In the latest episode of Find Your Finish Line, I had the pleasure of chatting with Shawn Sullivan, the newly appointed Executive Director of Running USA. As we kick off 2026 and our fifth year of the podcast, Shawn joins me to share his background as an on site announcer at major sporting events and how those experiences shaped his path to leading Running USA. We talk through his journey in collegiate sports and event management, and his vision to unite and elevate the running community across the country.

Shawn dives into the importance of connecting every level of the industry, from major marathons to small community races, and how Running USA can support both. We explore his strategic priorities, the role of empathy and listening in leadership, and how collaboration can strengthen the entire ecosystem. He also highlights the upcoming Running USA conference in February and why it matters for networking, learning, and moving the industry forward.

Throughout the conversation, Shawn’s passion for running and the people behind it really comes through. We touch on growth opportunities like trail running, partnerships across endurance sports, and the power of community in shaping the future of running. Shawn also extends an open invitation to the Running USA conference and encourages everyone to stay connected at runningusa.org.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnksullivan/

Running USA: runningusa.org