Read & Run on the Road Rules

Anyone can visit places from a book with their friends; what separates Read & Run Tours events is our intentionality and purpose behind event planning.

We don’t simply visit places featured in books – we create programs that bring books to life and help readers & runners connect more deeply with where they live.

On this page, you’ll see event details, content best practices, a sample script template, and more.

Event basics

    • Modeled after the Read & Run Tours format, all Read & Run OTR events are carefully, intentionally crafted guided runs that correspond to a story (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and more) set in the location where the run will take place.

    • Routes should include stops that correspond to real-life locations featured in the story. There is no strict guidelines on how many stops there are along the route, but most successful events have more or less three stops of no more than five minutes each.

    • There is flexibility on the length of the route, as the most important element is to feature real-life locations from the story. However, the most successful events are typically three to five miles.

    • Each running route must be followed by a post-run portion, ideally at a locally-owned cafe, bookstore, other small business, or a library or community space. There can either be a group discussion or a Q&A or lecture with the author or relevant speaker. Virtual Q&As are allowed, but in-person is preferred.

    • It is strongly recommended that events start and end at the same location for ease of transportation and for attendees to drop off personal belongings before the running route.

    • Read & Run OTR guided runs should correspond with one of the following Read & Run Tours event categories:

      • Book Club Runs: The topic of this run focuses on the plot, characters, and story. There is runner participation during the stops and opportunities for discussion, thoughts, and questions. Most similar to a traditional book club. Attendees are strongly encouraged to read the book ahead of time to have the best experience.

      • Running Tours: Led by a well-researched guide, local expert, or the author herself, these routes provide context, background, and further detail to enhance the participants’ understanding of the text. Runners are not required to read the book ahead of time.

      • Trail Runs: Routes that take place on trails (paved, crushed gravel, dirt, rock, etc.). No prior reading required.

      • Fun Runs/Community Runs: Runs that feature local authors, “fun” topics like food, drink, local points of interest, or humorous topics and are an opportunity for readers & runners to build community. These runs are more likely to have one or no stops, with information provided at the beginning and end of the run. These runs can also be followed by a book swap or other activity that aligns well. For example, a run to a historic bakery followed by cookie decorating at a locally-owned, woman-owned bakery. No prior reading required.

  • The purpose of any Read & Run OTR event is to instill the idea that using stories and movement to explore places is the best way to connect us with our built environment and each other.

    • Read & Run OTR events can cover a variety of topics, ideas, and concepts. Books/texts can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays (featured in books), academic articles, photography/photo essays (featured in books), and more.

    • All topics are permitted, while also ensuring that any topic featured is a way for readers & runners to enhance their understanding of the location and provide opportunity for reflection, connection, and community.

    • Up to 50 individuals can attend your event, but don’t be afraid of a smaller crowd. More intimate events can be meaningful. 20 participants is the sweet spot.

    • It is recommended that all events have a minimum of at least 10 participants to be financially viable.

    • Events should not exceed 3 hours.

    • Recommended running time is 1.5-2 hours of guided run, followed by 30-60 minutes of discussion.

    • During the program, it is recommended to spend no more than 15 minutes introducing the topic and no more than 5-7 minutes at each stop.

  • The following must be stated at the beginning of every event so that the readers & runners understand Read & Run OTR and the difference between Read & Run Tours, Read & Run Chicago, and Read & Run OTR:

    “This is a Read & Run on the Road event — a pop-up gathering that brings together people who believe movement and stories are the best way to explore our communities, learn history, build connections, and have fun, while supporting indie bookstores, local libraries, and other small businesses. Organizers like me host events with book-themed guided runs where the story takes place, followed by author Q&As, lectures, or book discussions. Read & Run on the Road events are independently organized under license from Read & Run Tours, a woman-owned company founded in Chicago in 2021.”

Event content

    • All content featured by the event guide must correspond to the text inspiring the route and/or provide additional context, background, or history to enhance the text, while indicating the reasoning for featuring specific content.

