Director de carreras Ted Metellus: “Espero que esto encienda la llama”

This month, Ted Metellus became the race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. A trailblazing leader, Ted is the first Black race director of an Abbott World Marathon Majors event.

Ted was born and raised in the Bronx and has worked with NYRR since 2001. In 2019 he became the vice president of events and the technical director of the marathon, leading NYRR’s event management and logistics, experiential events, and youth events teams, and overseeing warehouse operations.

Ted has more than 20 years of experience in event production and the endurance sports industry. In addition to NYRR, he’s worked with Pallotta TeamsWorks, Eventage, the Miami Marathon, the Philadelphia Triathlon, Lifetime Triathlons, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, and IRONMAN, and he was the 2016 National Center for Spectator Sport Safety and Security (NCS4) Professional of the Year. His love of creating an enjoyable and safe guest experience translates to every aspect of his work at NYRR.

We caught up with Ted to chat about his new role and the significance of his historic achievement.

What does it mean to you to be the first Black race director of an Abbott World Marathon Majors race?

It's huge! The job and its responsibilities are massive, and I am not only representing myself, my family, and my team but a culture and race. In the words of the great rapper/poet/actor 2Pac, "All Eyez on Me." I am in a position to open doors and shine a light for others to follow.

A Runner, Then and Now

Tell us about your background as a runner.

As a kid in the Bronx, I was pretty active, running around the block or riding my bike. Every summer the goal was to be the fastest kid on the block, and we would have races all the time. In high school I ran track and cross country at All Hallows High School. I was an average 200-meter track runner and enjoyed the speed because it reminded me of my younger years. Cross country was a different story—I showed up to practice, I went to all the races at Van Cortlandt Park, and I was slow. Looking back, I lacked the mental focus and discipline for running longer distances.

As an adult, things came together when I was working at NYRR in the early 2000s. Our offices were on East 89th Street and Central Park was our backyard. Every weekend at the races I was inspired by our participants and decided to get back to running again. During lunch breaks I would head out for short, slow, easy runs to build my endurance. It was a slow process, but I enjoyed getting out, moving, and exploring the park. I eventually ran one of our races, in 2007 I ran my first half marathon, and in 2008 I ran the New York City Marathon. To date I've run 32 half marathons and two New York City Marathons. Running is therapy for the mind and body.

Inspired by the Biggest Stage

What inspired you to become a race director?

In this field, being the race director of the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the single greatest professional accomplishments. This is what you work for in this industry. I was inspired by Fred Lebow, Allan Steinfeld, Mary Wittenberg, Peter CIaccia, and Jim Heim to be the best that I can be. I was inspired to learn, grow, and experience as much as I could. I was so fortunate to have worked for, around, and with some of the best in the industry. The best parts of what I do are the people I get to work with and the people who experience what we create.  

How can running and racing become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

We can recognize, understand, and acknowledge what makes runners [feel] different, unequal, and not included. We can level the playing field by creating, supporting, and engaging communities that may not have same resources and information about running that others have. We can demystify running as something that "people that don't look like me" can do. 

Running is the only sport where you are on the same playing field as a professional elite athlete. I will never be on the same court as Michael Jordan in his prime, but I have run in the same races as some of the fastest people in the world. If someone of a different race, age, physical ability, or sexuality is running or engaged with the sport, they are shining a light for others out there that may be looking for some inspiration. For organizations, brands, clubs, or groups that want to be more diverse, don't send an invite to the communities you want to engage with. Go to the communities and engage with them.

Lighting the Way

Who are your heroes and role models?

My parents, siblings, and my family. They came from Haiti and earned everything they got through hard work and education. And anyone who is a first because they light the way for others: Ted Corbitt, Coach Joe Kleinerman, Vic Navarra, Steve Mendelsohn, and others along the way.

How do you see yourself serving as a role model for others?

When I started in this industry over two decades ago, there weren't many people that looked like me. I wanted to learn, grow, and explore. My career allowed me to see and do more than I ever thought was possible. I quickly learned that "the world is bigger than the block" and that, like my family, hard work opened doors for me. As a first-generation Black man from the Bronx everything I said or did was and is amplified. What I do and say may make or break a future opportunity for someone else. If anyone who is an "other” or “only" is inspired by what I am doing, I hope it lights a flame in them to pursue what they want to do even if they are the only one in the room that looks the way they do. "Shine your light for the world to see."