The Big Sur International Marathon is under new leadership this year with an all-women executive team, marking a significant shift in its management.Mimi Hahn, soon to be chairman of the foundation board, Michelle La Salla, the race director in charge of logistics, and Jennifer Edwards, the new executive director, are leading the event. “The race operation industry has been male-heavy for years, but it is growing with females finding their way to the top,” said Michelle La Salla.While embracing their roles as trailblazers, the team is focused on the intricate details necessary for the marathon’s success. “There is a big team behind me as well. We’re sending seven thousand cups of coffee out on the course, we’re going to get strawberries from Watsonville, produce from Salinas, and then we’re doing all the safety checks working with all the public agencies, making sure this highway can support 10 thousand people on race day,” La Salla said. One of the significant challenges this year is navigating the partially repaired Highway One north of the Rocky Point Bridge. The team is prioritizing the safe passage of lead marathoners and ensuring emergency vehicles can pass if needed. “Our focus this year is to get the lead marathoners through with no stops, safely, and to lead the way to get all the runners through that area of the slip-out,” La Salla said. “We have a team there to specifically support that effort.”For Jennifer Edwards and Mimi Hahn, the marathon is about community connection and giving back through the foundation. “The Big Sur Marathon is one of the iconic brands in this area. It’s one of the things that people know through the world,” Hahn said. “The Big Sur Marathon Foundation has programs for youth, and we’re looking to expand those, and really community health and impact is what we are all about,” said Edwards.The marathon’s impact is impressive, with more women participating this year than men, reflecting a national trend. “I think it is wonderful that we have three women at the helm and we have a great mix of men and women on our board, in our community, and our event committee. So it takes a village and having a good mix is also healthy,” Edwards said.
The Big Sur International Marathon is under new leadership this year with an all-women executive team, marking a significant shift in its management.
Mimi Hahn, soon to be chairman of the foundation board, Michelle La Salla, the race director in charge of logistics, and Jennifer Edwards, the new executive director, are leading the event.
“The race operation industry has been male-heavy for years, but it is growing with females finding their way to the top,” said Michelle La Salla.
While embracing their roles as trailblazers, the team is focused on the intricate details necessary for the marathon’s success.
“There is a big team behind me as well. We’re sending seven thousand cups of coffee out on the course, we’re going to get strawberries from Watsonville, produce from Salinas, and then we’re doing all the safety checks working with all the public agencies, making sure this highway can support 10 thousand people on race day,” La Salla said.
One of the significant challenges this year is navigating the partially repaired Highway One north of the Rocky Point Bridge. The team is prioritizing the safe passage of lead marathoners and ensuring emergency vehicles can pass if needed.
“Our focus this year is to get the lead marathoners through with no stops, safely, and to lead the way to get all the runners through that area of the slip-out,” La Salla said. “We have a team there to specifically support that effort.”
For Jennifer Edwards and Mimi Hahn, the marathon is about community connection and giving back through the foundation.
“The Big Sur Marathon is one of the iconic brands in this area. It’s one of the things that people know through the world,” Hahn said.
“The Big Sur Marathon Foundation has programs for youth, and we’re looking to expand those, and really community health and impact is what we are all about,” said Edwards.
The marathon’s impact is impressive, with more women participating this year than men, reflecting a national trend.
“I think it is wonderful that we have three women at the helm and we have a great mix of men and women on our board, in our community, and our event committee. So it takes a village and having a good mix is also healthy,” Edwards said.
