Tracey Russell
Tracey Russell (LA Marathon)
explaining how the medical device manufacturer’s support (which was recently renewed through 2020) has placed lifestyle, health, and wellness as the cornerstones of the Twin Cities Marathon, a weekend that has blossomed into a two-day, multi-event celebration for 30,000 runners. “It costs a lot of money to put on these events and for us to continue to provide quality events and build our kids’ program. And I’m very proud of what we are doing with our kids’ program, which is aided greatly by our partnership with Medtronic.” Achman, who has presided over the growth and evolution of Twin Cities In Motion for a decade and seen its annual budget expand from $1.0 million to $4.2 million during her tenure, is upbeat about the future of American road racing. “I think it’s going to continue to be important to reach out and build our future customer. Helping children who don’t have that opportunity helps them to build those healthy habits. “And it also allows us, hopefully, to gain a future customer. So as we reach out and be diverse, it helps expose all people to the sport. So, for us, we have endless opportunities because running has so much positive influence on our lives. As long as we can continue to deliver a product that is good and interesting and we continue to listen to our customers, I don’t see it going away.”
Ready for the Spotlight: Tracey Russell CEO, LA Marathon
PhotoRun.NET
Mary Wittenberg
RRCA.org
CR-Winter-2015.indd 17
Back in the ’90s, the centerpiece of the Los Angeles sports scene featured the Los Angeles Lakers, composed of talented, thoroughbred basketball players whose dazzling on-court performance became known as Showtime.Tracey Russell, the relatively new CEO of the LA Marathon, and her talented team are planning a type of Showtime of their own when America’s marathon thoroughbreds gather in the City of Angels for the 2015 LA Marathon—which will also serve as the USATF national marathon championships—and ultimately for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Russell never really aspired to take on the head job at the LA Marathon. In her early 40s and contented with her position as executive director of the Atlanta Track Club, Russell—thinking that Los Angeles would not be the right fit for a midwestern native—was cool to the idea of a Los Angeles opportunity. “I first learned about the LA opportunity from a friend who encouraged me
Winter 2015 ClubRunning • 17
1/21/15 8:30 AM