diff --git a/src/models/actions/create/CreateParticipant.ts b/src/models/actions/create/CreateParticipant.ts
index 8e008e7..fbd63d0 100644
--- a/src/models/actions/create/CreateParticipant.ts
+++ b/src/models/actions/create/CreateParticipant.ts
@@ -50,4 +50,11 @@ export abstract class CreateParticipant {
     @IsOptional()
     @IsObject()
     address?: Address;
+
+    /**
+     * how the participant got into the system
+     */
+    @IsOptional()
+    @IsString()
+    created_via?: string;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/models/actions/create/CreateRunner.ts b/src/models/actions/create/CreateRunner.ts
index 63871e3..a761239 100644
--- a/src/models/actions/create/CreateRunner.ts
+++ b/src/models/actions/create/CreateRunner.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export class CreateRunner extends CreateParticipant {
         newRunner.email = this.email;
         newRunner.group = await this.getGroup();
         newRunner.address = this.address;
+        if (this.created_via) {
+            newRunner.created_via = this.created_via;
+        }
         Address.validate(newRunner.address);
 
         return newRunner;