Running USA

Experts to present a variety of running industry and event topics to take home and apply; price increase on January 1, 2013 so register today for must-attend conference in Savannah, Georgia

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (December 12, 2012) - Running USA 2013: The 10th Industry Conference, to be held February 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, Georgia, offers eight Idea Labs led by experts on a wide variety of topics from race operations to event marketing to crisis management to charity partnerships to making the most of your budget and more.

"The Idea Labs are a conference favorite for our attendees not only because of their variety, but moreover, because these hands-on, intimate sessions spark discussion and provide new ideas and success stories that people later take home and apply in their running worlds," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

For the Running USA 2013 schedule including Idea Lab topics and experts, go to: www.runningusa.org/program-schedule

Presenting sponsors of Running USA 2013, the sport's premier and largest conference, are The Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Competitor Group, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and MarathonFoto.com. The 10th edition theme is "A Bold Past, A Bright Future".

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Opening reception presented by Leslie Jordan, Inc.
• Women's Trailblazer Luncheon presented by The Active Network
• Running USA Hall of Champions Dinner and Auction presented by Competitor Group
• 4th Allan Steinfeld Development Award
• Reception presented by MarathonFoto
• Youth Awards Luncheon presented by Ashworth Awards
• Conference expo
• Morning runs with DMSE Sports
• 2014 site announcement and reception

Register today for Running USA 2013 - The 10th Industry Running Conference
The conference rate of $599 for Running USA members / $799 non-members ends December 31, 2012 with a $50 price increase effective January 1, 2013 ($649 / $849) - so register today. Conference registration also includes daily meals during the conference and admission to the Hall of Champions Awards Dinner.

On-line registration, hotel, travel and other information for Running USA 2013 is available at: www.runningusa.org/running-usa-conference

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular annual conference, website, Running USA wire, Running USA Industry E-News, National Runner Survey, annual marathon, half-marathon and State of the Sport reports, and by providing athlete support via the Allan Steinfeld Development Award.

Running USA's more than 325 members include events with 2-plus million finishers and prize money exceeding $5.7 million, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport. For more information, visit: RunningUSA.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 966-7747 or ryan@runningusa.org

 

***

 

Running USA Announces Youth Awards 2012 Criteria

Three award winners to be recognized at Running USA 2013: The 10th Industry Conference in Savannah, Georgia; for the first time, category winners to receive $5000 each; deadline January 31, 2013

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (January 2, 2013) - Running USA, the national industry non-profit organization, has announced the criteria for its Youth Awards 2012. In addition, for the first time, the three category winners will receive $5000 each, and past Youth Award winners are eligible to enter. At Running USA 2013: The 10th Industry Conference, the three winners will be recognized and feted at the Youth Awards Luncheon presented by Ashworth Awards on Tuesday, February 26. The annual must-attend conference will be held February 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, Georgia.

"Across the country there are many outstanding, impactful youth running programs with dedicated coordinators and volunteers, and we not only want to acknowledge the best ones, but also provide them financial support for their important efforts to keep our kids healthy and fit," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

The deadline to submit a Youth Awards application - 500 words or less - is Thursday, January 31, 2013. Please send applications to Susan Weeks at susan@runningusa.org. (Photo credit, right: PhotoRun)

2012 Youth Awards Criteria

Youth Awards will be evaluated on the following criteria as well as an individual review of submissions by the Running USA Youth Awards Committee.

1) Youth Program of the Year

• Serve youth for any ages between 5 and 18 inclusive.
• Provide a consistent program of running and related activities over at least an 8-week period.
• Demonstrate a means for serving youth of varying levels of interest in physical fitness and ability level.
• Provide the plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
• Be willing to share materials developed and / or staff time to help others start or enhance a youth running program.
• Have a comprehensive risk management provision for safety of participants including, but not limited to injury prevention, background check of all volunteers / staff and emergency segments.
• Have a nutrition and hydration education component.
• Be in existence for at least 2 years
• Be a member or affiliated with a member of Running USA

2) Youth Event of the Year

• Promotes a healthy lifestyle in its messaging surrounding the event.
• Components analysis: scholarship / price, promotion calendar and relationships with clubs and / or schools
• Submissions should include event size, growth and any additional incentives to participants.
• Be in existence for at least 2 years
• Be a Running USA member or affiliated with a Running USA member event

3) Youth Contributor of the Year (Individual or Group)

• Demonstrates an ongoing devotion to the health and well-being of children by inspiring them to run.
• Components analysis: longevity, impact on community and leadership role
• Contributes significantly to a Youth Program or Event that meets all Running USA criteria.

