A Louisville Running Company Update

Hey running friends, Michael here! As you may have noticed, Louisville Running Company has been a little quieter on social media lately. While part of that is due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic putting a strain on live events, I want to share a big life update that will affect the future of LRC.

Beginning in August, I began a Ph.D. program at the University of Louisville. The decision to go back to school was one that I’ve mulled over ever since I graduated from the UofL Sport Administration (SPAD) Master’s program in 2012. But getting a job at JAM Active immediately after college and diving headfirst into the running world, the timing was never right to begin the doctoral journey. When the pandemic really set in last year, the wheels began turning even more.

You may or may not know that I’ve been lucky to teach some classes at UofL over the past years, focused on event management with the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon. I also had the great fortune of having amazing interns who were in the UofL SPAD program during their time with me. These experiences, both in the classroom and with students working events, always reminded me that I have a passion for learning and for helping others learn.

When Covid shut down events, I had more free time to think and reflect on my future. The social unrest in our city, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and the numerous anti-transgender bills introduced around the country left me feeling helpless. How could I make the biggest difference in the running community? How can I make our industry more inclusive and a safe haven for all people? And on a personal note, how can I provide for myself when the next pandemic or trauma occurs?

With that in mind, I decided to dive back into the educational world. I was fortunate enough to get a Graduate Teaching Assistantship with the SPAD department of UofL, providing me free tuition and a stipend to study and work in the SPAD program for the next three years. I’ll have the opportunity to teach students both on-campus and online. I’ll have the opportunity to start research on issues in the endurance sports industry, from inclusion to organizational efficiency and so much in between. It will be a lot of work and a lot of time, but come spring 2024, I’ll be Dr. Michael Clemons!

With this new transition back into the educational world, what does it mean for Louisville Running Company? Luckily, LRC isn’t going away. Running and race management are still major passions of mine. But, I will be scaling back the number of events I work and the race directing duties I take on. This fall, that includes work with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon, and the Throo the Zoo 5K. I may also be posting a bit less on the LRC social media, as most of my time will be focused on my studies.

Once I get my Ph.D., I will be seeking a teaching position at a college or university in a sport management/administration department (in case you didn’t know, sport management programs are growing and popping up all over the country). I’ll also continue to do some race directing on the weekends, as well as traveling to work races around the country. There’s also a strong chance I’ll start consulting with events to help them be more inclusive and run (operationally) smoother.

So while this will be a change for LRC, I’m still here in Louisville for at least three more years. I’ll still take my position as the unofficial mayor of Louisville running seriously, always supporting our local scene and races (and on that note, I’m looking forward to racing the pure tap 5K this weekend!). If you ever need any racing or running advice or tips, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll always be a resource for you and our running community. And before I know it, I’ll be Michael Clemons, Ph.D.