About Us
The Advanced Running Project mission is to create healthier communities by going the extra mile. We strive to constantly increase the number of people who run while simultaneously encouraging runners to constantly seek to better themselves as runners and as people in order to leave the world better than we found it.
After starting the Advanced Running online forum in late 2011 that now boasts 45,000+ users, the foundations of wanting to grow the running community was born. That forum coupled with Brandon’s passion for running and experience in producing world class races would lead to the creation of the Advanced Running Project. A place where runners can participate in industry leading races, purchase apparel to show off their lifestyle, run with like-minded individuals, compete as a team, and even a place where other race directors could find a resource to help them produce their own events. The Advanced Running Project has never been and will never be about a specific distance, PR, finishing position, or anything of that nature. The Advanced Running Project simply supports the relentless pursuit of personal growth through running.
While a for profit company, we have long looked up to companies who have made strong ethical choices in their decision making as a business. Businesses like Ben & Jerry's, Patagonia, Timberland and others have been role models. Thus since day one of our company we have made being a community partner and supporter of great organizations a cornerstone of our business philosophy. We have donated thousands of dollars to organizations such as Families of Addicts, The Bellbrook Sugarcreek Family Resource Center, Vandalia Recreation Fund, Project Woman, the Historical Society of Germantown, the USO, Shoes 4 The Shoeless, and now through this event, ReTree PC!
While the Advanced Running Project is based in Dayton, Ohio, our Florida roots run incredibly deep and we call Florida home. ARP's founder grew up in Panama City, Florida where he attended elementary, middle, and high school. His father and brother live in Tampa and St. Pete, and his grandparents and Aunt & Uncle both still live in Panama City. We'd also be remiss if we didn't thank our brother for helping design the route of the event as we had originally settled on a more direct route that he felt didn't show off enough of how awesome Florida is! So blame him for the extra miles!
The Advanced Running Project was founded and is run by one guy, Brandon Hough (pic below of Brandon running the Gasparilla 15K).
Introduced to the sport at the youngest age by his father, Brandon competed in Cross Country and Track and Field in high school and at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Since graduating he has continued to improve as a runner and has set PRs each year in distances from 5K to Ironman. His favorite event is the 5000m on the track.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Brandon served in the Air Force before separating in 2014. His next journey saw him lead the operations of 20 events annually including but not limited to four runDisney half marathons, three trail marathons/ultras on Catalina Island, the Anaheim Angels 5k, Surf City 5k, and numerous other events.
In early 2018 Brandon took his passion and skills and launched the Advanced Running Project. ARP began with 3 events and has since grown to produce 8 events (3 virtual events and 5 road races), sponsor an elite team and offers multiple weekly/monthly free group runs. The business is headquartered in southwest Ohio where Brandon lives with his wife Ashley who is employed as a plasma physicist at a local research lab.
Feel free to follow Brandon on Strava to watch as he tries to get fit enough to beat his father's PRs... (2:29 marathon, oof...)
