I sat down with Stacy Embretson – marathoner, race ops expert, and Race Director and Vice President of Operations of the LA Marathon – for the latest episode of The Future of Running. The full transcript is below. Here’s what inspired me most:

1. The Course Is the Product

Stacy and her team reimagined LA’s course into a “Stadium to the Stars” tour that doubles as a love letter to LA’s neighborhoods. It’s not just a route—it’s an experience.

2. Run for Something Bigger

Under the McCourt Foundation, the LA Marathon became a nonprofit with a mission: cure neurological diseases, build community, and create a healthier world. Over $70M raised by partner charities. That’s purpose with pace.

3. It Takes a Village (and 3 Cities)

Permitting across LA, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood isn’t just paperwork—it’s diplomacy. Stacy orchestrates a multi-city symphony every year to make this race happen. Olympic-level logistics.

4. Back-of-Pack Gets Front-of-Mind

The “Party Pacers” are LA’s answer to inclusivity. Bright shirts. Big energy. Endless encouragement for back-of-packers. Because everyone deserves a finish-line moment

5. Weather Isn’t a Variable—It’s a Constant

Hot days, wildfires, air quality alerts. Contingency plans aren’t “if,” they’re “when.” Stacy plans like it’s always going to be 90 degrees. Because sometimes... it is.

6. Gen Z Is Running the Show

LA saw a 33% surge in runners under 30. Why? They want more than medals—they want vibes. Photo ops, after-parties, sponsor interactivity, and finish lines that double as festivals. If it’s not Instagrammable, it didn’t happen.

7. Every Race is a Tech Race

From real-time shout-outs to virtual coaching, LA is embracing next-gen tech with tools like SprintCrowd. The race isn’t just on the street—it’s in your ear, on your phone, and in your feed.

8. It’s Not Just Road Closures—It’s Crisis Control

High-speed chases, suspicious packages, and missing barricades. While you’re lacing up, Stacy’s in a command center putting out fires - sometimes literally.

9. Finish Lines Need a Redesign

Her #1 dream fix? Better reunification zones. Because post-race chaos doesn’t have to be part of the package.

10. Running Isn’t Just for Runners

With over 3,000 kids in training programs, multi-race pipelines, and community-centric activations, the LA Marathon is building future runners, neighbors, and leaders.

This conversation reminded me that the future of running is inclusive, tech-forward, emotionally resonant, and community-powered.

Listen to the full episode on The Future of Running wherever you get your podcasts.

The Future of Running is brought to you by Laurel—the next-gen timing and tracking platform delivering near real-time participant tracking, AI-powered storytelling, and race-day safety. From front to back of pack, Laurel keeps everyone connected with live alerts, finish-line moments, and next-level experiences for race directors and runners alike.

Phil Dumontet

CEO, Brooksee

Our full podcast interview transcript—edited for clarity and readability—is below.

[00:01] Phil Dumontet: Welcome back to the Future of Running podcast. My name is Phil Dumont and I'm the CEO of Brooksee. Really excited to be here today with Stacey Embretson, the Senior Director of Operations for the LA Marathon. Stacey has 15+ years of experience in the event world, and has also personally run over 60 marathons. She’s an avid runner, an industry veteran, and we're going to have a really great conversation today. Stacey, thanks so much for being here. Appreciate it.

[00:28] Stacy Embretson: Thanks Phil, I'm excited to talk to you today.

[00:31] Phil Dumontet: The five trends I’ve identified for this podcast are part of our "Head Start" theme. Again, this is The Future of Running podcast, where we explore what’s next in the endurance event industry. We talk to leaders throughout the space. This podcast is presented by Laurel at Brooksee Timing Innovation.

To tee up today’s conversation, here are the five key themes I’ve been presenting at Running USA and the Race Directors Summit in Toronto:

1. Community and the power of connection
2. The mental aspect of running — "Mind Over Miles"
3. Sustainability — how our industry is stepping up for the planet
4. Running for All — inclusivity in endurance sports
5. Tech-Enabled Experiences — using real-time data and AI to enhance races

The two areas we’ll dive into most today with Stacey are community and inclusivity.

As we record this, I’m especially grateful to have her with us — we’re just 24 days out from the LA Marathon. So, Stacey, how’s race prep going?

[01:49] Stacy Embretson: We are in it. Right in the thick of it. But we’re doing great — we feel very prepared. I actually just got back from a walkthrough at Dodger Stadium this morning. And, as they should after a World Series win, the Dodgers are doing some major construction...