    • If the content does not correspond to a text, the license holder (if different from the guide) has the right to cancel the program. They must inform the Read & Run Tours staff and the guide or speaker(s) that they have made this decision, along with their reasoning.

    • Best practices for content are listed in the following bullet points. It is strongly recommended that guides practice the route with an objective volunteer to receive feedback and adjust content as needed.

    • There should be a clear beginning, middle, and end to your event. Readers & runners should be introduced to the topics and goals of the event in the beginning, and each stop should remind them of the goals or objectives. The end should wrap it all together and allow the attendees to leave with takeaways.

      • At each stop, be sure to communicate the story just like your AP World essay: Explain how we got here and how the story affects where we are now.

      • Make call backs to previous stops, references to previously communicated information, and tie the content together.

      • Each stop may cover different aspects of the story, but all should align with the overall goal or objective of the run.

      • The run as a whole should feel cohesive and uniform.

    • Content emphasizes community, optimism, and change for the better.

    • Even when dealing with difficult topics like racism, sexism, structural inequality, readers & runners should leave feeling inspired to research more and do better moving forward.

      • Content dealing with said difficult topics are best elaborated by concrete history, facts, and cause and effect explanations. Use personal stories and anecdotes from invited guests or texts to highlight impact.

      • Treat difficult topics with the care and respect that you would if this was something that had affected your own life. Avoid sensationalizing traumatic events or glorifying harmful parts of history.

    • Photography/graphics: When applicable, your verbal content is enhanced by relevant photographs of people, places, items, and concepts featured in the text inspiring the run. These visual aids should be laminated or protected in a sleeve and shown to runners at corresponding stops along the route.

    • Utilize free, local resources: Consult local libraries, history museums, and other institutions that house and digitize history for added resources.

    • Accuracy: Consult multiple reliable sources (archives, local history museums, historians, reference books, authors) before stating something as fact.

    • Recall bias and gaps in research: Remember that all history has bias. While you do not need to state each source for your content, acknowledge bias when relevant or if it will enhance the audience’s understanding.

    • Search far and wide for answers, but if you do not have them, share with the readers & runners your journey and why you couldn’t find the answer. For example, in Chicago, working class bookstore history is hard to come by, because until recently, museums and other institutions did not believe it was important to maintain archives and history of working class community centers and small businesses.

    • Every route’s content must be in compliance with copyright law.

    • Guides and speakers must inform the Read & Run OTR license holder beforehand of any third-party material that will be used in their presentations and seek written permissions to copyrighted materials when applicable.

    • Read & Run Tours cannot assist with this process nor act as a consultant on individual cases. Use these Copyright Guidelines to help you understand how to ensure the speaker clears everything with permission before they record their talk.

  • The following criteria should be utilized prior to the event in order to ensure that guide content is meeting the standards and expectations:

    • The text takes place in the location of the event

    • The route is is clear, logical, and includes stops at locations featured in the text inspiring the run

    • The audience has a clear understanding of the purpose of the run

    • There is a clear beginning, middle, and end to the content of the route

    • The stops are enhanced by the guide’s content and strengthen the purpose and objective of the run

    • The audience leaves the event with clear, tangible takeaways

    • The audience learns more about the book, the author, the theme, and most importantly, the place in which they live.

    It is strongly recommended to send post-event surveys to your attendees.

  • Find it here.

Note: Route content enhances readers & runners' connection to our built environment and each other. They are not meant to divide us.

  • Read & Run OTR events are not overtly political or advocate for specific laws, but it is not necessary to be apolitical, nor should you avoid hot-button topics. Many of the most important topics of Read & Run OTR events relate to complex history, social issues, and struggles that are undoubtedly political.

  • Under no circumstances should any run promote hate or polarization, advocate for a specific religious sect, or take a direct stance in favor of any policy that promotes inequality or limits the rights of marginalized communities.

