N.Y. Road Runners President & CEO MICHAEL CAPIRASO negotiated a special exception to a longstanding club rule when he took the job in May: That he be allowed to run in the TCS N.Y. Marathon on Sunday. Usually, all staff is expected to help stage the iconic race. Capiraso has run the race 23 consecutive years, and has no intention of stopping his streak now that he is in charge. While staff reserves the right to interrupt his race should a major issue force it, he is optimistic he can finish uninterrupted and then resume duties. “It’s pretty amazing on that day, speaking as a runner, we just pop up a race over 26 miles and everything works really well,” he said. The club’s new two-headed leadership helps. When longtime N.Y. Road Runners President & CEO MARY WITTENBERG stepped down, PETER CIACCIA assumed her race director duties while Capiraso took the CEO title. That puts the details of Sunday in Ciaccia’s hands. Two other prominent sports business names are running the race: Devils President of Business Operations HUGH WEBER and Nets Chair DMITRY RAZUMOV. Also, two Mets clubhouse managers will have extraordinarily busy weekends -- BRIAN RUSNAK and DAVE BERNI will be working potentially decisive Game 4 Saturday night at Citi Field against the Royals, then will run the race Sunday morning, and may have to return back Sunday night for Game 5.
RUNNER'S WORLD: Are you or someone you know in the sports business industry running in Sunday's TCS N.Y. Marathon? If so, contact Josh Carpenter at jcarpenter@sportsbusinessdaily.com and let him know. Then on Monday, send him your time, a photo and a quick note about the experience to share with our readers.