[01:55] Phil Dumontet: I know it, I know it. 

[02:11] Stacy Embretson: But it’s fine — they assure me it’ll all be good. We won’t even notice it in three weeks. I’m just trying not to worry about it. It’s not our first time dealing with something like this. Overall, we’re just really excited for race day. Feeling good.

[02:17] Phil Dumontet: Eyes on the ball. Awesome, awesome.

As most people know, the LA Marathon is one of the top marathons in the U.S. — one of the 30 largest races, in fact. Nearly 22,000 finishers last year — up 30% year-over-year. It’s truly an iconic course: from the stadium to the stars, running through Downtown LA, the Walk of Fame, Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Culver City, and finishing in Century City.

Let’s start with some context on the McCourt Foundation for anyone who may not know about the incredible work your foundation does — and then part two: how has the McCourt Foundation shaped the evolution of the LA Marathon since you all took it over?

[03:18] Stacy Embretson: Right — just a bit of history. Back in 2008, the rights to the LA Marathon were up for bid. Our former owner, Frank McCourt — who also owned the Dodgers — won the bid. It was a great way for him to give back to the LA community, especially at a time when the race wasn’t in the best place.

It was really exciting to be part of the team that helped bring it back. The first thing we knew we had to do was fix the course. It had a legacy of running through LA, but visitors often expect to see places like Santa Monica, Rodeo Drive, and the Sunset Strip — areas that are "LA" in spirit but technically separate cities.

So we spent about a year and a half designing a new point-to-point course — originally called Stadium to the Sea — starting at Dodger Stadium and finishing in Santa Monica. That move really defined what we were all about and helped establish the marathon as a truly citywide celebration.

[04:25] Stacy Embretson: It took a lot of effort to get approvals, but it was worth it. That course really showcased LA — not just the city but the county as a whole. We kept that course until 2020. In fact, we were the last major event to happen just before the pandemic. We held the race, and then the world shut down a week later.

During the pandemic, we transitioned to being a nonprofit under the McCourt Foundation. So we moved from being Frank’s entity to Brian McCourt leading the organization.

Frank’s original vision was always that all runners would fundraise and run for charity. That might still be the long-term dream — and it’s an exciting one — but becoming a nonprofit allowed us to really lean into the charitable mission. We created Team TMF, our own fundraising team supporting neurological research. It’s expanded the impact of what we were already doing on the charity front.

[06:01] Phil Dumontet: That’s amazing. So before 2008, was there already a charitable component to the race?

[06:06] Stacy Embretson: Yes, there was. We’ve always had charities involved. We’ve had charity managers throughout the years and organizations like Team World Vision and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society using our race to fundraise. Over the 40 years of the event, our charity partners have raised over $70 million.

So it was already part of our DNA, but becoming a nonprofit just allowed us to amplify that — including launching our own team and growing those partnerships.

[06:51] Phil Dumontet: Thank you for that context. It’s easy to assume the LA Marathon has always been what it is today — an iconic race with a world-class course — but to hear how you reimagined it from the ground up is inspiring. I always say the course is the product. It defines the experience.

[07:21] Phil Dumontet: And with such a great course comes real operational challenges — shutting down a huge city, coordinating agencies, and managing logistics. I’d love to hear more about what those operational challenges are and how you’ve adapted the course to really highlight the best of the city.

[07:54] Stacy Embretson: Right — the course runs through multiple jurisdictions. Boston deals with even more, but for us, just getting approvals in those early days was huge. Getting different cities to work together — West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica — each has their own way of doing things. We had to get everyone in the same room to coordinate.

That meant aligning on everything: street closures, reopenings, public safety, who’s responsible for what, and where. One outcome is what we now call our annual “Street Reopening Meeting,” where every agency gets on a call and walks through the entire process.

In cities like West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, we’re contractually obligated to reopen by a certain time — and that doesn’t happen without tight coordination. Over time, these cities have built strong working relationships with each other, which has been huge, especially looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics.

[09:34] Phil Dumontet: Absolutely. That’s such a powerful reminder for race directors — that even pulling off one city event is hard. You’re working with three or more jurisdictions. Can you break that down?

[09:48] Stacy Embretson: Right now it’s three cities — LA, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood — plus Caltrans, because we close freeways. And then there are a million little things people don’t think about.