  • We do not avoid uncomfortable topics and we hold space for the many opinions and experiences that have been impacted by historical events and social policy. It is best to address these topics plainly, directly, and without shame, focusing on the cause and effect of history and policy.

Licensing

If there is any disagreement between these statements below and the licensing agreement, the licensing agreement would control.

    • Read & Run Tours expects the license holder to be the primary organizer of a Read & Run OTR event. If this is found to not be the case, Read & Run Tours reserves the right to revoke or not renew a license.

    • The license holder may act as the “Event Guide” but also as the “Event Lead,” or primary organizer, and include the support of an Event Guide (a well-researched route guide, speaker, or author).

    • If the event guide is different from the event organizer, the event organizer must manage the guide and ensure they comply with all of the rules stated above.

    • Read & Run Tours allocates one license per applicant spanning a specific period of time.

    • Your Read & Run OTR event can happen in any location within the geographic zone you have applied for corresponding to as many books as you want during the period of time your license is valid.

    • You are not required to live in the location in which you have applied for the license, but you should be intimately familiar, well researched, and request the help and expertise of locals and other authorities to ensure you are conducting the event in the most respectful, authentic manner.

    • Your Read & Run OTR license is valid for one year from its date of approval, and you must produce at least one event within that year. You must re-apply for a new license each subsequent year.

    • You do not need to apply for a new license for each event, but you must submit an Event Notification Form for each event held during your valid license period.

  • Read & Run OTR licenses cannot be transferred to another individual.

Branding and naming

    • Because Read & Run OTR events serve as pop-up, standalone events that help connect locals to their places of residences using stories and movement and are separate from city chapters, each Read & Run OTR event must be named for the category of event followed by the text inspiring the run, noting if there will be an author Q&A. For example:

      • Read & Run on the Road: Running Tour of The Great Believers

      • Read & Run on the Road: Running Tour of The Great Believers with Rebecca Makkai

      • Read & Run OTR: Running Tour of The Great Believers

      • Read & Run OTR: Book Club Run of The Great Believers with Rebecca Makkai

    • In social media posts advertising the event and in registration copy, the first use of the event name should be written out as the full name “Read & Run on the Road: Event Name” with the “o” and “t” in “on” and “the” lowercase, and the “R’s” capitalized. After the first usage of the full name, the abbreviation “OTR” can be used.

    • You must always refer to your event by its approved full name in all copy, messaging, logos, etc.

      • Ex. If your event name is "Read & Run on the Road: Running Tour of The Great Believers,” you may use the following on second mention:

        • “Read & Run OTR: Running Tour of The Great Believers”

      • You may not use variations that do not include the full event name, like:

        • "Read & Run"

        • “Read & Run OTR”

        • “OTR”

    • In any graphics or flyers advertising the event, the abbreviated version “OTR” can be used instead of “on the Road.”

    • Make clear in all communications that your event is a Read & Run OTR event — an independently-organized, Read & Run Tours-licensed event — and is not an event organized by Read & Run Tours.

    • However, all of the Read & Run OTR event information should be explicit that Read & Run OTR is a program of Read & Run Tours.

    • You should never communicate “Read & Run is coming to (my city)...”

    • Make clear that you are a Read & Run OTR organizer and not an employee of Read & Run Tours.

    • You should never use the Read & Run Tours logo in any communications or branding.

    • It is your responsibility that all of your speakers, partners, and sponsors abide by these guidelines as well.

  • Your use of the Read & Run OTR logo should adhere to the Read & Run OTR brand guidelines and should be used to represent your event at all times.

  • Read & Run OTR licensee holders should NEVER use the following language or sentiments in any event promotion or social media posts:

    • Popular running language focused on times, races, hierarchy, etc. such as:

      • “Fearless leader”

      • “Let’s gooooooo”

    • Refer to Read & Run OTR events as “races”

    • Make people feel bad for missing an event.

