Allan Steinfeld steps down as New York City Marathon race director
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Last week, the New York Road Runners announced that Allan Steinfeld would relinquish his role as race director of the ING New York City Marathon as well as being president and CEO of the running club.

Mary Wittenberg, who Steinfeld hired and groomed over the past six years, will become the marathon race director and president and CEO of the running club on April 1.

Steinfeld has been a NYRR member since 1963. In 1978, he took a 50 percent pay cut from his teaching job to work as the official assistant to Fred Lebow, the president and marathon race director. The two were often seen working in tandem, with Lebow viewed as the visionary and marketing pioneer and Steinfeld as the execution and tactical genius. Steinfeld took over both roles in 1994 after Lebow's long illness from a brain tumor.

The NYRR is a non-profit multi-million dollar organization that has more than 60 full-time employees and thousands of volunteers that serve 40,000 members from every state and more than 100 countries.

NYRR produces more than 55 annual races, offers classes and lectures, maintains four Web sites and publishing a monthly magazine that rivals national publications.

The club also supports a foundation that encourages 5,000 public school children a week to participate in running.

Steinfeld will assume the new role of vice chairman of the NYRR and executive director of the New York Marathon.

Steinfeld, 58, wanted to travel more to spread awareness of the NYRR and the marathon and to help race organizers in other cities promote their events.

Steinfeld noted that "one of the most important things about being a leader is to create more leaders, and I feel I've done that with Mary." Steinfeld cited Wittenberg's abilities for the recent NYRR gains in "membership, race participation, marathon entrants, sponsorship and TV revenue, that are all at all-time highs." Wittenberg, 42, won the 1987 Marine Corps Marathon.

There are many things that Steinfeld can be proud of during his tenure. He instituted a chute system that allowed the club to record places and times for hundreds of runners finishing in packs.

Steinfeld and Lebow developed a technique for accurate measurement of road races around the world through the Association of International Marathons.

Steinfeld lists his highlights: Watching Lebow run the five boroughs for the first time along with nine-time New York marathon winner Grete Waitz in 1992. The 2001 marathon that helped show the resilience of New Yorkers just eight weeks after the Sept. 11 tragedy. Putting on the Fifth Avenue Mile since 1981 and the World Cross-Country Championships in 1984.

He was also the chief referee of Los Angles Olympic marathons and was able to watch Joan Benoit win the gold from the lead vehicle.

"Marathoners are the customers of the race organization and the city," Steinfeld said. "The best advertisement for a marathon is a satisfied customer who will spread the gospel about the event to their friends."

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226