RIDC’s Champion Highlight: Raul Najera
By Amy DiTommaso
An RIDC Champion is someone who is actively doing the work of the mission and vision of our organization and is a living example of the goals we have.
Our next champion is Raul Najera, the owner of RunFAR Racing Services, a timing company that serves events from high school cross country races to major marathons. Raul is a father, husband, and leader in his community. A former runner (definitely check out the photo from his college steeplechase days—his hair is glorious!), Raul was able to follow that lifelong passion and turn it into a career he absolutely loves. We spoke to Raul about starting RunFAR Racing Services and all the joy he sees as a Latino leader in the running world.
Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC): Please tell us how and when RunFAR Racing Services came to be.
Raul Najera (RN): I started RunFAR Racing Services in January 1999 in Austin, Texas. It was born out of my passion for running and the running industry. I grew up running and competing in high school and college. Ten years later, I found myself stuck in a cubicle and ready to venture off to something more aligned with my passion for running. I was laid off from my corporate job as a claims supervisor and used my severance to start a timing business. In addition, I became a massage therapist and worked with a local sport massage therapy group.
After a year in, timing became more of a priority, and I was able to make it a full-time career. Over the next three years, I merged with the largest running specialty store in the country, left to work for another racing company in Dallas, and, in 2003, returned to Austin to purchase the timing business from the local running store. So, technically, I have two official start dates: when I started timing and when I purchased the running store’s timing business to bring RunFAR back to life. And I’ve been timing races ever since, nonstop!
RIDC: What is your favorite race distance or type of race to time and why?
RN: I love all races equally. And if I had to pick a favorite type it would be cross country meets and marathons. Cross country because it was my favorite growing up and I had the best timing training and racing cross country. The marathon because of the complexity of timing the event. We manage live results for up to three different distances with split timing points every 5K or more. It’s a great feeling to see all the planning come together for a single day’s event.
RIDC: Where do you see successes and/or areas of improvement in the fitness industry when it comes to the inclusion of the Latino community?
RN: I’ve had huge inspiration from the Latino community in the running industry since day one. Growing up in Dallas and running in the late ’70s and all of the ’80s, Team Aztecas was front and center in a lot of races in the area. My collegiate “hero” was Joe Falcon, who ran for Arkansas. While in Austin, I saw Leo Manzano win the UIL State XC Championships, who eventually became a silver medalist in the Olympics. And watching Andres Espinosa and German Silva win the NYC Marathon was very exciting in the early ’90s. I know as a community, we have always been here. Only recently are we getting more exposure, with organizations like Latinos Run and RIDC. The Latino community is huge and we’re really just getting started showing our full presence.
RIDC: What hurdles, if any, have you overcome to become a leader in the running industry? What helped you do this?
RN: It’s tough. Everyone has their hurdles. For me, as long as I stayed true to my passion and goals there was nothing too hard to overcome. Plus, I ran the steeple in college. I ate hurdles for lunch! Definitely I would say my training and racing days set me up to know what hard work means and built an inner confidence to keep moving forward no matter the hurdle. That said, it took time to recognize we are not the work. We’re not someone’s negative feedback. We’re the grind, the sweat, the nonstop perseverance at trying to be better and get better. This mindset never stops. And I’m very proud of how far I’ve gotten and how far we’ve gotten. It’s not just me, that’s for sure. We have fifteen or more staff that make RunFAR what it is today.
RIDC: Please share a joyful story or moment that highlights the work you are doing.
RN: After twenty-plus years, we’ve had many joyful moments and highlights. Initially, it was helping with all of the major marathons like New York, Chicago, and LA. I did get to help time Ryan Hall’s American half-marathon record at the 2007 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. That was pretty special. I’ve also been honored to time the Texas UIL State Cross Country Championships and that is always exciting. The best part over the last decade is that RunFAR is more a family business with my wife, Meghan, helping more than ever expected. At the beginning of our marriage, she said she wasn’t going to time races, which I was fine with. Then we had a shortage in staff a few years later and she jumped right in with both feet. And we haven’t looked back since!
RIDC: What are you currently working on, or what upcoming events do you have?
RN: We are celebrating our twentieth year in business since 2003! Never could I have imagined I would be here twenty-plus years later. We’ve been very fortunate and we look forward to continuing working hard and providing the best timing services in the country!
Know someone who is an RIDC Champion? Reach out to amy@runningdiversity.com and share them with us!
