A screenshot of JoshBillings.com

Its full name is the Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon, but to Berkshire locals, this annual
event is known simply as The Josh.

Founded in 1976, it’s one of the muddiest, sweatiest, and most muscle-wrenching events in the county – and also one of the most popular. Upwards of 500 teams, from weekend warriors to full-fledged Iron Men and Women, converge at the Stockbridge Bowl with bicycles, kayaks or canoes, and running shoes.

As soon as the starting gun fires, a flurry of wheels, paddles, and feet relay across the towns of Great
Barrington, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Lenox, finally ending on the grounds of Tanglewood.
In order to keep race enthusiasts informed and to attract more athletes and spectators each year, Josh
Billings RunAground coordinators needed a revamped website in keeping with the needs of today’s
technology-fueled world that would also be simple for its all-volunteer staff to update throughout the year.

Phil Cohen, Project Manager at Winstanley Partners, explained that the agency worked in tandem with Race Director Patty Spector to switch JoshBilllings.com over to the WordPress content management system, which makes additions and updates simpler.

“We totally revamped the organization of the content to make it easier to find for users,” said Cohen, “and now race organizers will be able to utilize third party plug-ins and software add-ons that will continue to make the site more user-friendly and more scalable for the future.”

The changes were particularly important to make for The Josh’s core audience, a group of athletes of all abilities who routinely check race locations, routes, and results with the help of online resources.
“Race coordinators can now add events such as the ‘Josh Clinics’ and features like the MatchMaker, which connects athletes to other athletes,” said Cohen, noting that the site is also tied to Facebook and Main Street Mail, Winstanley Partners’ proprietary e-mail marketing system. “Main Street Mail is used particularly often during race season – it delivers relevant information quickly and directly to the people who need and want it most.”

Featuring photos by Kevin Sprague, owner and creative director of Studio Two in Lenox, JoshBillings.com also includes course maps, photos from past races for purchase, and information regarding equipment rentals, local lodging options, and online registration forms. This year, the 36th annual Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon will be held on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Past and present members of the Winstanley Partners team at The Josh, 2010.