Lutzie 43 Foundation Hosts 9th Annual Road Race

For the ninth consecutive August, the Lutzie 43 Road Race, organized by the Lutzie 43 Foundation, which honors the legacy of former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who died in a 2014 car accident, by exposing the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, proved to be a smashing success.

Held on the first Saturday morning of August at Lassiter High School’s Frank Fillman Stadium, invariably under steamy weather, the 5K, which is followed by a 50-yard kids fun run, serves the dual purpose of galvanizing friends and relatives of the late Auburn star and 2010 national champion as well as members of the Marietta community and raising funds for the rock-steady nonprofit that is gearing up for its 10th anniversary next summer. Indeed, this year was no exception, as there were more than 1,000 runners participating (approximately 700 onsite and 300 virtually) and, ultimately, a $50,000 net profit for the Lutzie 43 Foundation.

“It just continues to get bigger and bigger,” said Mike Lutzenkirchen, Philip’s father, who now serves as the executive director of the Lutzie 43 Foundation. “It’s a very financially important event for us, but it has become as equally important as a community [event], almost like a reunion opportunity.”

At the conclusion of this year’s race, won by 31-year-old Alex Shipp (15:51.7) in the men’s division and 17-year-old Daniela Delgado (19:48.7) in the women’s, Mike Lutzenkirchen challenged the onsite runners and spectators to each register one friend for the race’s 10th iteration next summer. If so, the field could eclipse well over 1,500 participants, representing a milestone achievement for an annual event that now has national and even global reach. In addition to the strong showing of support from the Marietta and Lassiter communities, there were many runners participating on a virtual basis in Indianapolis, Birmingham, Auburn, and Chicago; concurrently Mike’s sister-in-law, Katie Meier, head coach of the University of Miami women’s basketball team, led a 56-person contingent on a virtual run in Paris when the team was traveling overseas in early August.

It just continues to get bigger and bigger…It’s a very financially important event for us, but it has become as equally important as a community [event], almost like a reunion opportunity.

Not only has the number of participants been trending in the right direction with dozens of first timers entering the field this year, but the foundation has secured the backing of more than 20 local establishments, including its presenting sponsor, Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw, and Lucia’s Italian Restaurant, the popular neighborhood spot, where runners were able to retrieve their bibs the night before the race. Thus, what started out as a low-key race, primarily established for Philip’s friends and relatives to congregate in remembrance of the man who was a stalwart of both the Marietta and Auburn communities, has now morphed into a full-fledged event including a jampacked sponsor zone that greets runners as they glide across the finish line.

With Mike Lutzenkirchen devoting his professional career toward spearheading the Lutzie 43 Foundation, the 5K road race along with the foundation’s other two marque fundraising initiatives, an early May golf tournament and a year-end retail campaign where people reach out to their database of supporters, continue to evolve on a regular basis to meet the organization’s fiscal requirements.

“As you do things year in and year out, if you’re not improving, you’re kind of falling backwards,” added Lutzenkirchen.

To that end, Mike, his daughter, Abby, a former captain of the University of Alabama women’s soccer team who serves as the foundation’s director of events and opportunity management, operations director Bill Butler, and the board of directors have contemplated holding next year’s race at night, perhaps in conjunction with a concert. Of course, while this year’s race did finish by 9:15 a.m., an evening 5K might appeal to more potential runners with the sun not beating down every second. Nevertheless, as Lutzenkirchen acknowledges, next summer, the race will most likely kick off at its traditional 8:00 a.m. start at the 43-yard line at Frank Fillman’s Lutzie Field.

Regardless of whether there’s a morning or evening shotgun start, the Lutzie 43 Road Race’s ever-growing popularity serves as a reminder of the countless lives that Lutzenkirchen, in his relatively brief time on earth, touched.

“It has really become a community gathering,” Mike Lutzenkirchen reiterated. “From the Lassiter community, you can extend it if you want into East Cobb County. I get to see parents my age whose kids played sports with my kids back from grade school, middle school, high school, and I may get to see them one time a year at this event.

“To give you perspective, there are two ladies my age – and I just turned 60 – they get to see each other once a year, they don’t do a good job of staying in touch with one another, but they walk the race and get caught up on life.”

Save the date for the tenth reunion: Aug. 3, 2024.