Hartford Business Journal

26 Hartford Business Journal • June 3, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2019 By Wendy Pierman Mitzel Special to the Hartford Business Journal B eth Shluger ran her very first Manchester Road Race in 1973, three years before women were even able to register for a bib number. She hasn't missed one since. It's that kind of dedication, as well as her love of the sport of running, that's kept Shluger heading up the Hartford Marathon Foundation since 1994. "In the beginning it was just me, and a group of loyal and loving family and friends who helped me," she said. She previously had been hired to manage a triathlon in Hartford and wanted to fill in the gap when that race ceased operations. Now, she has 11 staff mem- bers and 5,000 volunteers. Shluger said when she began she "didn't have a clue. But I happened to be a passionate runner myself. But that's not why I did it. I did it because I knew we could make something great, and bring a lot of spirit and money and have an impact on the city of Hartford." The foundation's Eversource Hartford Marathon weekend brings in about $15 million in economic value to the area over the course of a race weekend. In 2017, the race and its events drew 71,780 spectators, participants and volunteers to the area who stayed at hotels, dined at restaurants and shopped. "The economic boost for the Hart- ford region has been an incredible benefit," said Josh Miller, vice president and race director for the foundation. "But the sense of pride we can take in having this world-class event in our backyard is priceless. The posi- tive impact is far-reaching through local charity fundraising and attention to their mission. But Beth also leads us to think about the individual race participant, volunteer, spectator or community member in all that we do. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched directly and indirectly by the work of the Hartford Marathon Foundation and Beth's vision leads this incredible journey." The marathon doesn't just change the city for the better, running chang- es people's lives, said Shluger. "Running is af- fordable and open to anyone — young, old, fast, slow, wealthy, poor. All you need is running shoes. You can run anywhere, anytime," she explained. "Running gives you a sense of pride, accomplishment and good health. It's a great cure for stress, sad- ness, emotional strain." It can raise money for worthwhile "I did it because I knew we could make something great, and bring a lot of spirit and money and have an impact on the city of Hartford." Shluger's Hartford Marathon makes a personal, community impact PHOTO | J. FIERECK PHOTOGRAPHY Beth Shluger CEO & President, Hartford Marathon Foundation Inc. Size of organization: 12 employees; 55,000 annual participants and volunteers. Education: Still learning! Previous job(s): Chef, Sommelier; Director of Special Events for the Hartford Whalers.

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