Happy Valentine’s Birthday to AEP Ohio Columbus 10K’s race director and friend to the RUNColumbus Race Series, Andy Harris. If you have been around the Central Ohio running scene for any time, you likely have met or seen Andy (pictured with his wife Cheryl). Andy serves as the director of operations for event management at Columbus Running Company (CRC), which includes serving as the race director of CRC events and partnering with many other local events.
We caught up with Andy to learn more about his role.
How did you become a race director? I joined the Columbus Running Company as our lead timer and event manager in 2012 after a career in employee benefits consulting.
What’s the greatest challenge you face in your role? Balancing budgets with technology advancements and market trends.
What’s the greatest reward? Every time we go out the door to work, we see people work hard and achieve great things.
Besides signing up for your race, how can runners support and encourage race organizers? VOLUNTEER! Working at races is not only fun, but it is also rewarding in myriad ways. You get to see how races operate from the inside, help local races do great things in your community, and, if you volunteer at Columbus Running Company-owned events, you get a free entry to a future race!
What would you like people to know about the races you direct? We are always open to constructive feedback! If you have an idea that you think would make our events better, don’t hesitate to drop us a line. You never know what might happen!
Is there anything else you would like to share? My wife Cheryl and I are both involved in the fitness industry. I am an event manager and race director with the Columbus Running Company, and she is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor at EquiVita in Grandview. We love our City and its inhabitants and appreciate that we get to be a small part of some of the fun and important stops on your journey.