The Active Joe

I'm Libby Jones, The Active Joe's Founding "Joe", and owner. I'm a mom, a runner, and a race director, whose days are busy balancing all of these things while celebrating getting active and helping others do the same! I'm a back-of-the-pack runner, and consider myself just "an average joe" who is working hard to get active, thus... The Active Joe!

After getting into distance walking while fundraising for a non-profit cause, I then started running in 2005. As someone living with a chronic medical condition (fibromyalgia), I discovered running kept the condition at bay, was a great social opportunity, and was an enjoyable way to stay fit and active. A passion for running outreach and providing opportunities for others to get active emerged.

I spent 2006-2008 involved with the Dallas Running Club, including time as President for the last 2 years of this period. During this interval, the club grew from 1,000 to 3,400 members, which earned me the Scott Hamilton Outstanding Club President Award from the Road Runners Club of America.

During this time, I learned the ropes from some other great local race directors and experienced the joy in being part of providing an avenue for people to celebrate their active success. I was Volunteer Coordinator for the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon in 2006, co-Race Director in 2007, and Race Director in 2008. 2008 was the largest year in the history of that race, with over 4,500 in the half marathon and 5K.

After my time working on the DRC Half, I enjoyed focusing on helping a friend's non-profit produce the women's race, the Heels and Hills Half Marathon. In 2009, we added a new event, the Heels and Hills and Him Half Marathon, to complement the spring event, and it's grown to almost the same size as the women's one. In 2011, I stepped away from Heels and Hills to spend more time with my family, my own running, and pursuing developing my own events.

I started 2011 out with my first event produced on my own, the sold-out inaugural 200-person New Year's Day Half Marathon - it was the first half marathon for the city of Allen, where I live. It was so fun to be there from the start to the finish, from conception to execution, for the very first time. 2011 was a year of growth as I unveiled the New Years Double for New Year's Eve 2011 and New Year's Day 2012, which sold out more than 3 weeks out with 2,000 registrations for the weekend of double marathons, half marathons, and 5Ks. This event marked Collin County's first marathon. The New Years Double also donated more than $10,000 to local community charities!

2012 began with the development of a new race, The Showdown Half Marathon and 5K. This event was Fairview's first half marathon, held in October 2012.

In 2013, we added the Fairview Half Marathon and 5K in the spring. Now, The Active Joe provides 4 racing days across three quality events. The emphasis is quality over quantity.

I spent three years as the volunteer North Texas State Representative for the Road Runners Club of America. I founded a running club in my area in 2011 called the North Texas Runners. I enjoy being a part of a great local running community in the North Texas area.

I also enjoy running trails and exploring the United States through running ultramarathons in my spare time. I've completed over 35 marathons or ultramarathons, with more than half of those being ultramarathons.