Andrea Dowdy

Andrea transformed the Denver Colfax Marathon from the brink of financial collapse to a titan of the endurance sports world, now one of the nation’s top 25 marathon weekends. Under Andrea, the Colfax Marathon grew participation from 4,000 to 27,000 runners and established the largest marathon relay in the U.S., complete with an innovative $175,000 charity prize pool. Her tenure was defined by strategic infrastructure shifts, securing the official “Denver” naming rights and redesigning courses to feature iconic landmarks like the Denver Zoo and Empower Field. Andrea secured high-profile partnerships with major brands like Cigna, asics, CommonSpirt, Altra, Walker & Dunlop, and Google Fiber.

A recognized authority in the field, Andrea was named the 2022 Endurance Sports Professional of the Year by NCS4 and has served as a keynote faculty member for Road Race Management, specializing in crisis communication and sponsorship. Beyond the marathon, Andrea’s career is rooted in over 30 years of international logistics and executive leadership, including spearheading Worldwide Sports Marketing for The Walt Disney Company and managing operations at Kodak’s European Headquarters. Whether coordinating a 2,500-person “Runway Run” at DEN that sold out in 13 hours or drafting the COVID-19 operational guidelines adopted by the State of Colorado, Andrea consistently turns complex logistical challenges into record-breaking triumphs.

Key Highlights Included:

Scale:
- Grew event participation from 4,000 runners to 27,000 runners
- Marathon Relay that is the largest in the US.
- Created a charity partners program that is a free platform, with 150 charities each year entering runners and raising money for their cause
Philanthropy: Supported 150+ charities annually through a free platform and a massive relay prize pool.
Recognizing elite and talented runners
- Started the High School Achievement Award program recognizing the top Colorado distance runners each year at the Colorado Running Hall of Fame evening.
- Launched the Colorado Half Marathon Showdown, a prize pool for Colorado elite athletes as part of the Denver Colfax Marathon weekend.
Industry Impact: Authored state-wide safety protocols and received the NCS4 Facility of Merit Award.