Welcome to Ask A Race Director, Volume 1!
My first question comes from Sharla W, who asked a great kickoff query: how did I first get into race directing? Well, this answer is pretty closely tied in with my personal journey over the past decade or so. I'll try to keep the backstory brief, if possible, including glossing over 20+ years as an athlete who hated running ("my sport is your sport's punishment" mentality) and years of study towards archaeology/art history that ended up useless, prompting a need to find a new career goal. Those two items inform the story but aren't focal points.
My first job in the racing industry.
The heart of the story begins when I moved to Chicago after failing to find my calling in Columbus after grad school. I took a job as an office manager for a research group, and found myself in charge of event planning as part of the many facets of the work. Despite little experience and no training, I was able to quickly learn some of the tools and tricks of the trade. Before long I was putting together events and conferences with great success. When it came time to move on from that position, I started looking for another job that would allow me to keep planning events, including an actual event planning position. I went through a few more office management type jobs, all the while continuing to build experience in different forms of event planning but constantly unsure if I was really in the "right" line of work.
During this time, my running hobby started to take off. I was learning that competing against myself was the best way to carry on my athletic spirit, and dove deeper and deeper into the endurance sport world. As I struggled with other aspects of my life, I found the running community to be the closest feel I had to "home" at the time, and wanted to be a bigger part of it. Volunteering led to a couple part time paid race work opportunities. The more I did, the more I loved it. It became clear that I had found my calling. When I moved back to my family home in Cleveland, the opportunity to become a full time race manager presented itself.
Not race directing, but the same happy dance I do after orchestrating
a successful event. I WILL be directing this race NEXT year!
Call it kismet, call it dedication, call it whatever you like - I took to that job like a fish to water. Spending every day putting together events can be challenging, exciting, hectic, and even boring sometimes, but when you go home saying "I love my job" even after your worst days, you're where you belong. Event days are just the icing on the cake for me, though I must admit seeing events take shape and watching runners (friends and strangers alike) accomplishing goals, becoming healthier, making new connections, and having a blast is probably the BEST part of the job!
So that's my story, in a nutshell... It was the right confluence of passions and joys, mixed with good timing and a lot of personal drive, that got me into the position I've enjoyed for the past few years. I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to change lives every day, to raise money for charities doing good work, and to have fun while I do it! There's no better job in the world than being a race director!
My favorite customer ;)
Do YOU have a question to Ask A Race Director? Want an explanation of a weird rule or procedure? Curious about the inner workings of the racing industry? Let me answer for you! Leave a comment, shoot me an email, message me on social media, whatever works for you works for me. And, tell me about YOUR dream job, too!
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