Louisville Running Company was founded in 2019 to provide full event support to running races in the Louisville community and surrounding areas to transform the city’s running scene. Louisville is the best of both worlds—a big city with a small town feel. One thing the city was missing was a full-time race management company to provide support to our community as it continues to grow and develop its running scene. The LRC provides these running services both locally and as contracted support to events around the country. Let’s run together, Louisville!
Michael Clemons
Owner, unofficial “Mayor of Louisville Running”
Born and raised in the south end of Louisville, the city runs deep in Michael’s blood. Michael began running in high school, completing his first half marathon in 2005 (the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon), and hasn’t looked back since. He was a walk-on runner at Georgetown College, where he received a BS in International Business and Spanish. After graduating from Georgetown, Michael spent a year in Madrid, Spain on a Fulbright grant where he taught English and traveled the continent. While in Spain, Michael completed his first marathon in Barcelona (and subsequently his second marathon in Madrid six weeks later, at which point he vowed never to do two marathons that close again). Upon returning to the states in 2010, he enrolled in the Sport Administration graduate program at the University of Louisville and began to engage with the Louisville running community.
Since graduate school, Michael has worked to cement his role as the Mayor of Louisville Running. His first post-graduate job as Event Planner for JAM Active saw him directing the Big Hit Half Marathon and Tap ‘N’ Run 4K race series, a fun beer run that traveled around the country from 2012 to 2015. In 2015, he transitioned to Race Manager at the Louisville Sports Commission, where he oversaw the Fall Runathon race series. The race series included the Louisville pure tap 5K, the Great Pumpkin 10K, and the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon, which received numerous national awards as the top half marathon in the country. Outside the city of Louisville, Michael has gained experience working a variety of running events, both big and small. Michael has numerous years of experience in race operations, logistics, participant engagement, social media marketing, and overall race management.
Along with directing local races and working national events, Michael is in graduate school at the University of Louisville working toward a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, with a focus in Sport Administration. He expects to graduate and become Dr. Clemons in Spring 2024. Along with his Ph.D. program, he continues to run as a competitive marathoner and half marathoner, pounding the pavement with various local running groups. You’ll often see him running through one of our city parks, along the Ohio River, or through Germantown and the Highlands. Follow Michael’s adventures on his Instagram.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Louisville is a city full of rich history and diversity, and Louisville Running Company is committed to celebrating that diversity. Runners and walkers of all speeds, shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds are welcome. LRC will not only welcome all individuals to our events, we will also use our voice to promote and advocate for all. Hate and discrimination have no place at LRC events and will not be tolerated.
Photos above by Mani Chandrsekharan and Marvin Young.