We’re excited about all the Race Directors and Timers heading into Philadelphia soon for our 3rd Annual Race Director/Timer Symposium…but we might be the most excited to hear from someone who is already here.
Meet Jim Marino, Philadelphian. Jim first became involved with the now-iconic Broad Street Run as a volunteer 32 years ago because it was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Since 1998, he has grown the race from 5,000 to more than 40,000, and made it one of the hottest tickets in the city. Recently, he was also named the Race Director for the Philadelphia Marathon in a re-structuring of that event.
In spite of his acclaim, Jim is known for his accessibility and his support of all events in Philadelphia. You can find him offering advice and guidance to local event directors, and if you look closely, you might even catch him volunteering on the sidelines. When we asked him if he would be interested in sharing some of his experiences with our attendees this year, he didn’t hesitate. We can’t wait to listen!
A few good articles on Jim, if you’d like to learn more:
Philadelphia Marathon: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/on-the-run/Philadelphia-Marathon-announces-new-race-director-updated-courses.html
2016 BSR: http://articles.philly.com/2016-04-28/news/72648938_1_cancer-research-colon-cancer-broad-street-run
And from back when BSR was 10,000 runners: http://www.runnersgazette.com/features/marino.htm