Life After Death

By Jordan Kinley

That title might be a little harsh, but I couldn't avoid a Nortorious B.I.G. reference.

The life that will be bestowed upon me after the completion of a thesis or project will be one filled with job offers and publishing opportunities. It never hurts to dream big right? While I might not be littered with job offers, it is my hope that I will be able to use the project on race management to show my capabilities in the world of event management. I'm not sure where my career is headed, but I would like to some day play a larger role in the running community. Perhaps aspiring to head the USATF or the IOC because both of these entities rely heavily on the structure and organization of global events. More specifically, the types of events that are created depend upon sponsor involvement and the attraction of broad audiences.

My project deals directly with sponsorship from the perspectives of race directors and sponsors who have already experienced how their relationship creates opportunities for others. At a local level, I hope to offer race directors and community sponsors an effective way to more creatively produce road races. Currently, the state of Oklahoma road races lags behind other communities where running and walking are more accepted community activities. I hope to consult and influence event directors of all sizes, (rom the KAT's Making Tracks 5k on up to the OKC Memorial Marathon) that more can be done to promote their races. On broader level, I hope to take my experience in the field and share my ideas with individuals involved with organizing the Boston, Chicago and New York marathons.

This fall I am helping direct the Brookhaven Run which is the largest road race in Cleveland County. It currently is the most competitive 5k race in the state and this year we hope to break the state record of 14:07 (male) and 16:03 (female). I have been placed in charge of assembling an elite field of athletes willing to push their limits. My ability to attract a large field will depend largely on the amount of prize money I can raise. Being able to offer $1000 to the victor greatly increases my chances of finding the athlete that can break the state record. However, the prize purse is dependent upon raising enough money from the local businesses willing to associate themselves with the race.

Life after the completion of the project will hopefully involve working with the organizations in need of an experienced and knowledgeable individual willing to help organize a large scale event. A bigger audience, will attract better sponsors, with more money, requiring more responsibility. A challenge I'm looking forward to completing.