takes place in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Suunto

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