For example, there’s an event venue near our 5K course on Saturday. I have to rent the venue just to ensure no one books a wedding there that morning. Same with picnic tables in parks — we rent them to block out space so people don’t accidentally plan birthday parties on race day. These tiny permits are crucial.

[10:45] Phil Dumontet: Totally. All these small things add up. Okay — shifting gears — let’s talk about the future. What innovations or trends do you see shaping how major marathons like LA are run over the next five years?

[11:03] Stacy Embretson: Definitely technology. You guys at Brooksee are leading a lot of that with AI and timing. I was bummed I missed your breakout at Running USA!

I've been in this industry long enough to remember tear tags and spindles, so to see where we are now is wild. Tech has changed everything.

But also — we’re all dealing with the realities of climate change. What used to be contingency plans — hot or cold weather — are now just plans. We assume it’s going to be hot. So we have to plan for ice towels, tapped fire hydrants at the finish line, and unlimited water.

[12:07] Stacy Embretson: What used to be a “maybe” is now a certainty. The weather swings we’ve seen in recent years are extreme — and we have to plan for that. It’s all about protecting our runners and making sure we can host a safe event.

[12:30] Phil Dumontet: That makes a lot of sense. We’ve felt that at Brooksee too — had to cancel REVEL Mount Diablo this year due to extreme weather. These events are happening more frequently.

On a related note, I want to touch on something heavy but important — the wildfires. How have they affected your operations at the LA Marathon?

[13:04] Stacy Embretson: Yeah. The fires have been intense. Historically, wildfire season was in the fall — but that’s changing. This year we had no rain, then extreme winds. We could just feel something was coming, and unfortunately, it was worse than we expected.

It took weeks to get the fires contained. It ultimately forced us to postpone our Pasadena Half Marathon in January. The air quality was as bad as 342 AQI — just not safe.

[14:23] Phil Dumontet: Wow. That’s brutal. Totally the right call to postpone.

[14:34] Stacy Embretson: It was tough. We had runners saying, “How dare you make us run in this air!” So we were getting heat on both sides — people upset about the air and others upset about missing their race.

Thankfully, we have a great relationship with the LA Health Department. One of their leads helped us craft messaging to ease concerns. And once the air cleared, we were able to communicate effectively with runners.

We learned how critical it is to have cancellation insurance, especially for something like a full marathon. Rescheduling the half at the Rose Bowl is one thing. The full marathon? Not realistic.

[15:39] Stacy Embretson: It also underscored the importance of proactive communication — letting runners know we’re monitoring conditions, staying on top of things, and keeping their safety top of mind.

But the fires affected more than just race operations. Thousands of people lost homes — including one of our own staff members. It’s devastating. So now it’s also about: how do we help? How do we give back, support the community, and honor the first responders?

[16:22] Phil Dumontet: You’ve done an incredible job rallying the community during such a tough time. Like I mentioned at the start of this conversation, community is such a key theme. Whether someone’s a first-timer or an elite runner, the LA Marathon creates this incredibly diverse and powerful community experience.

From your perspective, how has the LA Marathon impacted the local community — economically and culturally?

[17:12] Stacy Embretson: It’s massive. We're a countywide event. We bring in thousands of runners from all over the world — not just local participants. That fills hotel beds, packs restaurants, and lets people experience LA life.

Culturally, we’re really intentional about honoring different neighborhoods along the course — Chinatown, Silver Lake, Thai Town, and more. We partner with places like the Silver Lake Conservatory and Children’s Hospital LA. It’s about showcasing what each neighborhood has to offer and getting them involved — cheer stations, entertainment zones, you name it.

[18:34] Stacy Embretson: LA sometimes gets a bad rap, but it’s such a vibrant place with strong neighborhood pride. We want to highlight that through the race. Let’s show people that LA is so much more than Rodeo Drive.

[18:48] Phil Dumontet: It really is the ultimate tour of the city. And with your 60+ marathons, I know you’ve thought a lot about what makes a course memorable. I’d love to dive deeper into the McCourt Foundation’s mission — especially how it’s integrated into the LA Marathon. Can you speak more about that?

[19:19] Stacy Embretson: Absolutely. Our mission is focused on curing neurological diseases, empowering communities, and building a healthier world. Initially, the emphasis was more on the neurological side. But as we’ve grown, especially with our footprint in Los Angeles, the community and empowerment piece has become just as critical.

We focus on three main pillars: research, education, and partnerships.

[20:21] Stacy Embretson: We have over 600 fundraisers for Team TMF, our in-house charity team, and some of that money goes directly to neurological research — which has always been at the heart of the McCourts' mission.

