journey, culminating in crossing the finish line at races of all distances. We help capture those accomplishments of their personal excellence at a moment which is preserved as a lifetime memory.” We had the chance to hear directly from Kroll and David Lavallee about the latest innovations at Gameface Media Inc., which acquired MarathonFoto in late 2019. Lavallee is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gameface Media, as well as the creative force behind the popular Six Minute Mile runner newsletter. “We grew from zero subscribers in August 2019 to more than 650,000 subscribers now,” shares Lavallee. “That growth has mainly been through word of mouth as well as some advertising and promotions on our MarathonFoto site. We try hard to keep the information serious but presented in a fun way that is never stuffy or egotistical.”
MEET THE
VENDOR MarathonFoto As a pioneering service provider in the running industry, MarathonFoto is known far and wide as the preeminent name in race photography. For nearly four decades and over 3,000 races, the company has earned its spot as a respected and reliable partner for events of all sizes, a positive promotional force for their sponsors, and producer of lifelong memories for runners. “The last four decades have been very good to us,” says Brad Kroll, MarathonFoto President, who has been with the company since 1998. “Our service has helped inspire runners to continue their
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In a similar vein, Kroll shares that while a race photo may be just a photographic memory to some, it can also have far greater impact and reach. “By commemorating these important accomplishments in athlete's lives, we hope to inspire their friends, family, and peers to pursue a physically active lifestyle. I believe the inspiration we have provided to the runners has helped build and propel the sport,” he said. Read on for more insight from Brad Kroll and David Lavallee about the future of race photography and its relationship with events. RDM: What is the current business focus for MarathonFoto? BRAD: The focus of MarathonFoto has always been to enhance the athlete experience at some of the highest quality endurance events in the world. The images we capture along the course and at the finish line represent the culmination of months and sometimes years of training and dedication. We offer athletes a way to celebrate
