What makes you qualified to do this?

There are thousands of runners in the Louisville running community, many of whom have just as much passion as me for the sport. Runners in general tend to be a passionate breed; maybe it’s because we have to be crazy enough to run mile after mile, no matter the conditions or how we feel. But outside of the passion for the sport, so much more goes in to putting on a successful running event. Leave it to Louisville Running Company to do it right.

I’ve been around the running business my whole life. Growing up, my dad was a competitive runner and my mom both ran and coached cross country/track & field at Holy Rosary Academy. Since my parents were in running and I was stubborn, I decided I wanted to do everything except running. But as I got into late high school, someone close to me said, “I don’t think you can run a half marathon,” and that was all I needed to get to training. My junior year of high school, I registered for the Triple Crown of Louisville and ran my very first 5K. I continued my training into the 2004 Kentucky Derby Festival half marathon, finishing my first ever half in just under two hours. From that point on, I was hooked on running. Since then, I’ve participated in numerous 5Ks and 10Ks, a handful of half marathons, and 17 marathons (and counting). Being a seasoned runner sets me apart from many others in the running industry, as I know first-hand what people want.

While being a runner helps me be a better race director, there’s so much more that goes into it. When I entered graduate school in the sport administration program at the University of Louisville in 2010, I knew two things: I have natural leadership skills, and I want to work in event operations. People have always looked to me as a leader; and as my parents would tell you, I don’t mind bossing people around. My leadership style is to lead by example, and to lead with positivity. You can find me at events slinging fence, picking up trash, and high-fiving finishers as they cross the line. And I’ve always been fascinated with the inner-workings of events. Most people go to a basketball game or football game and just focus on the action, but I’m also paying attention to the staff in the tunnels and the flow of spectator traffic. I thought I wanted to use these skills to be involved in the Olympics, which could also utilize my undergraduate degrees in international business and Spanish. But my love for running took over, and I was offered a job in the running industry two months before graduation.

Tap ‘N’ Run was fun, frivolous, and a wild ride.

In 2012, I started as an event planner for JAM Active, a Louisville-based company that was a subsidiary of JAM Brands. JAM, while mainly focused in the cheer and dance industry, decided to branch out in the running race business with a fun race called Tap ‘N’ Run. Tap ‘N’ Run was a frivolous 4K where participants dressed up in costumes and drank beer along the race route. Over a three-year run, we operated over 60 Tap ‘N’ Runs all over the country. JAM Active also produced a few local races, including the Big Hit Half Marathon, the Buckhead Border Challenge Triathlon, Glow GO! 5K, and Run for the L of It! 5K. My years at JAM Active allowed me to hone my craft by working with races of all sizes, from 300 to 3000 participants. Each race brought new challenges, each city new permitting and unique logistics, and each event made me a better race director. When JAM Active first started in 2011, fun runs were all the craze. The color/bubble/glow/alcohol runs were popping up everywhere, and I was able to ride that wave for three years. As the fun run phase of the running industry began to decline in 2014-5, I was able to transition out and into another local position.

In four years, we were able to grow Urban Bourbon Half Marathon into one of the top half marathons in the country.

In 2015, my Louisville connections helped me obtain the role of race manager for the Louisville Sports Commission. From 2015 through 2019, I served as the director for the LSC’s Fall Runathon race series, consisting of the Louisville pure tap 5K, the Great Pumpkin 10K, and the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon. I was able to focus on these races from front to back, managing the marketing plan to draw in runners; interacting with participants through social media, online race registration questions, and expo marketing; organizing and controlling all race permitting and logistics; and everything in between. While I had a great team around me to assist along the way, I was able to have my hand in it all. These four years of experience helped me grow my knowledge and learn from both successes and failures.

Over the past nine years, I’ve worked events across the country of all sizes and varieties. I have some wild stories, have met some amazing people, and have solidified my spot in the running community. I’m excited to bring that knowledge to the Louisville Running Company, and to continue to grow and develop for the years to come.