We also work with over 90 other nonprofits that use our events to raise money for their own causes. Plus, we’ve built partnerships with groups like Students Run LA and Beyond the Bell.

Students Run LA is for high school students, and Beyond the Bell is our “26th Mile” program for elementary school kids. We provide training support, race entries, coaching — everything they need to discover running and feel empowered.

[21:11] Phil Dumontet: That’s incredible. I also read that your oldest male runner is 90, and your oldest female runner is 85. But then on the flip side, over 3,000 kids participate through the school programs. That’s real age diversity.

[21:28] Stacy Embretson: It really is. These programs are so special. The students go through a full training cycle — they hit checkpoints like a 5K, 10K, and half marathon before they do their 18-mile "Friendship Run" right before the marathon.

We’re not just throwing a 13-year-old out there and saying, “Good luck!” They get support, structured training, and encouragement every step of the way. And what we’re seeing is that these kids are also succeeding academically — going to college, graduating, thriving.

[22:18] Phil Dumontet: Yes! Running builds confidence, and confidence spills into everything else — school, relationships, career. It’s an incredible life lesson, especially learned that young.

You mentioned that runners have 20,000+ events to choose from in the U.S. I read an article in LAist by Sharon McNary, where she listed five reasons the LA Marathon is unlike any other. Her top reason? Diversity.

So, from your role as Senior Director of Operations, how do you design race operations to ensure a great experience for everyone?

[23:11] Stacy Embretson: That’s where Lucy Murray comes in — she’s our Program Coordinator and an absolute rockstar. She’s our boots on the ground, deeply connected to the local running scene. She oversees our marathon training program, runs with the clubs, supports ambassadors, and listens to runners.

One of the best ideas she’s brought forward is our “Party Pacers.” Yes, we have pros and mid-pack pacers — but we also have pacers for the back of the pack. These volunteers wear bright orange shirts and make sure runners finishing later still feel supported and celebrated.

[24:25] Stacy Embretson: Because eventually we have to reopen the streets, and those final runners might end up on sidewalks. But they still deserve a great experience. The Party Pacers bring the energy — cheering, high-fives, encouragement — and make those runners feel like rockstars. It’s such a simple concept, but it has an outsized impact.

[25:46] Phil Dumontet: That’s so awesome. I haven’t heard of any other race doing something quite like that. I’ve got a ton of respect for those runners — they’re out there for six, seven, eight hours. That takes serious mental toughness.

And I love how your team is intentional about designing every part of the experience, from front to back. It’s not just about the elites.

[26:14] Phil Dumontet: Let’s talk about where the industry is heading demographically. I believe the future of running is social, sustainable, personalized, and tech-enabled.

We’re seeing explosive growth among Gen Z runners — under 30. New York City Marathon saw 20-somethings grow from 15% of finishers in 2019 to 19% in 2023. LA Marathon saw a jump from 21% to 28% — that’s a 33% increase. These runners are driven more by values and experiences than pure competition.

They’re drawn to amazing courses, epic finish parties, and community energy. What are you seeing on your side?

[27:16] Stacy Embretson: Totally agree. And a big piece of that is creating an experience. Our marketing team really focuses on that because for Gen Z, if it didn’t happen on Instagram, it didn’t happen at all.

So we’ve shifted how we think about the event — more photo ops, more music, more entertainment. It’s not just about running; it’s about capturing moments. We used to say “Don’t stop, don’t slow down.” Now we say, “Stop and get that shot!”

[28:01] Stacy Embretson: We’re also more thoughtful about how we work with sponsors. It’s no longer about slapping a logo on a sign. Our partners want to be part of the experience. For example, we’re partnering with Waymo — can runners interact with the car? How do we bring sponsors into the fun?

[28:28] Phil Dumontet: Those Instagrammable moments are gold. Every race should be thinking about those moments. And your expo is now at Dodger Stadium — that’s pretty epic.

[28:50] Stacy Embretson: Exactly. We moved the expo from the convention center to Dodger Stadium. It’s adjacent to the start line, so runners can grab a photo with the stadium in the background. It’s special.

Then we finish in Westfield Century City Mall — they’ve been a great partner. Our beer garden is now there, and it becomes a whole interactive post-race experience.

[29:45] Phil Dumontet: Such a smart move. You don’t have to force the Instagrammable moment — you just have to frame what’s already naturally iconic. And I’m loving that new slogan: “Instagram or it didn’t happen.” Totally true.

