Welcome to our new and improved blog, Live Love Run, where we will be giving you all things J&A Racing related, including training tips, behind the scenes looks of events, inspiring stories from members of our staff and the J&A Racing family, and much more! We can’t wait to connect with you here and encourage you to Live Love Run! 

On today’s blog, we are catching up with Jerry and Amy Frostick (J&A), who first took over the Shamrock Marathon in 2003 and have since grown the J&A Racing community to thousands of runners every year and the calendar to 10 exciting events around the Hampton Roads area. Get to know them more below and their heart for the J&A community! 

Q: Where did Live Love Run originate? 

A: When we needed a tag line, this one seemed to resonate on how we as a couple live our life.  We try to LIVE every day to its fullest, usually starting with a run. 

We spread the LOVE of our running to as many people as we can. 

And RUN is the basis of our company. 

Q: What were you thinking when you first took over the Shamrock Marathon? 

A: We both owned a running and triathlon store at the time we were approached to purchase Shamrock.  The current owners/founders had the race for 30 years.  They wanted a couple to take over the race that would have the same passion for it that they did.  We had trained for the race and trained customers for the race for a long time so it was an immediate yes when they approached us.   We had no idea what we were doing but we used our passion for the sport, and people, to help guide us and the rest is history.  

Q: What’s the biggest learning experience you’ve had over the last 21 years? How has J&A evolved and grown? 

A: The sport of running has changed since we started the company.  When we started, it was a serious sport and all about “racing” for the majority of the runners.  Now it has become an all inclusive sport, more of a “lifestyle” for participants.  We support runners and walkers of all types, sizes, shapes and paces. We try and create “positive” experiences that promotes physical and mental wellness. We like to think our events are more like a festival now than an old school running event. 

Q: What’s one of your favorite race memories? 

A: Wow, there are SO many over the years. Seeing all of the happy, smiling faces at the finish and post race celebration always makes our hearts feel full.

1 extra special memory was watching both my parents compete in the 8K Masters National Championship at the TowneBank Shamrock 8k. My dad was 80 at the time and my mom was 76.  They both placed, I actually had to write my father a $100.00 check.   It is so fun to watch all of our family members compete in the races.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? 

A: I think we try to run our events the same way we live our lives. Whatever you do, give it all you have, be kind and good to others and always laugh and have fun.

Q: What are you most excited about these days? 

A: The race day never gets old for us. It never fails Shamrock weekend that Jerry and I squeeze hands and take a look around us together at all of the crowds of people.  It is still so surreal and humbling to us that people travel all over the country for our events.   

Q: What’s one thing you want every J&A participant to know? 

A: That we are runners too. Everyone of our decisions are based on what we, as runners, would want from an event. We respect the training, the time and the effort each participant makes to come to our event, and we take the responsibility to provide a positive, memorable experience very serious. We have a small but mighty staff that work endless hours to make sure our events are safe and fun.   

Q: What’s something you envision for J&A Racing in the next 20 years? 

A: Our vision hasn’t changed. We have an opportunity, and responsibility, to promote running/walking/fitness and healthy lifestyles in our community. Through keeping our youth motivated and moving, helping those that are dealing with hardships, and giving back to this community that we love, we want to be a positive influence for many years to come.

Did you know…

• Amy’s marathon pr is at Shamrock- 3:10
• Amy and Jerry both ran the 100th Boston Marathon
• Jerry proposed to Amy on a run (special spot on Long Creek when it was called 1st Landing State Park)
• Amy and Jerry have completed 4 Ironman Triathlons
• Jerry was name “National Race Director of the Year” by Road Race Management in 2016
• Amy won the prestigious “Women’s Leadership” award by Running USA in 2018
• Amy and Jerry have 2 grandsons living in Colorado and their youngest daughter lives in Jackson Hole, WY
• Amy and Jerry love taking their 2 labradors camping in their Airstream trailer to play in the woods.