About Us | US Road Sports

About Us

Dear Fellow Athletes:

US Road Sports is a relative newcomer to the running community and so we often get asked “who are you?” We think the right question to ask and answer first is why we exist as the answer will tell you much about who we are. US Road Sports exists to challenge the status quo and empower you to conquer an unhealthy, uncelebrated, unchallenged, ordinary existence; to allow you to test and exceed your own conceptions about your self-limitations and your strength; and, to provide the eternal moment where you can be heroic because of the health of your mind, body and spirit. We do what we do because we believe in the indomitable spirit of mankind, in triumph, in adventure, in vitality, and we believe that the motivation to finish and to do something because it is there to be done needs no explanation. Life and our daily walks are a race and our events strive to be a microcosm of that truth.

We chose the name “US Road Sports” for a number of different reasons. At first, we chose it because, as I like to joke, it was just “us” as we were looking to build this business. But, in fact, we chose the name because perhaps the spirit of no other country on earth and no other people are more closely defined by movement than the United States. Our country is a country of immigrants who traveled great distances for the freedom to live and worship as we wish and to pursue the hope of building a better life. Our country’s imagination is set afloat by movement. In 1803 Lewis and Clark famously traveled West to explore the new Louisiana purchase and to survey the land west of the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. One hundred years later, in 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson, a 31 year old doctor from Vermont (a perfect runner by demographic) completed the first transcontinental road trip by automobile. Interestingly, he began his journey based on a $50 dollar bet but later it became a true race as 2 other teams sought to overtake him. What at first was about finishing ultimately became about winning (and finishing). He did both and the money was irrelevant - he never collected the winnings of his $50 bet.

One hundred years after Nelson’s journey, in 2003, a small group of running enthusiasts who are now a part of US Road Sports produced the first major marathon in Miami which has now grown to be the world-famous ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon®, one of our signature events. We would like to believe that while we may not be making history, that we are in some small, but important, way a part of it.

And so it is that we at US Road Sports aim to put on world-class events to celebrate you and your accomplishments. As Walt Whitman wrote in 1900:

AFOOT and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.

We look forward to welcoming you at a US Road Sports event soon. See you at the finish line.

-Greg Laird, Managing Partner US Road Sports & Entertainment Group

US Road Sports currently owns and operates the following events:

ING Miami Marathon (www.INGMiamiMarathon.com) – The centerpiece of the South Florida running community this event has grown from approximately 11,000 participants to over 25,000 event weekend runners since US Road Sports has operated the race. Ranked as one of the Top 10 marathons in the country by Competitor Magazine.

Publix Georgia Marathon (www.GeorgiaMarathon.com) – Starting and ending in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, this  event has grown from just over 11,000 runners to approximately 17,000 event weekend participants in the two years  of ownership by US Road Sports.

Chicago Half Marathon (www.ChicagoHalfMarathon.com) – One of the only races to shut down Lakeshore Drive in Chicago. This institution on the Chicago running calendar will exceed 20,000 runners in 2011 in its 15th running. This  race has been celebrated as one of the Top 5 stand-alone half marathons in the country by Runners World Magazine.

New Jersey Marathon (www.NJMarathon.org) – Run through the diverse neighborhoods and business districts of our Host City, Long Branch, and into neighboring Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park & Ocean Grove. We feel this course will be very popular with both runners and spectators alike, remaining fast and flat while adding some additional exciting scenery and with an oceanfront start and finish.

13.1 Marathon® Series (www.131Marathon.com) – Conceptualized and launched by US Road Sports, this national series of half marathons and 5K’s visits the largest markets in the country. The 2009 calendar year saw the launching of four inaugural markets – Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and Atlanta. In 2010 we expanded the series by another four markets. Two of the inaugural events have already taken place – Los Angeles and New York City – and another two will be held in June and August respectively – Boston and Minneapolis. We will be adding at least two additional markets in 2011 and an additional two markets in 2012. Ultimately, the 13.1 Marathon® Series will be in twelve of the top fifteen markets in the country.

First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon and Relay (www.SarasotaHalfMarathon.com) - Come enjoy tropical beauty, a moderate climate, great dining and shopping, and one of Florida's favorite races winter races. Starting from the historic Ringling Museum, you will enjoy vistas of beautiful Sarasota Bay, white sand beaches, ten parks, and some of Sarasota's most gorgeous neighborhoods. Your 13.1 miles will be filled with scenic beauty and awesome views.

Escape to Miami (www.WillYouFinish.com) - Sunday, September 26, 2011 is the 7th Annual Publix Escape to Miami Triathlon Weekend. This race is considered by triathletes as the country's most unique triathlon! Athletes are dropped off at a deserted island in Miami's Biscayne Bay and have to swim their way back to transition to take on one of the toughest bike courses in the Southeast. The run then traverses the world famous MacArthur Causeway with a turnaround at Star Island. The big finish is a at Margaret Pace Park in the heart of Downtown Miami. The Olympic Distance Triathlon is presented by Muscle Milk and Cytomax. The Sprint Distance Triathlon is presented by Mack Cycle.

Run Miami (www.RunMiami.com) - RunMiami.com is committed to fostering the growth of the running community of South Florida. RunMiami.com is an affiliate of US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida, LLC (formerly PR Racing Miami, LLC) producers and creators of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon. US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida, LLC takes great pride in creating that big spark that helped revive long distance running in South Florida.

Various road races are produced by US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida, LLC in conjunction with RunMiami.com. The site RunMiami.com serves as an information point for these races as well as other nonaffiliated races and participant events throughout the year.