FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ron Ilgen Named 2022 MarathonFoto/Road Race Management
Race Director of the Year
December 8, 2022 - A committee made up of race directors, athletes, media,
corporate executives and club officials has named Ron Ilgen, Pikes Peak
Marathon, Inc. President and Race Director, as the MarathonFoto/Road Race
Management Race Director of the Year. MYLAPS is the presenting sponsor.
He will be honored at a reception at the Road Race Management Race
Directors' Meeting in Hollywood, FL on December 8.
Phil Stewart, Editor and Publisher of Road Race Management, said: "We've
honored 35 individuals with the Road Race Management Race Director of the
Year award since 1987, and they have faced plenty of challenges, but none
have been quite as daunting as organizing a marathon and half marathon up
one of Colorado's tallest peaks. Thin air is only a minor inconvenience –
but can be challenging, as I know from experience when I crawled into an
aid station above the 12,000-foot level when I completed the race – but
nature throws plenty of other challenges on the Front Range of the Rockies,
including blizzards, forest fires and flash floods, to which our nominee
has had to respond. He has done so for the last 20 years, which has earned
Ron Ilgen the 2022 MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the
Year Award presented by MyLaps."
Ron's nominator said of him:
"Ron Ilgen has been the lifeblood of the Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. race for
over 25 years. Ron began his involvement with the Pikes Peak Ascent and
Marathon as a volunteer, a lead volunteer and eventually the executive
director and overall race director. Ron has provided oversight and
direction for all races under the organization's brand for the past 20
years.
"Race directing a trail race up a 14,115-foot mountain is more of a
mountaineering event than a traditional running race. The logistics and
volunteer needs are extensive to pull off successful back-to-back races.
Ron has navigated some of the worst circumstances a Race Director can
imagine keeping the Pikes Peak Marathon going strong. In 2005, the race
experienced a massive storm that left hundreds of runners trapped on the
summit of Pikes Peak. In 2006, a blizzard caught 1,000 runners off guard,
and they had to finish in trash bags to protect themselves from the
elements. In 2012, Colorado Springs was devastated by the Waldo Canyon Fire
that led to a flash flood and significant damage to the Manitou Springs
area during race week. In 2018, Ron made the tough call as Race Director to
cut the Ascent race short due to the weather forecast. Finally, as all Race
Directors experienced, COVID-19 threw a curveball in 2020, but Ron pushed
ahead and challenged his team to navigate the COVID-19 guidelines and still
host the Marathon event, making Pikes Peak Marathon now the longest
recurring marathon in the U.S. (67 years running in 2022).
"Ron is fueled by the history of the Pikes Peak races, so much so that he
dedicated several years to finding the first woman to finish the Pikes Peak
Marathon in 1959, Arlene Pieper. For 50 years Arlene Pieper did not know
she made athletic history as the first woman to ever compete a sanctioned
marathon in the U.S., until 2000 when the stars aligned, and Arlene was
located and invited to be part of the 50th running of the Pikes Peak
Marathon.
"The fiercely loyal volunteer base is derived from a deep respect and
appreciation for Ron's leadership. He extends appreciation for all
volunteer positions and engages in the race prep work on the mountain. Ron
himself has completed each volunteer duty in his many years with the race
organization, and volunteers appreciate that aspect of his leadership."
The MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year award
(presented by MYLAPS) is made annually to recognize and promote excellence
in race directing. Nominees were judged on several factors, including
overall ability, reputation of race, creativity and organizational ability.
For a list of previous recipients, visit
https://www.rrm.com/act/rdm/rdypast.asp.
Road Race Management (www.rrm.com) is a member-based organization that
publishes a digital newsletter and many other publications designed for
race and industry professionals and conducts a prestigious annual national
race directors' meeting and trade show in Florida. MarathonFoto
(www.marathonfoto.com) combines the industry's best logistics and customer
service, all supported by cutting-edge technology, to create images and
videos to celebrate and inspire athletes. MYLAPS (https://www.mylaps.com)
helps athletes, timers and events to create the ultimate sports experience
for participants, followers and sponsors.
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