Editor’s Note: We are so happy for Jeff Benjamin, who has spent over 36 years writing for all of our publications. Daily runner and frequent racer, Jeff Benjamin loves our sport and his enthusiasm is evident in interviews and features. Thank you to the Road Runners Clubs of America for recognizing our friend Jeff Benjamin with your RRCA Journalism Award.
Recognized by Sports – Congratulations to Jeff Benjamin – 2026 Journalism Road Runner Club of America Award.
From 1990 when I published USA Track & Field magazine with RunBlogRun until 2026, Jeff was one of our great stalwarts, writing profiles, book/product reviews, coverage and historical pieces, a dedication that has continued for four decades. Jeff’s profiles, especially the more than 60 biographies he wrote during the COVID crisis, stand out for his positive, insider writing style about our sport and its great and inspiring people. It’s rare that writers get to call many of these people friends, but Jeff’s passion and openness have undoubtedly led to these lasting relationships with all ends of the T&F/Running spectrum.
Most days, Jeff is my first text in the morning and my last text of the day. As the mayor of Staten Island Running, Jeff Benjamin loves the sport he writes about, and many of his subjects love him; they nominated Jeff for this important award.
So it was happy, but not surprising, news to learn that Jeff will be honored next month by the Road Runners Club of America in Arlington, VA for his significant contributions.
Please join me in congratulating Jeff on this award and appreciating him for all he has accomplished. Here’s a photo collage tribute to Jeff with his subjects (you can guess who they are) where the interview often takes place on the run.
Great job Jeff! (Great service, from Latin).
The RRCA Awards Luncheon takes place on Saturday, April 11th at the RRCA Annual Convention in Arlington, VA.
The list of honorees includes:
• RRCA’s Browning Ross Spirit.
•DOUG PITCHFORD, Alpine Runners, Buffalo Grove, IL
• The best president of the club of the year.
•NIKKIA YOUNG, Richmond Road Runners Club, Richmond, VA
• Outstanding representative of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
•MELANIE CLARK, Representative of Alaska
• Outstanding volunteer of the year.
•DENNIS DUNN, Anniston Runners Club, Anniston, AL
•A great beginner running program.
•MEAGHAN LANGLOIS, Boston Bulldogs Running Club, Boston, MA
• Outstanding youth running program.
• Kids MOVE, Richmond Sports Backers, Richmond, VA
•Road Runners of the Year
•YOUR MANZ, Open Male
•TAYLOR ROE, Open Female
•SAM CHELANGA, Male Master
•SARA HALL, Female Master
• Excellence in communication.
•PIKES PEAK ROAD RUNNERS, Colorado Springs, CO
•Excellence in running journalism.
•JEFF BENJAMIN, Staten Island, New York
• Road race of the year.
•ANNAPOLIS 10 MILE RUN, Annapolis, MD – Rose Dziedzic, Race Director
. RRCA Hall of Fame Induction :
Rich Kenah
Jared Ward
For information on the convention and awards luncheon, visit: RRCA.org
