The power of fresh starts

It's been about a month since the City of High Point, NC, offered to host the second annual NC Marathon at very little cost to the organizers. Thinking of all the ingredients that have come together since then, all the incredible people who have stepped forward to add something to the event or lend a hand, it's worth taking a minute to appreciate it all.

In one month's time, we now have courses for the marathon, half-marathon, and family 5k. We have offers of time from hundreds of new volunteers. We have a new sponsor hotel and expo host. And we have an increasingly exciting slate of events for race week.

High Point's offer was one that we, the race committee, couldn't refuse after Greensboro civic leaders quoted several figures for security costs that were well beyond our budget. Still, Melissa Fourrier, our race director, fretted about the decision. Fourrier is also executive director of the nonprofit Foster Friends of NC. She dreamed up the marathon as a fundraiser for Foster Friends, and she staged a nearly seamless event in Greensboro last year despite little experience with running and race management. She wasn't looking to move the event and start some aspects from scratch. But now that we have....

Twice a year, High Point hosts some 80,000 buyers and other home furnishings professionals for about 10 days of showing new lines, schmoozing and networking, and hearing best practices. All this takes place downtown, based around the dramatic, glass-fronted Showplace building. Between Showplace and the equally impressive International Home Furnishings Center is an enormous plaza, some of it offering cover from sun or rain with artsy roofing. In other words, an ideal place to gather thousands of people to start a race, finish a race, and celebrate afterward.

There's a lot more good stuff in the works, can't wait to tell you more -- stay tuned.