Interview with Jason Bakewell
Get to know the Early Bird 10 Mile Run Race Director — and leader of Integration at Pink Gorilla Events. Jason is the glue that holds the team together and the steady hands that steer the ship!
What’s keeping me excited at Pink Gorilla Events?
What keeps me excited at Pink Gorilla Events is definitely the team. We have an awesome group of people, and it’s genuinely a joy to produce events together. I also love that one of our core values is continuous improvement — I’m always energized by taking participant feedback and turning it into small tweaks or bigger adjustments that make the experience better each time. On top of that, I kind of nerd out on internal systems. We’ve made some fun changes recently to how we pack out for events and improved our staff communication with better radio setups, and it’s been rewarding to see those improvements in action.
Quote of the week:
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” – Jim Morrison
What am I up to health-wise?
I can’t quite give up playing indoor soccer, even when I probably should. I also enjoy running and cycling, and in the winter you’ll usually find me skiing or cross-country skiing. One of my favorite traditions is trying to knock off a Colorado 14’er each year — it’s a great excuse to stay active and spend time in the mountains.
What is something funny that has happened to you or you have seen at an event?
Probably the strangest thing that’s happened at one of our events was during the Market to Market Relay Iowa. After we had started all the waves, the portable toilet company was pumping out the units and found a wallet. They put it in a plastic bag, and we were able to hand-deliver it back to the owner within an hour or so. He was incredibly happy to have it back — despite its condition.
What am I reading?
As a lifelong Nebraskan, I realized I somehow hadn’t read any Willa Cather. So right now I’m working through the Prairie Trilogy: O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and My Ántonia.
What am I listening to?
Hermanos Gutierrez
What i’m into lately?
For the past few years, my wife and I have been building an A-frame in Westcliffe, Colorado. 2025 was our first full year having it up and running as a short-term rental, and it’s been really fun to see it come to life. It’s a great place to escape — perfect for running, cycling, hiking, and exploring the mountains. We love having a quiet spot under some incredible dark skies to recharge. If you want to check it out, you can find it on Instagram and Airbnb at @darkskyhaus.
What would you like to share with people (your Strava, Podcast that you like, music playlist)
I’ve been focused on learning Spanish the past few years. This podcast has been really helpful: https://www.espanolistos.com/