Switching gears, let’s talk about something a bit controversial — entry fees. I recently shared in Runner’s World that 50–60% of entry fees often go toward simply ensuring a safe and secure race. Permits, public safety, police, insurance — all before you even get to the medals or shirts.

How do you balance runner expectations with rising costs?

[30:53] Stacy Embretson: It’s tough. Especially after what happened in New Orleans earlier this year — now we’ve been asked to put Waterfield K-rail barriers along 26 miles of the course. That’s… impossible.

[31:05] Phil Dumontet: That wasn’t in the budget, right?

[31:09] Stacy Embretson: Right! We already use about a mile of it in key places. But 26 miles? It’s just not feasible. These conversations with public safety are getting harder — we want to do the right thing, but there’s a limit.

There’s a misconception that we’re price gouging. In reality, most years we’re barely breaking even. Police and fire aren’t volunteering their time — we have to pay for all of it. That cost increases every year.

[31:42] Phil Dumontet: Exactly. That’s why I did the Runner’s World interview — to help runners understand where their money goes. Most people don’t realize how much it costs just to close roads and keep cars off the course.

[32:32] Stacy Embretson: Exactly. And those costs keep going up — police, fire, medical, all of it. We’d love if public agencies volunteered, but that’s not reality. The best we can do is educate runners and be transparent.

[32:46] Phil Dumontet: Let’s shift back into the exciting side of things: tech. What new innovations are you exploring for the LA Marathon, either operationally or on the participant side?

[33:01] Stacy Embretson: One of our newest partners this year is SprintCrowd. I’m fascinated by how far wearable tech has come. I still remember my Nike MP3 player — it could only hold 30 songs! Then came the iPod, now your phone — and now it’s apps like SprintCrowd.

They’re focused on virtual coaching and workouts. Since we had to postpone the Rose Bowl event, we worked with SprintCrowd to create a live virtual race day experience. Runners could log in and get real-time coaching, encouragement from our ambassadors, and more.

[34:00] Stacy Embretson: Even better — if you missed the live session, they recorded it, and you could replay it later. It’s amazing what a phone can do now. You could be running virtually with your friend across the country and still feel connected. That’s where we’re going — real-time community, coaching, motivation. The sky’s the limit.

[34:28] Phil Dumontet: Totally. And we’ve seen that too at Brooksee. With our Every Woman’s Marathon, we used the Laurel app for real-time shoutouts and messages from friends. You could even get encouragement from Des Linden or Deena Kastor mid-race!

We also gave runners a guided tour — “Here’s what you’re seeing at mile 5,” for example. It reinforces the idea that the course is the product, and we’re bringing it to life through tech.

[35:40] Phil Dumontet: Now, back to operations for a moment. What’s one race-day challenge runners probably don’t realize is happening behind the scenes?

[35:52] Stacy Embretson: Oh, I’ve got a list! I spend race day in the command post — and what runners don’t realize is how many non-race incidents we’re managing in real-time.

Suspicious packages, fires on the course, high-speed police chases — yes, that actually happened last year. And you’re suddenly asking yourself, “Do we shut the course down? Reroute?”

[36:22] Stacy Embretson: We’ve done table-top exercises and rehearsed those scenarios, but in the moment, it’s all very real. For police and fire, it’s like game day. They’re wired for it. For me, it’s controlled chaos and internal panic!

There are also the little things — like a goat running loose on the course. Or a truck losing its box of water station supplies en route. You’re scrambling at 5:00 AM trying to fix it before the 6:30 AM wheelchair start.

[37:49] Stacy Embretson: Between 5:00 and 7:30 AM, it’s a blur of “laugh, cry, pray it works out.” And then the gun goes off, and it’s like — whew, we made it.

[37:57] Phil Dumontet: Exactly. Once the race starts, you can breathe. But wow — so much goes into making it look seamless.

[38:14] Stacy Embretson: And you’re covering 26 miles! So much can happen. You’re essentially managing a moving city.

[38:50] Phil Dumontet: If you could change one thing about how marathons are traditionally run — from an operations standpoint — what would it be?

[39:05] Stacy Embretson: Finish line logistics. I wish we could magically create massive reunion zones where finishers and their families can meet without chaos. It’s a nightmare in every race. In Boston, you’re dodging people on the sidewalks. In New York, you’re walking a mile through Central Park.

We’ve tried — beer gardens, family zones — but it’s always congested. We need a better system for reunification.

