Are the spreadsheets worth it?

Last week, I wrote about how jobs are shifting from being task-based to purpose-driven. I’ve been thinking about that.

Most days I'm behind a screen — joining Zoom calls, building spreadsheets, writing emails and editing PowerPoint. It can start to feel like I’m just clicking buttons and the work is... just work.

Then I go to a race.

I see a kid finishing her first 5K, a family wearing matching shirts to honor a loved one and a group of smiling friends beneath the finish line arch posing for a photo. Often, I hear the race director say a few words about the dollars the event has raised for their cause.

And I remember why we do this.

The truth is, organizing a 5K can feel thankless. Between recruiting volunteers, promoting the event and managing the annoying admin work, most runners have no idea how much happens behind the scenes to make race day a reality.

So, when it starts to feel frustrating, here are three reasons — beyond the dollars — that I remind myself about why the work is worth doing.

1. Races bring us together. For a few hours, the community is unified around something positive — not divided over politics, religion or whatever the internet is arguing about at the moment.

2. Races keep us active and healthy. A 5K won’t solve all our health problems, but registering for a race often motivates us to get off our couch and move.

3. Races honor the people we've lost. The legacy of our loved ones can live on through a 5K, helping us to remember them.

The calls, presentations, spreadsheets and emails aren’t always fun.

But behind them is a larger purpose that makes them worth doing.

— Ian

Resources for Race Organizers

• Why don’t 5Ks use Strava for race timing?

• How to organize a 5K Race: Step-by-Step Planning Guide

• What to look for in a race registration platform in 2026?

• ASICS acquires GetMeRegistered