What goes into a race
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When referring to ‘Athens’, the first city you think of depends on your background. Internationally, many people associate the name with Greece. And if you’re from the United States, you’re probably more likely to picture Athens, Ga. than Athens, Ohio.
All of which explains why Paul Mullins, co-director of the marathon and half marathon races in Athens, Ohio, often receives emails requesting he fly an elite, international runner to the annual race and provide lodging.
“Sometimes I’ll get a little quirky and I’ll write back and go, ‘Love to have you. Just love to have you. See you in Athens, Ohio’,” Mullins said.
Even though they never come, he said the race is evaluated highly–four or five stars out of five–on websites and brings a good amount of tourism to the area. After all, when 800 runners and their families compete, they have to eat and stay somewhere.
“We’re happy for that because we’re not a production, you know, we’re just volunteers,” Mullins said.
He originally volunteered as a sports medicine person at one of the first marathons in Athens during the late 1960s. Back then each athlete received a full physical and went through what Mullins described as, “a battery of stations with about eight or 10 physicians.” Every runner’s training history documented and post-race weight was recorded.
The original course was different as well. Runners used to be bused to Coolville, Ohio and then race into Athens. At that time the finish line was the former track at Peden Stadium and not Pruitt Field.
The amount of work that goes into planning the race has remained constant, though. The committee of volunteers meets very little during the year, Mullins said, because everyone has a specific job and knows it well.
Each year one student studying sports administration at Ohio University is given the responsibility of completing most of the legwork. The position serves as a project for the individual.
“It’s an incredible amount of work, especially race day,” he said. “I am sure I am more tired than any runner out there at the end of the day.”
The night before the race the committee meets to go over registration forms and then meet the following morning around 5 a.m. to begin prepping the course. Advertising for the race has been localized because word of mouth has worked well for the event.
“Most runners are so happy with it, they’ll then tell their friends and then they’ll come back to run it,” Mullins said.
The only limit placed on registration is a deadline. There is no longer race day registration because Mullins said it “was just a nightmare.”
Several operations are now handled by outside companies. The finish line is operated by timing chips, registration is done through active.com, and photos are taken by professionals.
Otherwise it’s all run by local volunteers, and Mullins said next year the Athens Running Club may take over the responsibilities. The group will most likely shadow the operations on April 3 and then assume full responsibility next year.
“All us old guys are not burnt out, but it’s time for new blood, maybe new direction,” he said.
Mullins has been co-director of the race for four years along with Arnie LaGraff. Previously Mullins directed the Indian Summer Run in Athens and when LaGraff started to feel strained, he jumped on board.
In terms of production, Mullins said the event is small. “It’s a race for the runners.”
