Meet Emily Schreer, our Policy and Planning Manager for Bike Walk RVA. Emily will be working to advance local and regional plans and policies that support active transportation, with a focus on placemaking projects, community engagement initiatives, and the Fall Line Vision Plan. She's also growing indigo, learning Swahili, and roller skating...so safe to say her agenda is full.

With the Allianz Richmond Marathon reaching capacity, focus has shifted to the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon. The Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team is the perfect way to get race day ready, and it starts in August. Nan talked with half marathon training team coach, Timmy Siverd, about his running journey and why he loves the program.

This week, the Allianz Richmond Marathon sold out for the third consecutive year and faster than ever before. We asked the Sports Backers staff what makes race day so special, and challenged them to guess the color of this year's shirt. The swag reveal is coming later this summer. There still time to join the waitlist, and you can sign up for the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon and the Capital One Richmond 8k.

For the past few months the Sports Backers marketing pod has had the pleasure of working with Madelyn, our marketing intern! Madelyn has been helping with social, editing the podcast, writing press releases, working events and more. She's leaving us soon, so we figured now was a great time to have her on to recap her experience!

Kamryn sits down with Will Dixon, on his one year anniversary as Executive Director of Sports Backers. They talk through all the wins of the last year, and everything Will's excited about for the future. Happy Executive Director-aversary Will!

We have a new team member here at Sports Backers! Welcome Jacquelyn Wright, our Sponsorship Coordinator. She just completed her first two events and is looking forward to the Markel Corporate Run and our fall schedule. Get her ice cream and book recs, and travel plans here!

The Markel Corporate Run takes place on June 4. Kristen Eichert, Sports Backers' Corporate Sales Manager, joins the pod to talk about why the event is a can't miss, and how you can still sign up. Bring back fun work events and lace up for the Markel Corporate Run!

You might've seen the news that the Allianz Richmond Marathon is 70% full. Now that marathon training is becoming top of mind, we sat down with Elaine Digges (best known as @miss_elaine_neous) to hear about her first experience on Sports Backers Marathon Training Team and why she's coming back for year two! Get those registrations in!