Blistering Pace Race Management Celebrates 10 Years of Delivering World-Class Endurance Events

February 20, 2026

Founded in 2016 by industry veteran Michelle La Sala, BPRM has grown into a nationally respected partner for race organizations seeking expert leadership across every facet of event production.

NAPA, CALIFORNIA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Blistering Pace Race Management (BPRM), a leading race management company specializing in nonprofit legacy events and large-scale endurance races, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this February.

Founded in 2016 by industry veteran Michelle La Sala, BPRM has grown into a nationally respected partner for race organizations seeking expert leadership across every facet of event production. From registration, marketing, and sponsorship strategy to operations, logistics, and course design, BPRM provides both specialized support and full-service race management. The company’s client roster includes Big Sur Marathon Foundation, Napa Valley Marathon and Half Marathon, San Francisco Half Marathon, Stronger Faster Boulder Co, Chicago Event Management, and New York Road Runners.

A Sacramento native and lifelong runner, La Sala’s twenty-year career has been deeply rooted in the sport both personally and professionally. As a former collegiate athlete at the University of Portland, she brings an athlete-first perspective to race management, which is a philosophy that shapes how BPRM designs events that meet the needs, expectations, and emotions of participants on race day.

Before launching BPRM, La Sala built her career within some of the organizations she now supports as clients. She began as Volunteer Coordinator for the LA Marathon, went on to serve as Team for Kids Coordinator at New York Road Runners, became a National Events Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and later the Director of Operations at Sacramento Running Association, where she also served as Race Director for the California International Marathon.

“I never set out to start my own company, that part happened mostly by accident. I was driven by a desire to do more. I wanted to give as many participants as I could the memory of a lifetime through running.” said Michelle La Sala, President of Blistering Pace Race Management. “What BPRM has become sometimes feels unbelievable, but I am incredibly grateful to my staff, our clients, and participants across the country who graciously give us a day of their lives each year for us to fulfill our dreams of making a difference.”

Over the past decade, BPRM has expanded alongside its growing client base and now includes nine full-time team members, supported by a network of trusted partners and contractors. The team recently welcomed former Salomon athlete and 2:09 marathoner Noah Droddy as Sponsorship Manager. With more than 50 years of combined experience in large-scale participation events, BPRM is known for thoughtful planning, creative problem solving, and delivering safe, seamless, and memorable race experiences.

Under La Sala’s leadership, BPRM has navigated both ambitious growth and unexpected challenges. The team helped introduce an instantly successful half marathon to the Napa Valley Marathon, successfully doubling the event’s capacity, and they have managed complex operational challenges such as a course reroute less than four weeks before race day in Big Sur due to a landslide. La Sala’s leadership has earned national recognition, including the Emerging Industry Leader Award from the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, the Women’s Leadership Award from Running USA, and the Association Service Award from the Pacific Association of USA Track & Field for her contributions as Chief Financial Officer of the USATF Pacific Association Foundation, supporting the broader Northern California running community.

Mary Wittenberg, now President of Let’s Do This, first met La Sala in 2005 while serving as President & CEO of New York Road Runners. Reflecting on La Sala’s rise in the industry, she shared:

“Congratulations, trailblazing entrepreneur Michelle La Sala, on building Blistering Pace Race Management into a trusted, high-performing team defined by a uniquely strong mix of passion and operational mastery. Michelle understands every facet of creating great running events, and that perspective shows in the seamless, world-class experiences her team delivers. A leader in the trenches and a culture builder at heart, congratulations to Michelle on continuing to raise the standard for terrific runner and community experiences.”

Ten years in, BPRM is just getting started. With countless finish lines, start-line announcements, and pre-race communications still ahead, the Blistering Pace Race Management team remains committed to elevating the race experience for organizers, partners, and participants alike.

Haven’t experienced the Blistering Pace difference yet? Join one of our events in 2026 and beyond.

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About Blistering Pace Race Management:

Founded in 2016, BPRM works in a variety of race management capacities, ranging from specific projects to full event oversight. Clients include the San Francisco Half Marathon (10K & 5K), the Napa Valley Marathon and Half Marathon, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation, Stronger Faster Boulder Co, Chicago Event Management, and the New York Road Runners. For more information, visit blisteringpace.com.

CONTACT:

Hannah Sconzo

hannah@blisteringpace.com

919-802-3391