When I got the briefing about Runner’s World‘s feature on the ACLI Capital Challenge — a three-mile race near Capitol Hill, packed with politicians — I sketched out an idea for the opener that would reference the grass-planted political ads that are staples of any election season. My signs would feature key politicians who participated in the race, and their photos would be action shots taken during their run. (The 2012 race took place months before I’d even joined the staff of Runner’s World, and was photographed pretty extensively.)
RW Associate Art Director Tara Maida and Deputy Art Director Marc Kauffman made the signs, and Rodale staff photographer Mitch Mandell shot them just outside the company parking lot:
Here’s how my final layout turned out:
The feature is joined by a politically-themed service package called “What Kind of Runner Are You?”. Runner types are broken down into four categories: Conservative, Moderate, Progressive and Independent. During the meeting in which I first heard about this feature, I sketched out an opener that would show four closed-curtain voting booths. Under the curtains we’d get a glimpse of the voters’ legs and shoes — running shoes, of course. And we’d identify the four runner types through buttons that we’d add to the layout:
My art team made the buttons:
Here’s how my final layout turned out:
On Election Day, I couldn’t help but reflect on all the career changes that have happened in my life since the last presidential election. Since 2008, I’ve left Las Vegas for a job at Seattle Met, then left Seattle two years later for a job at Men’s Journal in New York City, then left New York 15 months later for a job at Runner’s World in Emmaus, PA. Lots of change.
