Meet the Race Director: Trisha Drobeck

In 2020, the running world and Running USA lost an exceptional race director, Tony Banovich of Montana. Unbeknownst to most, Tony had a serious heart condition, viral cardiomyopathy, and was told by doctors the week before his passing that he needed a heart transplant. Despite the pandemic, the running industry came together virtually last year to honor Tony with a run that raised funds for Run Wild Missoula, the non-profit that produces the Missoula Marathon. Tony had served as their Executive Director and Race Director since 2014.

To continue honoring Tony’s legacy and welcome a new face to this year’s conference, one of our two featured race directors this issue is Trisha Drobeck, who will follow in Tony’s giant footsteps.

An elite runner who has won the Missoula Marathon four times and holds the current course record, Trisha also raced in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2016 (in a profile on the RWM site, she recalls hearing Tony cheering for her at the 2016 event.)

New to the production side of the industry, Trisha knows she has her work cut out for her as she takes over the wild but welcoming Missoula race. We look forward to seeing her on the “roads, tracks and trails,” as Tony would say, as well as in the halls and meeting rooms of this year’s conference!

Get to know Trisha:

Job title: Executive Director, Race Director for Run Wild Missoula (RWM) and the Missoula Marathon

Years in the industry: This is my first.

What got you into the running industry? I've been an active volunteer, marathon committee member and participant at RWM for more than a decade. I've also raced or paced in the Missoula Marathon weekend since the inaugural race in 2007 (and marathon record holder since 2015 :)). When this position flew, I decided to make a huge career change and jump in.

Why do you love your job? I have no problem talking about all things running all day long.

What’s your favorite part of event production? At the risk of sounding cheesy, I really love being at the finish line and witnessing athletes accomplish their goals. I'm forever a champion of the participant. I know both ends (athlete and cheerleader) pretty well and can appreciate how much some encouragement can enhance a race experience. My husband was an IRONMAN Triathlete and after he'd compete, eat dinner and go to bed, I'd stay up and cheer in all the late night finishers.

And conversely, what you dread the most about “day of” the event? Technology glitches .. but luckily the team here is amazing at quick troubleshooting.

Your go-to fuel up snack or meal on race day? A gallon of coffee and donuts.

The 3 most essential items in your backpack or event kit? Duct tape, iPhone, zip ties.

If you weren’t doing this work, what would you be doing instead? I came from a sales and sales supervisor job for 15 years, so I'd probably still be doing that.

What is top of mind for you heading into your first year of leading the charge to produce the Missoula Marathon in June 2022?

After two years, I really hope this Marathon weekend feels like a homecoming for our participants. I want to make it worth the wait. I know we have a top notch reputation and our runners come with high expectations, so it's my priority to execute a race that has the same feel as year's past. Also, as someone who's run 30+ marathons, I hope to bring a lot of those experiences with me to at the very least know what not to do!

How does the race plan to honor the memory of Tony Banovich? We have renamed our event weekend 5K the Tony Banovich Missoula 5K to honor Tony’s legacy. We are also in talks with the city to have some kind of memorial in Caras Park where the expo is held (below the finish line Beartracks bridge). Tony’s family is helping us decide what it will be as well. Our Run Wild Missoula Club also held a memorial run in December. We ran 4.35 miles, which was Tony’s daily average.

What’s the next race you hope to run yourself? My training has really gone on the back burners with this job, but maybe next fall I'll get the itch to go 26.2 again. //