3 Questions with Sport Backers Executive Director, Jon Lugbill

As Executive Director of Sports Backers, Jon helps create, support and produce events and programs that keep the community physically active. One of those events is the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k, one of the largest running events in the US. Each spring 30,000+ runners participate in Richmond's biggest block party, earning a reputation for being one of the best races in the country. Jon is also a five-time individual world champion in whitewater canoeing, a member of the 1992 Olympic Team and was put on a Wheaties box… how cool is that?!

If you weren’t a running Sports Backers, what would you be doing?

What I love most at Sports Backers is being entrepreneurial in creating programs and events that provide a substantial return on impact in our community. If I couldn’t do that, I think I would enjoy working as a consultant advising non-profit leaders how to take their organizations to a more impactful level by helping them leap over the barriers blocking them from improved performance.

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

Don’t be so selfish. The joy of helping others achieve success can be more rewarding than your own personal achievement. Simply, you can help others excel at the same time you push yourself to succeed.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I love being active, busy and social. Especially when I do all of these things with people I enjoy being around like my family, friends and co-workers.

Find out more about Sports Backers here. Shop The Marathon Print here. Photos by Kate Magee.