This blog is basically a thank you note to everybody who does our races.

I ran my first road race two days before my 21st birthday. It was the Wichita marathon, and I found myself training for and running the race because one of my best friends, a former cross country runner basically told me to. She needed a training partner, and since I always ran with her during the off-season for lacrosse, and because she knows that I'm not that bright, she decided I was a good stooge to drag along to her goal of running a marathon before graduating from college. Little did Jen know she was setting me on a career path.

During that first race, I still remember how impressed I was with all the athletes around me and how happy and positive they were. I knew they were tired and probably in pain, just like me, but yet most of them were cheering for each other and smiling. I was also impressed by the volunteers who were working hard in hot temperatures (it was 87 and humid that October 14th) but were still cheering and smiling. I enjoyed the training and the running, but the race atmosphere was down right addictive. 

Since that first marathon, I've run 8 more full marathons, countless half marathons and 5Ks, and in the past three years, a handful of triathlons, including IMoo. I've gotten the opportunity to start working with races as a manual laborer, then a race timer, and now as the administrative and timing arm of Race Day Events. You would think that after all of the races I've been to I would be less sensitive to the energy at races, but I'm not. I still get really excited for races (they're the only thing that could get me out of bed and moving at 3AM) and I still love, love, love watching people finish their first race, set a PR or just go out and have a good time racing. I love watching people realize that they accomplished a goal that they set out for themselves, and I love being part of a team that provides the opportunity for that achievement to happen in a fun atmosphere. 

Thank you to everybody who comes out and races at our events. YOU are the reason that I love my job.

~ Lauren