10th Annual National Race Director Summit

Saturday January 23, 2027

Centennial College Event Centre

PLEASE CHECK BACK ON THIS EVENT PAGE FOR UPDATES

In 2027, Athletics Ontario is once again excited to bring together race directors and key industry influencers from across Ontario and Canada's running community to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore best practices in event hosting, marketing, management, safety, and execution.

Join us at the Centennial College Event Centre for a day of engaging presentations, valuable discussions, and delicious food in a spectacular event space. You'll leave with valuable insights and practical tools to help you execute the best race possible.

As always, we'll wrap up the day with a social hour featuring cocktails and refreshments, sponsored this year by Henley Financial and Wealth Management Inc, with ample time for you to connect with your community.

Price includes HST, light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail hour and appetizers

If you or your organization wishes to sponsor or speak at this this event please fill out the relevant form below or reach out via email to sherylpreston@athleticsontario.ca

SPONSOR APPLICTION

SPEAKER APPLICATION

Live Streaming Option

We know that nothing beats in-person collaboration for its opportunity to interact, engage, and collaborate. We also know that not everyone can attend in person. To ensure all those interested can benefit from the workshops/sessions, we are offering a live streaming option for those unable to join us in Scarborough.

$40 Live Virtual Access (a recording will be made available for both virtual and in-person registrants following the event)

EMCEE: Steve Fleck, Race and Event Announcer

Steve Fleck is one of the leading Endurance Sports Race/Event Live Announcers and Commentators in North America. Each year he is on the Microphone at over 35 running, track & field, cycling and triathlon races/events/meets. From small local fun runs, to some of the largest Races/Events in North America, to multiple National Championships across various sport disciplines and even a few World Championships - he's covered a lot of ground! He's been involved in running, triathlon and cycling in one way or another since his mid-teens, as a participant/competitor and in business wearing multiple hats. He lives in Aurora, Ontario with his wife, Paolina!

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS COMING SOON...

KEYNOTE

Alex Hutchinson - Journalist

Alex Hutchinson is an award-winning journalist who writes about the science of endurance for Canadian Running, the Globe and Mail, Outside, and other publications. His books include the New York Times bestseller Endure and, most recently, The Explorer's Gene. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a postdoctoral physicist for the U.S. National Security Agency and competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country, road, and mountain running. He lives and runs in west-end Toronto.

Why We Race: The science of challenge, motivation, and what keeps runners coming back

People show up to races for all sorts of reasons. Some—but not all—of them keep coming back, year after year, race after race. They've conquered what London Marathon founder Chris Brasher famously called "the great suburban Everest," but they still want more. Understanding what fuels these committed racers is crucial to building successful events and a thriving national running culture. In this session, we'll dig into the neuroscience and psychology of the runner's brain, addressing topics including the Effort Paradox (why making things harder sometimes makes us like them more); social energetics (how our brains respond to mass participation events like races); internal self-talk monologues; and the elusive and often misunderstood runner's high. When runners get a chance to pursue these experiences in the right context, they're eager to come back for more.

Email: alex@alexhutchinson.net

Web: www.alexhutchinson.net

Threads: @sweat_science

New book! The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map

Julie Hambleton - SheRACES

Julie Hambleton is a life-long xc and road runner turned trail runner, born and raised in the Niagara region of Ontario. As the Global Development Lead for SheRACES, she is working hard to help race directors around the world remove additional barriers to women getting on their start lines. SheRACES aims to educate both athletes and race organizations on these barriers and the simple things that can be done ensure that more women find their place on the start line and, once they get there, that they have an incredible experience.

She will be speaking about the barriers that exist that prevent women from getting involved in endurance sports, the specific ways that race organizers and organizations can support women, and how SheRACES works with race directors to improve female participation at their events (and why race directors should be setting this as a goal for their race!).

julieh@sheraces.com

Kevin Jones - Odyssey Medical

Kevin Jones is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Odyssey Medical, which provides event medical and risk management services for the mass gathering industry in Canada. Kevin has extensive experience in risk management, emergency communication and event operations. Kevin’s experience spans from remote wilderness expeditions to large scale urban events. He has led event medical programs for many large obstacle course events, live music events and triathlons. Building on a background in insurance and education, he is committed to evidence based decision making and systems development.

Jeff Rowthorn - Race Director, Happy Trails Racing

In his day-to-day life, Jeff wears a lot of different hats. He is a father/step-father to six children, husband to a very supportive wife and fellow ultramarathon athlete, school teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience, Race Director at Happy Trails Racing, and is a UESCA certified Ultramarathon Coach. With well over 150 races under his belt, Jeff has completed approximately 25 marathons and somewhere in the range of 75 ultramarathons. Although he enjoys racing everything from 5k road races to challenging mountain ultras, he has been primarily focusing on 100 mile races for the past several years and has completed the 100 mile distance over 20 times to date.

John Shep - Host, Athletics Ontario Running Podcast

John Shep is a teacher, ultrarunner, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. The 2022 Athletics Ontario Media Award recipient, John aims to give voice to the underrepresented members of our community and bring inspiring and educational stories from the roads and trails to the masses. He has completed seven 100-mile races, including being the first of two to finish the Ontario Triple Crown of 100s in 2024 (Sulphur Springs Trail Race, Tally in the Valley and Haliburton Forest Trail Race).

John is a third-generation volunteer in Athletics. His grandfather, Peter Manning, an Olympic level sprint and relay coach, was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame in 2017. His mom, Helen Manning, dragged John to Para-athletics events at the ripe age of six, where he helped post results and work the track clock. She is more importantly the current Chair of Athletics Canada and a former President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.