Earning a “healthy” living is a career dream come true for triathlete Bob Baney, founding partner of 3 Way Racing LLC.
Baney’s company promotes an active and healthy lifestyle by putting on races for runners and walkers, which benefit the fundraising efforts for local charities. In addition, by drawing runners from out of town and partnering with local businesses, 3 Way Racing contributes to the local economy.
“We have runners from ages 6 to 83, so it’s never too late to get started,” Baney said. “I feel very fulfilled. It’s a business, a way to pay the bills, but at the same time we feel like we’re serving the community.”
In 2011, Baney and two other triathletes formed 3 Way Racing with the vision of offering more triathlons in the Lexington area. They quickly learned that 5K races are easier to produce than the multisport competition of swimming, biking and running.
“We had to get closures of the Ohio River for barges and crazy things we had never thought of,” Baney said of 3 Way Racing’s first Ironman half-triathlon. Gravitating more toward events for runners over the years, the business now has five partners, owns 15 annual races and provides chip timing for 80 to 90 other races across the state that are run by charities, churches and schools.
The chip timing uses radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology to give each runner an accurate timing for the race based on an individual chip in each racer’s bib. Coordinating the chips and other activities on race days requires volunteers, part-time help and the 3 Way Racing partners: Baney, Matt Montgomery (in Louisville), Skip Rafferty, and Jennifer and Paul Upton.
In addition to chip timing, 3 Way Racing can offer race management assistance for organizations. “We add a level of poise and calm to the situation,” Baney said.
First-time race directors have similar questions about the logistics of putting on a 5K, so four years ago Baney created the Bluegrass Race Directors Symposium. The annual event is an opportunity for statewide race directors to network and share best practices.
“There’s a language to it, a system to it,” he said.
The gathering, held at Buffalo Trace in February, drew about 100 people.
Baney grew up in Pittsburgh but calls Lexington home. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University, but his career path took off in management and development. It led him to Lexington in 1984. He was the director of training and management development for Bank One (now Chase Bank) and worked in development for the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.
“I decided I wanted to branch out and do something on my own,” he said. “I connected with these other neat people that had likeminded interests.”
For three years Baney worked on getting the necessary approvals and permits for a 26.2-mile marathon in horse country and succeeded in establishing the Horse Capital Marathon at Fasig-Tipton in 2015, the first marathon in Lexington in 36 years. The second annual event is in May, with title sponsor Kentucky Ale, and is one of only five marathons in Kentucky.
“We expect the Horse Capital Marathon to have some 2,500 runners this year,” Baney said, “with about a third from out of state and 40 percent outside a 90-minute drive from Lexington.”
As the company grows, 3 Way Racing has been able to connect with more local businesses. North Lime Coffee & Donuts, for example, is sponsoring the inaugural North Lime Donut Dash 3K on National Donut Day, June 3.
Each race owned by 3 Way Racing has a charitable beneficiary. A portion of the proceeds is donated to a local charity, such as Chrysalis House, Foster Care Council of Kentucky, Old Friends, Lighthouse 17, On the Move Art Studio or Surgery on Sunday, to name a few.
On March 19, 3 Way Racing is hosting the inaugural Officer Daniel Ellis Memorial 5K at Richmond Centre Mall. Proceeds will benefit the Daniel Ellis Memorial Foundation, which is being created by the fallen officer’s family. Baney reached out to his widow through the police department and offered to establish the 5K to honor Ellis’ legacy.
“I wouldn’t put on a race if it wasn’t connected to something I can touch and feel,” Baney said. Community connection can be felt by race organizers and participants alike. Runners often prepare for a 5K, half-marathon or marathon by belonging to a run/walk club. There are at least a dozen in Lexington alone.
“The whole social media aspect of running has changed everything,” Baney said. “Training and racing is more social these days and not as much of an individual grind.”
For more information about 3 Way Racing, visit www.3wayracing.com.