A Conversation with Frankie Ruiz, Cofounder of LifeTime Miami Marathon

In this episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I have a conversation with Frankie Ruiz, the Cofounder of the LifeTime Miami Marathon. We delve into Frankie’s innovative approach to integrating technology as the race organizer for the Miami Marathon, which now boasts over 25,000 participants. Frankie also shares how, after selling the Miami Marathon to LifeTime, the event is utilizing LifeTime’s event management tools, such as Athlinks and Chronotrack, to enhance both the production quality and the runner experience. We wrap up our conversation chatting about what other interests Frankie is pursuing including to be the Mayor of City of Miami one day. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation:

⛳  Founding Story of Miami Marathon

⛳  Scaling Miami Marathon to 25000+ participants

⛳  Creating better runner experience through technology like crowd science, data drive coral verification, bandit control program

⛳  Areas race industry needs innovation

⛳  Reflection on selling Miami Marathon to LifeTime

Podcast Outline

0:05 Episode summary

1:18 Introduction

2:04 Founding Story of Miami Marathon

5:53 Scaling Miami Marathon through acquisition

10:27 Approach to leverage technology as race organizer

16:39 Data points for the bandit control program

20:58 How Crowd Scientists help to better plan race course

28:18 Corral verification program by Athlinks and Chronotrack

32:32 Frankie’s top of the ming challenges- photography, running expos , interactive race medal

34:13 Frameworks to select technology for better production and runner experience

37:14 Frankie’s reflection on selling Miami marathon to LifeTime Fitness

44:27 What’s next for Frankie

References

• Miami Marathon - https://www.themiamimarathon.com/marathon/


• Marathon Guide - https://www.marathonguide.com/


• Crowd Science - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science


• Frankie's Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3Wwzyybw4

• LifeTime Fitness - https://www.lifetime.life/

Episode info:

• Youtube - https://youtu.be/pftasoyCmjQ


• Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3ARx3Sd


• Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3MxUG4z

Transcript and Show notes:

• https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-frankie-ruiz

Enjoy the episode!