Meet the Race Directors
Douglas Howell, Race Director
Click here to watch interview from 2022's 4Star 4Mile race day.
Doug Howell was born in upstate New York. After graduating from high school in 1964, he joined the military service and was assigned to the United States Marine Corps Special Landing Force (Amphibious Ready Group) as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. Doug fought in Vietnam 1966-1967. He was awarded the Purple Heart, combat action ribbon, Presidential Unit citation (twice), The Navy Unit Commendation (twice) and Vietnam Presidential Unit Commendation.
Doug began his Physician Assistant (PA) career after graduating from The Johns Hopkins University in 1977 and worked as a practicing PA until 2012. Doug’s clinical career spans several disciplines, including OB/Gyn, Urgent Care, Family Practice, Nephrology, Prison Medicine, Sports Medicine and Occupational Medicine. His career took him from Maryland to New York, and in 1993, to Michigan, where he became the manager of the health clinics for both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. In 1996 he began working for Concentra Occupational Medicine clinics. While there, he became a preceptor, and for 15 years, taught Wayne State University students how to examine and treat patients and was a frequent guest lecturer at the university.
Doug joined the faculty at the WSU PA program in 2014 and retired in May 2022. In 2022, Wayne State University PA program created a scholarship in his name. Doug enjoys sharing stories and has been a storyteller at the Secret Society of Twisted Story Tellers on 4 different occasions. Doug also enjoys running and has been an avid long-distance runner (12 marathons). As part of Detroit’s Downtown Runners and Walkers, he became a frequent race volunteer.
In 2017, he combined this passion with his support of veterans by establishing the 4Star 4Mile Race in conjunction with the annual Veterans Day celebration in Detroit. The race supports the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition and connects civilians with veterans/active military in a common goal of community service.
Doug returned to Vietnam 5 times, starting in 2008, when he was invited to join a small group of his fellow marines to look for a very remote mountain battle site on the border of Laos. He authored a book on living with PTSD and how the return trips to Vietnam affected him; and the transition from post war years: The Night is Dark and I am Far From Home.
Doug has two grown sons, 4 grandchildren, a dog, is married and lives in St. Clair Shores.
Courtney Faust, Race Director
"Hi! My name is Courtney Faust and I started running on the track team in middle school because it was the only sport you didn’t have to try out for, and I was athletically challenged (to say it nicely). From then on, I was hooked. I love running because of the peace and sanity it brings me; going out for a good run can clear my head, balance my mood, and chase away just about any stress I have. I started running in races to support local charities that I was passionate about (READ: Dog Rescues!) and don’t really run in them to win, but more to enjoy the thrill of the race and the comradery of the running community.
I work for AM General, the manufacturer of the HUMVEE and JLTV combat vehicles, so my passion for our Veterans and Active-Duty Military runs deep. I work alongside so many of the men and women that protected our country, and there are days I am so overwhelmingly proud of their grit, determination, and ethics, and it’s all I can do to support them by keeping these vehicles in production. My boyfriend was a Marine and each year we go to Washington DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon. It is so humbling to be cheered on by these strong men and women that are willing to put their lives at stake for our country. They are the ones that should be cheered on, not me. This is why I find the 4Star 4Mile race so amazing. This race is committed to bringing together the civilian and military communities and unites them through running. I met the Race Director, Doug Howell, after running one of the 4Star 4Mile races, and his passion and enthusiasm caught me like wildfire – I just had to be a part of what he is doing. In the past year that I have been working with him, his wisdom and kindness has become invaluable to me, and I truly look to him as a mentor.
In my personal life I am the “bonus mom” to 3 beautiful young ladies and enjoy spending my time with them and their dad. I enjoy lazy days with a good book and a big glass of wine, working out in my yard when the weather permits, and cooking delicious food to feed the people I love."
