As the 30th Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic weekend drew closer, many members of the Ogden Race Committee found themselves running in several directions at once in their efforts to make sure everything comes off smoothly on Friday Saturday.

Meghan Corcoran was no exception.

Her official title and main job is serving as Awards Director for all events but Corcoran picked up some additional duties for this year’s race.

Added responsibilities at work forced her brother, Chris Corcoran, to look for help in his role as director of the 5K Run/Walk.

With Meghan having the benefit of experience gained in past years, Chris didn’t have to look very far.
His sister didn’t see the added workload as an overwhelming challenge.

She saw it as an opportunity.

‘‘You come in earlier and try to not to fit everything in an hour,’’ Meghan Corcoran said.

‘‘I felt so much pressure in previous years, but I’ve learned to be patient and not rush through it. I just take things one minute at a time.’’

Meghan’s work with her brother has been a new experience but it exemplifies the spirit that pervades the Ogden 20K Classic race committee.

‘‘Teamwork,’’ Corcoran said. ‘‘It means keeping up with responsibility and everyone coming together for a common goal so we can have a great race.

‘‘Getting it done and hopefully making everyone proud — especially my father and the team, the committee.’’

Meghan Corcoran has been a part of the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic for as long as she can remember.

A former soccer standout, she ran in the race as a youngster and was always looking for ways to help out, even if it meant something as menial as just passing out race caps.

When her father, Howard Corcoran Jr., became race director three years ago, Meghan begged to be a part of his committee.

‘‘I asked him if there was a role for me,’’ she said. ‘‘I really wanted to be a part of the committee and I took a big step in taking over the awards.’’

As Awards Director, Meghan Corcoran is in charge of selecting the awards to be given out — more than 350 this year — as well as developing color schemes and backgrounds.

Her biggest fears throughout the years have been making sure the money is right, the awards are accounted for and in one piece.

Ironically, she’s usually so immersed in her tasks, she seldom gets a chance to see the final product.
‘‘I’m sort of a behind-the-scenes person,’’ she said.

‘‘I’m in the background, setting up awards and handing them out. I have a duty and a goal to accomplish.

‘‘I wish I could see people and how they react to winning, but I really have to focus on getting the awards in order, making sure they’re all there and making sure that none of them chip.’’

While she isn’t sure she would like the job of Race Director, she’s confident she could handle other aspects of the race administration because of her experience running the awards and now her handling of the 5K Run/Walk.

‘‘But it all goes back to the team. You’re never really doing anything by yourself,’’ said Corcoran.

‘‘You always have a team working with you to make sure things are in place.

“You try to make it better and try to raise the standards but everything is there for you.’’