For past Running USA Youth Award winners go to: www.runningusa.org/youth-programs

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular annual conference, website, Running USA wire, Running USA Industry E-News, National Runner Survey, annual marathon, half-marathon and State of the Sport reports, and by providing athlete support via the Allan Steinfeld Development Award.

Running USA's more than 325 members include events with 2-plus million finishers and prize money exceeding $5.7 million, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport. For more information, visit: RunningUSA.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 966-7747 or ryan@runningusa.org

 

***

 

ChronoTrack World Record Sponsor of Running USA 2013

ZAP Fitness fourth Allan Steinfeld Development Award recipient; Ted Corbitt, Nina Kuscsik inducted into Hall of Champions

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. - (February 25, 2013) - At the Running USA Hall of Champions Dinner & Live Auction on Monday evening at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, the fourth Allan Steinfeld Development Award winner and two Hall of Champions inductees were celebrated and feted. The evening presented by Competitor Group was part of Running USA 2013: The 10th Industry Conference that opened to a record registration of more than 500 attendees in the Hostess City of the South.

ZAP Fitness was announced as the fourth Allan Steinfeld Development Award recipient. The development award was named after Allan Steinfeld, who jump-started the U.S. distance running resurgence when as head of the New York Road Runners he allocated $20,000 seed money for the development program Team USA Distance Running. The program, launched in November 2000, produced training groups such as Team Running USA (two Olympic medals in 2004 and major marathon wins) and Team USA Minnesota (winner of the inaugural development award) and inspired the formation of others. Steinfeld also is a co-founder and President Emeritus of Running USA.

"Since our inception in 1999, Running USA has supported and promoted U.S. athlete development, and ZAP Fitness embodies our and Allan's vision. It is our distinct honor to present this $25,000 grant to ZAP Fitness," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

"It is a great privilege to receive this year's Allan Steinfeld Development Award. We began 11 years ago with the sole mission of improving American long distance running and have worked hard to build a successful training center and business dedicated to the sport of running. To have our program recognized by our peers at Running USA is an honor. This grant will go a long way toward supporting our program and our ZAP runners. Thank you to Allan Steinfeld and to all those at Running USA who continue to make this grant possible," said Zika Rea, ZAP Fitness Co-Founder & Director.

ZAP athletes have produced top results from the turf to 1500 meters to the marathon. ZAP qualified five athletes for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon and track & field, nine for the 2008 Olympic Trials, and nine for the 2012 Olympic Trials. Four ZAP men and one woman have qualified for the World Cross Country Team in the last 9 years, another athlete made the World Half-Marathon Team, and four ZAP women have run on the U.S. Ekiden Relay teams in Japan and Korea. Additionally ZAP placed a woman on the World Marathon Team in 2011. ZAP also won the USATF Club Cross Country team title in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and two ZAP athletes made the final of the 5000m event at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

The 7-member training group includes 4 men (Cole Atkins, Cameron Bean, Michael Crouch and Tyler Pennel) and 3 women (Esther Erb, Sarah Crouch and Alissa McKaig) and 3 staff (Zika Rea, Co-Founder & Director; Peter Rea, Head Coach and Ryan Warrenburg, Assistant Coach).

For more information on the team, go to: www.zapfitness.com

Also at the Monday evening awards banquet and live auction, the 10th class of Running USA Hall of Champions was recognized for their contributions and impact to the sport. The 2013 inductees, the 40th and 41st overall, were:

• Ted Corbitt (New York, NY), 1952 Olympian / ultra record setter / developer of U.S. certified course system / founder / pioneer
• Nina Kuscsik (Huntington Station, NY), first official Boston Marathon women's champion / long-time USA Track & Field Women's LDR Executive Committee member and Law & Legislation chair / advocate / pioneer

"Ted and Nina are true pioneers in the sport, who unselfishly have given so much and who also often worked behind the scenes to improve and advance the sport that we love," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

Overall, the conference's live auction raised more than $45,000 for ZAP Fitness and the Running USA elite athlete development and youth programs.

For more information on Running USA 2013 and its annual award winners, visit: www.runningusa.org/running-usa-conference

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular annual conference, website, Running USA wire, Running USA Industry E-News, National Runner Survey, annual marathon, half-marathon and State of the Sport reports, and by providing athlete support via the Allan Steinfeld Development Award.

Running USA's more than 330 members include events with 2-plus million finishers and prize money exceeding $5.7 million, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport. For more information, visit: RunningUSA.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 966-7747 or ryan@runningusa.org