About AIMS

Horst Milde

Horst Milde was a baker by profession, but also a keen runner, and he founded the Berlin Marathon back in 1974. Under his direction it grew from a race of a few hundred, held out in the woods, to an event of 40000 runners which showcases all of Berlin's most prominent landmarks. He handed over the daily management of the Marathon to his son Mark Milde, but is now President of the German Road Races Association. He was an AIMS Board Member from 1999 to 2010. He was instrumental in establishing the AIMS Marathon Museum of Running and continues to coordinate this important facility on behalf of AIMS.

Will Cloney
1st President of AIMS

The first President of AIMS, Will Cloney, was race director of the Boston Marathon from 1947–1982 and President of the Boston Athletic Association from 1964–1982. He attended Harvard University from 1933 and became professor of English and journalism at Boston's Northeastern University from 1937–1953, spanning four years of military service in the Second World War. He was a sportswriter for the Boston Globe from 1930–1953, followed by three years with the Boston Post. He directed the Boston Marathon for 36 years, guiding the event during the popularisation of the marathon in the late 1960s, and the institution of qualifying times in the 1970s, right through to the running boom of the late 1970s. In his first year in charge there were 184 runners; by the last this had grown to 7,647. Married in 1937, he had four children. He died on 16 January 2003 at the age of 91.

Hiroaki Chosa
4th President of AIMS

AIMS has developed into a trustworthy partner for IAAF in the international athletics movement largely through the leadership shown by Hiroaki Chosa. AIMS benefited from direct access to decision makers in the international athletics movement through Mr. Chosa's expertise and experience. His experience is varied: through athletes he trained in his national association; through his position as Race-Director of the renowned Fukuoka Marathon; and through his membership of the IAAF Road-Running Commission. It is also thanks to Mr. Chosa that AIMS had contact with Japanese sponsors, which helped the association to become financially independent. This in turn allowed AIMS to carry out several worldwide initiatives.

Andy Galloway

Andrew (Andy) Galloway was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1930. “My running career probably started at the age of five when my mother walked me 1.5 km to school for my first day, but made the mistake of letting go of my hand when we reached the school gate. I took off, running as fast as my little legs would carry me, and didn't stop until I reached the safety of my home,” Andy Galloway recalls. “At the age of sixteen a very good friend who was a New Zealand Junior Champion at javelin and hammer throw, asked me to join him in his endeavour to stay fit during the winter season and to join the local winter running club. That was it; I was soon addicted to running and have remained a member of Hamilton Harrier Club for the past 60 years, serving as Committee Member, President and now Patron and Life Member.” Andy Galloway ran his first marathon at the age of 20 and “Because of my interest and love of marathons, I started taking groups of runners to overseas events such as the Honolulu Marathon or the Round Rarotonga Road Race.” It was on the tour to Honolulu in 1981 that he was asked to attend a meeting of race directors to discuss the possibility of a World Marathon Circuit. This was his introduction to Will Cloney (Boston), Chris Brasher (London), Fred Lebow (New York), Serge Arsenault (Montreal) and others. Andy Galloway was then elected to the first Board of AIMS. He was appointed as Secretary/Treasurer and was involved in all aspects of the Association for the next 15 years.

Chris Brasher
2nd President of AIMS

Born in British Guiana in 1928 and educated at Rugby School and Cambridge University, Chris Brasher discovered a love of the adventurous outdoors early in life. Before the age of 22 he had participated in two Arctic expeditions. He was introduced to serious athletics at University and quickly made an impression, competing in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics before famously helping to pace Roger Bannister to the first sub four-minute mile in 1954. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics he lined up only as Britain's third-choice steeplechaser but against all expectations – except perhaps his own – he won gold in 8:41.2. A successful career in journalism and broadcasting followed. He was twice voted British Sportswriter of the Year. A business based on selling orienteering gear from the boots of cars led to the opening of the first 'Sweat Shop' retail outlet. This has since become a chain of shops managed by his son, Hugh. He also set up a sports shoe distribution company called Fleetfoot. In 1979, with ten fellow Ranelagh Harrier club members on the “Sweat Shop” tour to the New York Marathon, Chris Brasher was inspired to wonder whether London could organise a similar event. Only a man of Chris’s vision and determination could have brought the dream to fruition a mere 18 months later. Chris himself, at the age of 52, ran 2:56:56 in the inaugural London Marathon. This race is his greatest legacy. Chris Brasher, who was AIMS’ President from 1983–1987, died of cancer on 28 February 2003 at the age of 74. With his wife Shirley he had three children: Kate, Amanda and Hugh. (Steve Rowland for the Ranelagh Newsletter)

Fred Lebow

Fred Lebow founded the New York City Marathon in 1970, and in 1993 became chairman of the New York Road Runners Club (NYRRC) after a 20-year term as president. He was one of the major influences behind the running boom in North America and elsewhere, contributing innovative ideas and programmes to the sport. He was also a major driving force in the establishment and development of AIMS. Fred Lebow expanded the New York City Marathon from a small event held entirely within Central Park to its present city-wide version with hordes of spectators cheering on more than 35,000 runners. Father of the marathon, he conceived, conducted, directed and sponsored the first race with just 127 runners – of whom 55 finished, including Fred himself. He personally bought wrist watches as prizes for the first ten finishers. Lebow also started such original events as the Fifth Avenue Mile and the Empire State Building Run-Up. He developed the New York Road Runners Club from 270 members in 1972 into the largest organisation of its kind in the world. Today the club organises more than 100 events annually. Fred Lebow, born in Romania as Fischel Leibowitz, spent time in Ireland, Czechoslovakia and other European countries before moving to the US. After settling in New York, he made a successful career in the clothing industry before he started working full-time for the NYRRC. In 1992 Lebow ran his only five-borough marathon in New York together with Grete Waitz to celebrate his 60th birthday and the remission of his cancer. But less than two years later he died of brain cancer on 9 October 1994 at the age of 62.