[Author’s Note: This is the seventh of an eight-part series in AJW’s Taproom called Race Director Chronicles, where we profile the unsung heroes who make our sport’s racing possible.]
Libby Jones is the landlord of and race director for The Lively Joe, which produces six races yearly within the Dallas-Fortress Price metroplex of Texas. The Lively Joe, which is targeted at the demographic of “the typical joe” who will get energetic, was once based in 2010. The Lively Joe has a robust focal point on inclusivity and bringing variety to race beginning traces. Particularly, The Lively Joe is a longstanding sponsor of the Western States 100.
I lately sat down with Libby to speak about her paintings and races.
Andy Jones-Wilkins: How lengthy have you ever been directing extremely/path operating occasions?
Libby Jones: I’ve been race directing for 17 years and began when I used to be simply 26 years previous, however the ones had been all highway races to start with. I began path operating myself in 2011, and in 2014, I determined I sought after to create a 100 miler at this gorgeous path device in Dallas. It was once the primary 100 miler in North Texas and after two years of vastly unfortunate torrential rain, I used to be struck with extra dangerous success – the venue got here underneath a assets dispute by way of a couple of landowners simplest six weeks prior to the race.
I scrambled to discover a path elsewhere that I may love and that’s the way it changed into the Dinosaur Valley Staying power Run, which has a 100 miler, 100 kilometer, 50k, 25k, and 5 miler. I nonetheless produce highway races, and I’ve a couple of different path races too, however Dino Valley is my signature tournament in path operating.
Libby Jones of The Lively Joe. All footage courtesy of Libby Jones.
AJW: What’s the maximum enjoyable facet of your paintings as a race director?
Jones: In fact I wish to say the grins, the tears, and the pleasure of the runners on the end line after they reach some objective that I helped create the chance for them to pursue. However for me, I additionally do a large number of paintings within the box of inclusivity, variety, and fairness, and it feels glorious listening to from those that the vibe at my races is all they was hoping it may well be. That they really feel protected. That they really feel like everybody really needs them there. The path operating neighborhood as an entire is all about that, however we nonetheless have a large number of underrepresented teams within the path global who wish to really feel like the distance was once created for them.
AJW: What makes operating in Texas and the encircling spaces so distinctive and particular?
Jones: Folks don’t be expecting us to have the sweetness and vertical acquire that we’ve got at a few of our trails right here. I am getting stunned reactions each and every 12 months since such a lot of discuss with from out of state for the Dinosaur Valley races. “Texas is meant to be flat.” They believe prairie and ranch land. As an alternative, like I say at the site, the path is rolling hills, rocks, roots, and all in combination about 9,000 ft of elevation acquire within the 100 miler!
We even have a huge ultrarunning neighborhood, which I believe on the nationwide degree nonetheless will get lost sight of so much. There are a large number of eyes on how large California and the U.S. Pacific Northwest are in ultrarunning and path operating, however there’s a lot going down right here. Dinosaur Valley wouldn’t be 600 runners if it wasn’t — and there are lots of Texas races placed on by way of many race manufacturers, and runners display up!
AJW: What are the 3 largest demanding situations you face as a race director?
Jones: I believe each and every race director will have to come with of their checklist to reply to the query of “expectation control.” I keep in touch so much in the course of the race web sites, and I take advantage of our social media channels broadly. For Dinosaur Valley, I produce a 27-page runner guide with each and every diagram, map, and piece of data I will recall to mind in a single position. I’m large on private accountability for runners to understand what they’re coming into. I believe as ultramarathon athletes, we’re in point of fact excellent at strategizing, planning, and having a plan B/C/D/E when issues pass awry, however that begins with realizing what to anticipate whilst you arrive on the race.
Misogyny and bigotry is every other large problem for me specifically. I’m in an overly conservative state, generating occasions the place I’m extremely welcoming to various faces and studies that may really feel uncomfortable for some folks. Numerous ultramarathons are produced by way of males with males in thoughts simply naturally, as a result of that’s their enjoy. In the meantime, ultimate 12 months’s Dinosaur Valley 100 Mile finishers had been 45% feminine, the 100k was once 37% feminine, and the 50k was once 42% feminine. In an international the place maximum ultramarathons are about 20% feminine illustration, this will create an overly other really feel at a race. I do come across a large number of sexist, racist, homophobic, and transphobic feedback, evaluations, and pushback frequently, however I believe strongly in regards to the sure movements I take to convey underrepresented teams to the place to begin!
After all, I might say the elements, after all! Through the years, I’ve handled hail, thunderstorms, flooding, drought stipulations, file warmth — we hit 90 levels Fahrenheit in November for the 2017 Dino Valley — and twister watches. You do the most productive you’ll, however in the long run this is something this is simply out of our regulate!
Libby Jones (proper) race directing.
AJW: What adjustments have you ever noticed within the recreation because you started directing occasions? Sure? Destructive? Each?
Jones: At the sure facet, there’s so a lot more consciousness of path operating and of ultrarunning. Additionally, I used to be within the highway global after we had been nonetheless seeking to get highway part marathons to hit 50% feminine. And now we’ve got extra ladies appearing up on trails, and it’s nice to look that expansion.
At the detrimental facet, I’m uncomfortable with the higher huge company possession that businesses like UTMB are bringing to race manufacturing. I believe like I watched this with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Working Sequence at the highway race directing facet. And I’ve had an organization are available and take a look at to do my path at my venue six weeks prior to considered one of my highway races. It appears like your laborious paintings is swiped out from underneath you. I additionally don’t need us to lose the essence of the game, which is ready neighborhood and that non-public contact. I additionally fight to really feel that the amount of runners I’m seeing put onto some singletrack path by way of the most important company races will also be excellent for that house’s trails and ecosystem.
AJW: What are you having a look ahead to maximum within the 2023 t0 2024 tournament season?
Jones: Arms crossed, I’m hoping that the Dinosaur Valley Staying power Run will transform a qualifying race for the Western States 100. I fell in love with the Western States 100 again in 2012 once I volunteered in a single day in a wetsuit at Rucky Chucky, waist deep all evening within the American River. So I were given to look a prime proportion of the runners that 12 months, and I felt so impressed. My corporate, The Lively Joe, got here on as a Western States 100 sponsor in 2014, and I’ve now traveled from Dallas to wait the race for 9 years. I’m additionally fortunate sufficient to get to be one of the most folks onstage 12 months after 12 months on the lottery pulling names. So it could be a dream for the extremely I created and that I like to get to be a qualifier. The race has grown from 200 in all distances years in the past to now 600 anticipated this 12 months. We idea we had been going to hit our objective ultimate 12 months, however we had surprisingly chilly temperatures with in a single day being under freezing, and it in point of fact harm our finishers charge! Even supposing we meet the collection of finishers we want, we gained’t know till subsequent September, however I’m positive!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Lakewood Brewing Corporate in Dallas, Texas. Lakewood’s signature beer, The Temptress, a silky clean Imperial Milk Stout, is a scrumptious chocolate and caramel taste bomb this is highest loved at a leisurely tempo on a cold, past due fall night time within the Texas Hill Nation.
Name for Feedback
You recognize what to do within the feedback phase! Go away your feedback about your studies with Libby Jones, The Lively Joe, and Jones’ races.
Libby Jones on the Western States 100 end line.