Zulu Racing - Race Timing, Race Consulting, Clock Rental, Race Coaches & Trainers

Executive Team

Michael Buckelew – President/Co-Owner

Michael grew up in Roswell, GA and graduated college on the plains of Auburn University. He has been blessed with the passion to run and race in triathlons! Michael has completed over 20 International distance triathlons, marathons, 1/2 Ironman and the Florida IronMan! Triathlons are seen as a gift from God and His extended grace. Michael and his wife Allison are active members of World Harvest Church in Roswell, GA; where they have developed their passion for God and compassion for people around the world! Michael is the race director of World Harvest Church’s Big Pumpkin 5K, an event that raises money for youth mission trips to Honduras, Dominican Republic and South Africa. He recently graduated from the World Harvest Bible Institute with an associates degree in Biblical studies. Michael also serves on the Youth Mission Board and Advisory Board at WHC, ABLE Man of the Year 2009 and is involved with Safehouse ministry, Street Reach ministry, Big Peach Outreach, Convoy of Hope, ChristianRunners.org, LCM: KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and Foundation Love Your Neighbor: Dominican Republic.

Kirk Childs – Vice President/Co-Owner

Kirk is native to Atlanta. He is an avid runner and triathlete. He has completed 8 marathons, 5 ultra-distance trail races and one half-ironman. Kirk is also the Race Director for the Frogtown Trail Challenge in Cumming, GA. He recently served as Chairman on the Board of Ethics for the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia and also serves on the board of non-profit ChristianRunners.org. He has been married for 36 years. He has 2 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren. He and his wife Sharon attend Northpoint Community Church. His passions include running, biking, backpacking and traveling. Kirk enjoys missions work. He has been involved with mission work in Jamaica, South Africa and Siberia, Russia.

Kelli Sliwinski – Race Manager

Kelli grew up in the Buffalo, NY area until 2004 when she moved to Atlanta. She grew up swimming competitively since age 10 who became a triathlete in 2004 with a sprint tri in Buffalo, NY. Since then, she continued competing in more triathlons and road races with the help and encouragement from being involved with ChristianRunners.org. With that involvement and the Lord’s inspiration, she has completed over 10 marathons since 2007, including the Boston Marathon 3 times, over 20 sprint and olympic triathlons, including USAT Nationals, 3 half ironman races, two time Florida Ironman finisher, 5 ultra marathons and the Grandfather Mountain 3 day race. Kelli has 5 amazing kids. She attends Northpoint Community Church, is a board member for ChristianRunners, a co-founder and board member for Foundation Love Your Neighbor in the Dominican Republic, leader for the ChristianRunners Women’s Bible study and the co-Race Director of the Frogtown Trail Challenge. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Phil 4:13

Craig Hobson – Event Coordinator/Race Director

Craig grew up in Arkansas and moved to the Woodstock area in 2004. Growing up, Craig played football, baseball, tennis and competed in regional and national Tae Kwon Do tournaments. He started running in college, ran his first 5k race, and has not looked back. Craig prefers shorter distance races and therefore has competed in countless 1/2 marathons, sprint triathlons, duathlons,10k’s, and 5k’s in various states. Craig is passionate about his relationship with Jesus, so he finished college and then completed his Masters in Theology so he could teach others about Jesus. He has led or been on mission trips to Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore, Jamaica, Germany, Dominican Republic, and around the USA. He planted and was pastor of Faith Fellowship Church in Arkansas before moving to the Atlanta area to help another church start. He has been a pastor, associate pastor, student pastor, and worship leader, at churches, youth and children’s camps for over 29 years. He presently attends World Harvest Church in Roswell, GA where he teaches in the World Harvest Bible Institute, has worked in the student ministry, and been involved on the worship team and in multiple church drama’s. Craig is the race director for the Run Zulu 5K, the Warthog Waddle, and loves working races with the Zulu Team. Craig is married to Melanie and they have 4 wonderful children.

Tom Doran – Director of Finance

Tom is from Saginaw, Michigan and came to the Atlanta area in 1990. He works as a CPA and Financial planner and owns his own business. Tom has been into physical fitness since his early twenties. As a Christian, Tom has always felt that the Lord wants all of us to be balanced in our various endeavors and especially to take care of the bodies He has given us. As well as dabbling in three triathlons, Tom has competed in over 200 races of various distances from the mile to the marathon. He has completed 14 marathons including the coveted Boston, as well as, Philadelphia, Detroit and Ottawa. Tom is a big supporter of the Christian Runners organization because he believes it is a blessing to be involved with like minded people. Tom is part of the Zulu Racing organization because he believes that Zulu has a work ethic second to none. If running isn’t enough, Tom also is a Master in Tae Kwon Do (4^th degree) in which he has been involved for over 12 years. Tom and his wife, Linda, live in Woodstock GA.