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Using RIA Connect for the RIA Summit

RIA Connect puts the power of the Running Industry Association at your finger tips, connecting you with RIA members, events, and more.

Video demonstration of how to use RIA Connect to filter and register for events.
Unlocking the full potential of our website's numerous features has never been easier. We recognize that our users' journeys are as unique as the capabilities we offer, and that's why we've created this dedicated Documentation section.
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A Few Important Points

RIA Connect is a unique app that connects you to the Running Industry Association. However, there are a few things you need to know in order to use it successfully.

  1. First and foremost, if you have any issues or questions about RIA Connect, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you want to be frustrated with your issue, get an improper response, or otherwise struggle using the system, then email a different email address!
  2. You must have a login to this site, https://runningindustry.org, in order to log into the app. You will use your website login credentials in order to log into the app. If you have not registered, please visit https://runningindustry.org/register.
  3. If you need to reset your password, please do so on the RIA website, not in the app. RIA Connect relies on your website username and password, so please manage these on the RIA Website. Go here for a password reset.
  4. If you previously installed an older version of RIA Connect, we suggest you delete the version you have and reinstall to ensure the freshest technology. This is especially true if you receive a CiviMobile extension error.

Using RIA Connect for Session Scheduling

Ok, disclaimers aside, let’s get down to using RIA Connect to manage your Summit sessions. RIA Connect is the preferred way to access and manage your Summit schedule. Using it to register for and to access the sessions you will attend is very easy. 

Before we jump into the details, let’s talk about timezones. This is really important, so please read it!

All session start times are “US CENTRAL TIME” and, if you’re viewing the sessions on the website, you’re viewing the start times in this manner: US CENTRAL TIME. This makes sense because the website, for privacy reasons, cannot determine your timezone and update all times automatically.

This, however, is not the case for RIA Connect. All session start times will automatically update to reflect the timezone that you and your smartphone are currently in, assuming your phone adapts to the network’s timezone automatically. This can be confusing, however it makes sense as your phone wants to show you the start and end times of your calendar of events relative to your current timezone. 

In practical terms, that means that when using RIA Connect, you need to orient yourself to central time, relative to your current timezone, and plan accordingly. As an example, if I am on US ET and I want to attend a session that starts at 9am, I would be looking at sessions that start at 10am on my phone because, when I get to central time, all events will fall back by the 1 hour difference between the timezones.

Ok, let's get to it!

The Calendar View

The default tab when you log in is your “calendar” which displays all of your sessions (called “events” in RIA Connect).

At first pass, it probably only has a few “general” sessions such as group runs, breakfast, etc. These have been applied to all attendees and show you the global sessions that everyone is invited to.

Once you build out your schedule, all of your sessions will be visible in chronological order on your calendar tab. Use the icons located at the bottom of RIA Connect to move to and from your calendar.

Calendar view for RIA Connect
Click image to enlarge.

The Events View

The second tab on your app should be the “Events” tab. This is where you can view 1) all events (located under the tab at the top “All events”) and 2) events for which you are registered (located under the tab at the top “My events”).

From the All Events tab, you will see a long list of sessions. You can filter these, and we encourage you to do so, by clicking on the filter icon in the top right corner. This will allow you to drill down to those events that interest you most.

Events screen in RIA Connect
Click image to enlarge.

Filtering Sessions

In addition to performing an event title search (item #1 in the screenshot), you can filter by:

  • Brand - allows you to target a specific brand (not shown)
  • Event type - focuses your search on a specific event type, like "brand overview" (item #3 in the screenshot)
  • Category - filters product oriented presentations on what brands are showing such as "apparel" (not shown)
  • Day of event - probably the least valuable as sessions are spread across only a few days (item #2 in the screenshot)

Once you have identified a session that interests you, click on the event to view details and to register. You should see a button to accomplish the latter. If you don’t see a registration button then either registration is closed or the session is full.

You can always clear your filters (item #5 in the screenshot) or exit from the filter screen and return to the events listing (item #6 in the screenshot).

Filtering in RIA Connect
Click image to enlarge.

Registering for Sessions

Let’s repeat that point about being unable to register due to a full event:

All sessions have attendee limits, so an event may display but may in fact be full. We encourage you to move quickly to build out your schedule.

Selecting any event in your calendar will send you into that specific session's details where you can see relevant information such as the session title (1), date and time (2), event description (4), event category and presenting organization.

For events that you are registered for, you will also be able to see a list of session participants. Touching the participant list on the event detail page will expand the list and provide greater detail on the individual participants. 

Clicking the “Register” button will display your name and email, and a confirmation button. Click the confirmation to register, and you’re good to go! Back out, and rinse and repeat until your schedule is how you want it.

About top-to-top sessions…these have their own objectives and instructions. Please read below if you have interest in these one-to-one sessions.

Review top-to-top registration instructions

Click image to enlarge.

There's a lot more to RIA Connect, but this how-to should provide what you need to manage your session selection for the RIA Summit. Empowering you to build out your own schedule is consistent with our "Your Show, Your Way" philosophy. That said, it takes a little bit of effort and planning on your part to optimize your schedule.