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“We just want to put on a safe event and get back to racing.”
~Andrew Buikema, west Michigan race director, marathoner, recent BQ-qualifer
Andrew shares this sentiment — and many other heartfelt thoughts — during a candid conversation with two other experienced Michigan race directors, that touches on so much: the current state of racing, the ups and downs of planning events during the pandemic, how we’re coping and staying active during these challenging times, silver linings we’re experiencing, and what we all can expect with racing event in the months to come. Eva Solomon, co-founder and owner of Epic Races, a southeast Michigan race management company, and Eddie Kline, founder and race director of Holland Haven Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K, also are part of this honest conversation.
To listen to this episode, click on the player at the top of this post. Or, download the episode (and subscribe to the show!) using your favorite podcast app.
If you’ve ever wondered how the pandemic and its many twists and turns have affected our beloved races and the talented people behind them, this episode reveals all. It sheds light on what it’s truly like behind the scenes, especially now. From working with fewer volunteers and re-imagining what a successful event can look like, Andrew, Eva, and Eddie offer an authentic, and ultimately hopeful, view of running and racing during and after COVID.
“It’s forced us to think outside the box and we can just keep doing that. Who would have thought that this is something that would have happened. It did and we’ve figured it out the best we can. And we’re just going to keep going with it.”
Eva Solomon
“I feel confident we can do [an in-person Holland Haven Marathon] the way we did it last year. I don’t know if I feel confident whether the government regulations will change and change what I’m able to do — that I can’t say I’m confident about because you never know. But we’re still five months away from the race and if we did it exactly the way we did it last year, it would be great.”
Eddie Kline
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