Neighbors: Chris Tatreau

How about this for a dream job? Fly around the world organizing abut 65 special fitness events a year and get paid for it.

That’s what Chris Tatreau, a Longbeach Village resident, has been doing for 37 years.

“It’s a lot of work, but it is extremely rewarding,” he says.

His primary client is a major financial company, which holds 14 running events a year. The schedule includes Sydney, Singapore, London, Frankfurt and Japan.

“The first event we held in Frankfurt years ago had less than 5,000 runners,” he says. “Last year, we had 72,000.”

The event is always a 3.5-mile run and is held on a weekday after work.

Tatreau’s job focuses on two things: administration and quality control.

“Regardless of weather, the event goes on,” he says. “I remember the Shamrock Shuffle when the temperature was 5 degrees. Then, there was the 2007 Chicago Marathon. It was 85 degrees with 90% humidity. More than 400 people went to the hospital.

“Safety is a factor. I don’t let my crew or the runners out if there is a threat of lightning.”

Tatreau logs at least 150,000 air miles year.

“Air travel has become more difficult,” he says. “You just roll with the punches and get to the airport early.”
Fortunately, Tatreau has never had a close call when flying,

Long flights such as the 19 hours to Johannesburg , South Africa, can be boring. But Tatreau, a former history teacher and history buff, always reads. Hs current interest is World War II.

Coming up in March will be the Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa; the number of runners has increased each year. Three days later, Tatreau will be flying to South Africa for a week.

Prior to each event, Tatreau makes a lot of early-morning calls, such as 3 or 4 a.m., working out details.

Tateau says discipline helps make his job successful. Discipline is a routine part of his personal life. He exercises regularly, bikes, kayaks and has run several marathons.

Always innovative, Tatreau enjoys life in the Village and has organized the Dockheads.

“Every morning, I walk to the town dock to see the sunrise,” he says. “Some of the Villagers, I call them ‘Dockheads,’ join me. We sip our coffee, chat awhile and after the sun rises, we head home.”

This year, his schedule has allowed Tatreau and his wife, Cheryl, to spend a bit more time on the Key.
“I miss it when I travel, and I always look forward to coming home,” he says.