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TF360: Rich Harshbarger Leads Running USA - Part II

Published by
RunnerSpace.com/RoadRacing   Apr 2nd 2014, 9:24pm
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The Vision for the Future

By Scott Bush - Click Here for all TF360 Archives

For the past 15 years, RunningUSA has established itself as an incredibly strong leader in the world of road racing. Odds are you've seen some of their research work published in an article you've read and run in a race that's a member of the organization. In recent months, the organization brought on a new leader, CEO Rich Harshbarger. Harshbarger comes to RunningUSA with experience directing one of the largest races in the United States, the Detroit Free Press Marathon. We caught up with Harshbarger since his introduction as CEO, chatting with him about his background, what drew him into the position and what about the organization gets him excited.

(Read Part I of our interview with Rich Harshbarger)

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You've talked about bringing additional resources to smaller and medium sized races, what types of things do you feel you’d offer them?

It’s still too soon to answer that specifically, but I look forward to working together with our research group. There is such a history of Running USA providing data to members to help them make better decisions. I look forward helping them interpreting that data and have members put the data to use. I also think there are things every race regardless of size faces, whether it’s fluid stations or crisis planning and there are certain guidelines every race has and they aren’t centralized, and I look forward to working with our board and members on becoming a repository for information.

It seems like there is a disconnect between road racing and track and field, despite so many distance runners running on the track. Is there an area there for Running USA to connect the two?

I absolutely do. It’s sounds cliché, but I believe we are all in this together. I am very excited and inspired to work with Max Siegel and Renee Washington and their team, they are both board members, and look forward to working with them in a collaborative manner down the road. The sport of running and track and field events are very accessible. You don’t need a country club membership or expensive equipment to participate, so to work with their organizations and other that might pop up will be fun.

Looking six months ahead, what really gets you excited for your role in general?

In the short-term, it’s about membership services and membership growth. I am excited to be able to really deliver for our members’ things that will help them and make their membership a necessity. By understanding their needs will help tailor those benefits. Any organization can grow for growth sake, but I am more interested in branding the organization, its benefits and getting more people involved.

The research component has really defined Running USA over the years. How do you see that continuing to evolve?

As technology continues to advance, with wearable technologies and apps and advances in timing, layer on top of that the engagement of social media, I think there is going to be a continued growth in data that is available. So, being able to have a pulse on trends in the industry and be able to compile the data, I think Running USA has the ability to take those numbers and turn them into an applicable story members can use. It’s about translating that data and transforming it into helpful nuggets so that people can apply it. I think even on the economic impact of the sport and event hast, hotel room sales, food and clothing purchases, parking sales, these are numbers that can help even small events get permits and get support from their municipalities. It’s difficult to put on a race, regardless of it’s for 500 people or 10,000 people. If little 5k in town X can prove that the economic impact of their event on their town they may be more strategic on their ability to get it approved compared to someone who isn’t armed with that data.

(Read Part I of our interview with Rich Harshbarger)

Click Here for all TF360 Archives



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