Posted: November 10, 2007

Athletics: In Keynote Address Mcgillivray Inspires Race Directors

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. (10-Nov) -- In his keynote address at today's luncheon at the Road Race Mangement Race Directors' Meeting here, one of America's best known road race directors, Dave McGillivray, inspired an audience of his colleagues with his own personal story of success. "We're treated like the crabgrass in the lawn of life," joked McGillivray who has directed over 800 events and serves as the director of the Boston Marathon, Beach to Beacon 10-K and 18 other events. Originally trained as an actuary, McGillivray ran across the United States in 1978 to raise money for charity. Before starting his first actuarial job he was fired because he wanted a few days off after finishing his 3000+ mile run which his employer refused to grant. He ended up opening a running and fitness store, then moved into the running industry with Hyde Athletic Industries, then the parent company of Saucony, where O.J. Simpson was his boss. He worked there for four and one-half years before moving into independent race directing. "We didn't choose it," he said of race directing. "Just by default we landed here." McGillivray owned and operated events for many years before deciding that he would prefer to work instead on a consulting basis. He admitted to being initially embarrassed at his career choice because of the non-traditional nature of the work, but eventually embraced his job as a worthy profession, explaining that the road races he directs inspire tens of thousands of people each year to improve their health and fitness and raise thousands of dollars for charity. "We are putting on these massive events, and we never went to school for this stuff," he told his audience. "We learned from each other." Although most of the gathered race organizers do their jobs on either a part-time or volunteer basis, McGillivray said the industry had to move to a model of professionalism where race directors are paid. "We have to not be afraid to do this as a business," he said. Business or not, McGillivray clearly loves his work and is a hero to many of the 100 or so people who were gathered. "I was fortunate to combine a hobby with a vocation," he said. McGillivray was recently honored by Runners' World as one of the heroes of running at a special ceremony in New York City last Saturday. He said it was fitting that he was the last one to be recognized on the program because the race director is the last person most runners think about. "I dedicated this award to all of my fellow race directors," he said. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest