Catching Up with Green Valley Road Race Director Michael Caputo

1. How are plans for next week’s Green Valley Road Races coming along?
MC: Plans for the 49th Green Valley Road Race are complete and we’re looking forward to race day! Weather looks good and our hoodie giveaway turned out great. I’m excited to see everyone Saturday, February 7th.

2. How many years have you been the race director for this event?
This is my fourth year as race director.  It’s a privilege to be allowed to direct the race and to have the support of a professional organization in the Greenville Track Club. I’ve learned a ton, made lots of friends, and it’s been so gratifying to help enable runners to have a great and memorable race experience. 

3. What makes the GVRR unique?
GVRR is not your every day flat race. Along with the Paris Mountain Road Race, it’s one of our two most challenging races.  There’s a place on all of our running calendars for flat, fast, PR courses.  There’s also a place for more scenic and challenging courses. One thing about GVRR is that whenever you’re struggling you can look up, left, right and see beautiful landscape all around you. 

GVRR also has a tradition of the best giveaways.  In my 4 years, we’ve given out Columbia vests, adidas pullovers and this year we have an awesome Next Level branded hoodie. While many races cheap out on the giveaways, we push back against the disposable society by providing durable garments that will last and look good for years. 

GVRR also has developed a strong donor culture. Last year between the runners’ donations and my woodworking studio’s match we donated $1,732 fro the Arthritis Foundation. This year we’re raising funds for Upstate Forever. 

4. You are also a craftsman and have produced some unique and interesting awards for GTC races. How did that come about?
I am a woodworker as well as an engineering consultant when I’m not volunteering with GTC. Several years ago we started making some of the race awards from wood.  As a runner I really appreciate a good quality finishers medal. And on the rare occasions when I placed, I really appreciated a handmade unique item. It’s kind of a woodworker/race director beatitude: treat runners how I want to be treated. ​

5. What are some of your most memorable award creations?
My awards, like my medal hangers, have evolved a lot over the years. I keep working to level up. I still have one of my first medal hangers. Yikes. They’ve come a long way. I recently invested in a much better, pro level laser and am excited to see where that can take my creations. I’m already very impressed with what it can do with photos. In addition to the engraving quality, we’ve evolved shapes over the years. From squares, to singlets, to shoe shaped - this years’s GVRR will feature hexagons matching our hexagonal logo. Here attached are some of my favorites along this road. ​​