[39:35] Phil Dumontet: That’s a great one. Maybe there’s a tech solution to help with that. I want to shout out Houston Marathon — they did a great job with reunion zones indoors at the expo center. Breakfast, coffee, barricades, and even alphabetical meeting areas. Super smooth.

[40:17] Stacy Embretson: Yes! And you get a little beer mug too. They’ve really nailed it.

[40:55] Phil Dumontet: What’s exciting you most about the future of running — in LA and beyond?

[41:06] Stacy Embretson: Inclusivity. How do we get more people from every background excited about running?

We’re lucky to offer more than just the marathon — we’ve got shorter races like the 5K, 10K, and half, so we can meet people where they are. Not everyone is going to jump into a marathon, but they can walk a 5K with their community and build from there.

[41:44] Stacy Embretson: There are also incredible grassroots movements — run clubs like Blacklist LA that run at night and explore street art. They’re making running social and fun, not intimidating.

And of course, the tech. Wearables, AI — it’s all evolving so fast. I’m just excited to see how we can keep improving something that’s already awesome.

[42:36] Phil Dumontet: Totally agree. Sometimes we forget: running is supposed to be fun. It’s okay to not take it so seriously.

[42:51] Stacy Embretson: Exactly. I also work at a gym and helped start a run club this year. People were nervous: “Do I have to run five miles?” No — maybe just around the block!

It’s about making movement accessible. Walk, jog, whatever — just get out there and feel good.

[43:45] Phil Dumontet: Totally. One of my friends does one mile a day — that’s it. And he’s been doing it for years. It’s about the consistency.

Alright, let’s wrap with the hot take: What’s one thing about race operations you believe, but others might not agree with?

[43:57] Stacy Embretson: Here’s mine: a course doesn’t have to be flat to be fast.

Everyone complains about the LA hills — especially downtown. And I’m like, “Do you think I personally designed downtown LA to make it harder on you?”

But seriously, you can run a great time on a hilly course. My PRs are on New York and Boston. It’s about strategy, not just elevation.

[45:23] Phil Dumontet: Yes! My PR is from New York too — nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain. And I’ve found that some runners actually do better when the terrain breaks things up.

[45:52] Stacy Embretson: Exactly. Sure, flat and downhill courses like REVEL have their place, but hills can make for a better experience — and even faster results for the right athlete.

[46:18] Phil Dumontet: Love it. Alright — what’s something most people don’t know about the LA Marathon?

[46:24] Stacy Embretson: The first LA Marathon was in 1986, and it was inspired by the excitement around the 1984 Olympics — the first time women were allowed to run the Olympic marathon.

That first course actually started in Santa Monica and finished at the Coliseum. But then for decades, we didn’t include Santa Monica again until 2010.

[47:16] Phil Dumontet: Full circle — and now prepping to host the Olympics again in 2028. Love it. Alright, let’s close with Phil’s Fast Five — lightning round!

Favorite moment from race weekend?

[47:32] Stacy Embretson: Hearing “I Love LA” at the start line. I don’t get to be there in person anymore because I’m in the command post, but that song always brings tears to my eyes. It’s emotional and powerful every time.

[48:21] Phil Dumontet: Most unexpected challenge?

[48:30] Stacy Embretson: The tiniest things keep me up at night. One year, mile 6 didn’t have enough barricades. I’ve talked about it in 14 meetings since. Permits? Fine. Caltrans? Handled. But those 10 barricades… I’m still haunted.

[49:22] Phil Dumontet: Marathon on your bucket list?

[49:22] Stacy Embretson: London. Also Chicago, but I’ve worked there at the start line, so I’m not sure they’d ever let me run it!

But London — the city, the costumes — I’d fit right in.

[50:25] Phil Dumontet: Best post-race meal?

[50:25] Stacy Embretson: For me, it’s Indian food — curry and naan. But I know what I’m supposed to say is In-N-Out Burger. So let’s go with both!

[51:37] Phil Dumontet: One piece of advice for race organizers?

[51:37] Stacy Embretson:
Surround yourself with good people. You can’t be everywhere. Build a support system of folks who care about the event as much as you do.

[52:25] Phil Dumontet: So true. Stacey, this was incredible. Thank you again. Wishing you an amazing 40th anniversary race.

Where can people find more about the LA Marathon and connect with you?

[53:00] Stacy Embretson: LAMarathon.com and mccourtfoundation.org. I’m also on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @StaceyCakesLA — yes, I bake too!