      • i.e., “You can’t miss this”

      • “Do you have FOMO?”

      • “You would know if you were there”

    • Any language that insinuates that faster runners are stronger, better, or work harder

    • Any language that associates food with shame, guilt, or regret

    • Any language that insinuates we feel superior, better, or more qualified than other groups

    • Shame people for the amount they read or what they read

      • NEVER say things like “If you cared about this, you’d make time” – you could frame things more positively, such as “we are people who care deeply about XYZ.”

    • Language that is offensive, misogynistic, racist, etc.

    • Focus should always be on things we like, appreciate, value, never on things that we don’t like (i.e., never say things like “other run clubs do this, but WE do this”)

Note: Read & Run OTR events are independent

  • Read & Run OTR events are stand-alone events, but you may host an event as part of any conference, ceremony, event, or curriculum.

  • Read & Run OTR events cannot be co-branded: you may not connect the Read & Run OTR logo/identity/name to the name of another organization, non-profit, corporation or other entity.

  • You may not present your Read & Run OTR event as being organized by such entities or positioned as one of their offerings.

Sponsors and funding

    • Read & Run OTR events are responsible for securing their own funding for each event.

    • Read & Run OTR organizers may secure funding through local sponsorships, so long as approval is granted by Read & Run Tours to ensure there are no competing sponsorships.

    • Read & Run OTR events may donate a portion of profits to charities or other organizations so long as they correspond to the text inspiring the route, do not threaten the integrity of Read & Run Tours, and are not in conflict with the mission and purpose of Read & Run Tours and Read & Run OTR events.

    • Examples of prohibited sponsors include:

      • Weapons, ammunitions and defense

      • Tobacco/cigarettes/vape products

      • Companies that promote book banning or other censorship

      • Companies that donate to or lobby for anti-LGBTQ legislation

      • Companies that are publicly pro-life or seek to limit access to reproductive rights and sexual health

    • Sponsors should not have any control over the route or content of the event.

    • Any sponsor logos or gratitude to sponsors can take place at the bottom of an event registration page or the last slide of an Instagram carousel.

    • Read & Run OTR events should charge an admission fee for attending readers & runners.

    • Licensee holders reserve the right to determine what the ticket prices are.

  • Read & Run OTR organizers should not organize separate fundraising events or use crowdfunding platforms to raise funds for a Read & Run OTR event.

    • Any merchandise or swag produced for your specific Read & Run OTR events must be reviewed by Read & Run Tours to ensure it complies with these rules and the Read & Run OTR logo and branding guidelines.

    • If you plan to produce any merchandise, it must be designed so it will not be perceived as official Read & Run OTR merchandise.

Media and event promotion

    • All press releases must be approved by emailing Read & Run Tours at media@readandruntours.com. Press releases should be sent no later than one month prior to your event and will be approved or sent for feedback within 14 days.

    • Press releases must contain two informational sections, “About Read & Run Tours” and “About Read & Run on the Road,” as detailed below.

    About Read & Run Tours

    Read & Run Tours is a a woman-owned company founded in Chicago in 2021. It provides experiential event and marketing services that move creative work from visibility to genuine connection, as well as manages Read & Run on the Road and the community organization Read & Run Chicago.

    About Read & Run on the Road

    Read & Run on the Road events are pop-up gatherings that bring together people who believe movement and stories are the best way to explore our communities, learn history, build connections, and have fun, while supporting indie bookstores, local libraries, and other small businesses. Read & Run on the Road events are independently organized under license from Read & Run Tours.

    • While being interviewed for blogs, news articles, broadcasts, podcasts, or other social media accounts, be specific that your event is a Read & Run on the Road event and ensure you are clear that this means it is an independently organized event. You should indicate yourself as the organizer of a Read & Run OTR event, a program of Read & Run Tours.

