Ben Twigg, Bellingham Bay Marathon

It takes a pragmatic person to run a marathon, and Ben Twigg, race director of the Bellingham Bay Marathon, could be described as such. His take on the EXPO is that it presents a great value in a number of areas that matter to him. “The EXPO gives us great exposure at a local level, and since it grows each year, our exposure grows,” he said. “But even more important is the chance it offers to get to know our local race participants and to hear feedback about their experiences we would not otherwise hear.”

For Twigg, the timing of the EXPO couldn’t be better, since the BBM happens in September (this year, it’s the 25th, which is one week after the Recreation Northwest Bellingham Traverse). “We are at the point where some plans are still flexible, so we can fine tune and improve the race based on participant feedback,” he said.

Twigg also finds great value in the networking opportunities at Basecamp and the EXPO. “I’ll connect with race directors, meet new people and discuss collaboration possibilities. Good ideas always come from these events,” he said. “New relationships and partnerships with other race directors are formed, even though you could consider other races competitors. But we’re really all friends and more interested in synergy and collaboration.”

EXPO attendees will have the chance to learn about the BBM, get their questions answered and register to win a free race entry. Twigg says the new venue should attract even more first-time participants, as well as walk-in traffic. “The Bellingham Bay Marathon is also held at the Depot Market Square, and it’s a great building for the EXPO,” he said. “The potential for foot traffic and exposure to folks who don’t know about the event will be great, and I’m looking forward to benefiting from the new location.”

And, being the pragmatic guy that he is, Twigg offers a little insider tip for outdoor recreation companies or organizations that are thinking about exhibiting at the EXPO: “It’s a very good value, with a lot of bang for the buck,” he said. “It all comes down to cost vs. benefit, and this event offers great opportunity for the cost.”