    • Read & Run OTR organizers are responsible for making sure journalists, bloggers, and any other social media accounts understand that while Read & Run OTR events are independently organized, the Read & Run OTR program is a program managed by Read & Run Tours. A description of Read & Run Tours (see below) should appear in the article.

      • Description of Read & Run Tours for media:

    Read & Run on the Road events are pop-up gatherings that bring together people who believe movement and stories are the best way to explore our communities, learn history, build connections, and have fun, while supporting indie bookstores, local libraries, and other small businesses. Read & Run on the Road events are independently organized under license from Read & Run Tours, a woman-owned company founded in Chicago in 2021.

    Read & Run Tours provides experiential event and marketing services that move creative work from visibility to genuine connection, as well as manages community organization Read & Run Chicago and Read & Run on the Road.

    • Read & Run Tours staff are the spokespeople for Read & Run Tours, Read & Run city chapters, and the Read & Run OTR program. Read & Run OTR organizers should direct any requests for interviews with Read & Run Tours staff or about Read & Run Tours and its programs to email press@readandruntours.com.

    • Ensure any bloggers, journalists, or other social media accounts are aware that a Read & Run OTR event is independently organized, and any headline indicating that “Read & Run is coming to [location] " is incorrect.

    • Read & Run on the Road organizers should not produce or write any content that attempts to represent the Read & Run OTR program as a whole.

    • You can create promotional materials or post-event materials that are specific to each of your Read & Run OTR events, so long as they abide by the following:

      • No use of Read & Run Tours or Read & Run Chicago.

      • No mixing of content from other Read & Run Tours events or Read & Run Chicago.

      • You may not create a podcast based on your Read & Run OTR event.

Website and social media

  • Read & Run OTR organizers are not permitted to create a domain name for their event.

    • All registration pages must include a visible link to Read & Run Tours website, readandruntours.com.

    • There must be language that accurately describes Read & Run on the Road events as outlined in these rules.

    • Text at the bottom of the page should include: “This independently-organized Read & Run OTR event is operated under a license from Read & Run Tours.”

    • Sponsors' names or logos must only appear at the bottom of the event registration page.

    • Each event registration page must include detailed information about the event, including:

      • Meeting location and ending location of the event .

      • Meeting time and event end time.

      • Location, duration, and time of the post-run discussion or Q&A.

      • Any speakers or authors who will be present at the post run-discussion or Q&A.

    • Read & Run on the Road organizers are not permitted to make Instagram accounts that claim to represent the Read & Run OTR program.

    • Read & Run OTR organizers are allowed to share event registration on their personal or professional social media accounts.

    • Read & Run OTR organizers are allowed to indicate in bios on social media platforms that they are an organizer by using the language, “Read & Run OTR organizer” and can state the events they have hosted.

    • Rules regarding naming, sponsorship, and branding guidelines should be applied to and shown uniformly across all social media channels.

    • You can give thanks to sponsors on your event registration page, event graphic, event flyer, and on promotional social media posts for your event by:

      • Tagging their social media accounts.

      • Using their hashtag.

      • Including their organization name in the caption.

    • If requested, your sponsor is permitted to produce and share a video about their contributions to your event. They must seek your approval prior to finalizing the product.

    • You should not maintain email lists or send newsletters on behalf of Read & Run on the Road tours. Instead, direct all interested parties to sign up for the newsletter list at readandruntours.com, where all Read & Run OTR licensed events will be shared.

    • If you start a newsletter as a freelancer and want to promote your Read & Run OTR events there, each mention of Read & Run OTR must include a description of Read & Run Tours. Read & Run Tours also reserves the right to request access to the subscriber list of any license holder’s newsletter.

    • If you would like Read & Run Tours to share, you can send photos from your Read & Run on the Road events in a shareable link to Allison@readandruntours.com. Read & Run Tours holds the right to share and use photos for other promotional Read & Run OTR purposes.

    • When uploading photos from your event, credit the photographer in the captions, tags, and in file names.

    • Do not put watermarks, text or other labels onto your photos.

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