| Running USA wire 84, October 19, 2005 |
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Contact: Karen Kalan, The Los Angeles Marathon, (310)
444-5544 x306; kkalan@lamarathon.com LOS ANGELES - (October 18, 2005) - A race record
$417,600 will be available in prize money at the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon
presented by Honda on Sunday, March 19. With an overall prize purse
increase of 32% from 2005, the Los Angeles Marathon now offers the fourth
highest prize purse in the United States and the largest guaranteed
first place payout at $135,000. "The Challenge" is an L.A. Marathon innovation in which the elite women start the race ahead of the elite men at a time to be determined - a mathematical model taking into consideration each athlete's past 18 months of racing. The result promises to be a dramatic finish with the first person to cross the finish line winning the $100,000 bonus. "The Challenge" Champion will also be awarded $35,000 for finishing first in his or her division, making the $135,000 cash prize the nation's highest guaranteed first place payout. For the first time, the L.A. Marathon will also be offering prize money and bonuses for American and Californian athletes. The American and California total prize purses will be $18,000 and $5000, respectively, for the top 3 places per gender. For anyone who places in the top 3 in multiple categories, prizes are cumulative. In addition, Marathon organizers announced a bonus of $1000 for any U.S. athletes who run under the 2008 Olympic Trials "A" qualifying times of 2:20:00 for men and 2:39:00 for women. "Coming off the largest race in our twenty-year
history, we are pleased to be able to increase our prize purse by more
than 30% thanks to our sponsors, participants and our new parent company,
Devine Racing," said Los Angeles Marathon President, Dr. William
Burke. "With the addition of prize money for the fastest Americans
and Californians, the Los Angeles Marathon is taking a leadership role
in rewarding excellence." Since its inception, the L.A. Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, has raised more than $25 million for local charities by encouraging participants to run for a cause. Once again, the L.A. Marathon promises to deliver what has become known as the "Million Dollar Morning," as 50 charities will benefit from the anticipated $2.5 million raised by runners who complete the 26.2-mile run. The 2006 Los Angeles Marathon will once again be televised live on NBC4 and Telemundo 52 and via the World Wide Web courtesy of NBC4. The webcast enables a global audience to experience NBC4's live broadcast of the marathon in real-time by logging onto NBC4.tv or by linking thru LAMarathon.com. In addition to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., marathon sponsors include American Airlines, NBC4, Telemundo 52, Saucony and Emerald Nuts. To-date, more than 375,000 runners and walkers have participated in the L.A. Marathon. For more information or to register for L.A. Marathon XXI, visit LAMarathon.com or call (310) 444-5544. Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Barbara Huebner, (617) 549-9339 B.A.A. to Host USA Distance Running Summit in
Boston October 21-23 BOSTON - (October 17, 2005) - Coaches and directors of some of the most successful elite distance running teams in the U.S., including Team Running USA, will gather in Boston Oct. 21-23 to chart the future of their athletes, their clubs and the sport in this country. Hosted by the Boston Athletic Association, the 2005 USA Distance Running Summit will focus on continuing the recent progress made by American distance runners. The resurgence of successful, comprehensive distance running clubs has been heralded by most experts in the sport as the favored route for U.S. athletes to become world class competitors. "As one of the oldest running clubs in the country, based in a city known around the world for its running tradition, it is only fitting that we seize every opportunity to serve the sport," said Guy Morse, executive director of the 118-year-old Boston Athletic Association. "American distance running right now has turned the corner, and we want to do anything we can to help it keep going in the right direction." Last year, the first USA Distance Running Summit was organized by ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, N.C., one of seven clubs expected for the Boston conference. Also planning to attend are representatives of Team USA Minnesota, Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, Indiana Invaders, Big Sur Distance Project, the new Boulder Distance Club and Team Running USA. Among them, athletes in the seven clubs reflect every phase of top notch distance running in America, from the promising-but-unknown sub-elites to 2004 Olympic marathon medalists Meb Keflezighi (silver) and Deena Kastor (bronze) of Team Running USA, the first Americans to bring home Olympic marathon medals since Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1984. Echoing that success, Kastor won the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9; the first American to win a major marathon since Kristy Johnston at Chicago 1994. Discussions on race scheduling and training methods will lead the summit agenda. Also planned are sessions on marketing strategies, health care and how to structure the optimum environment for athletic success. Guest lecturers include former top U.S. marathoner Bill Reifsnyder, adidas sports marketing manager; Mark Wetmore, president of Global Athletics & Marketing, Inc., a Boston-based athlete-representation and events firm; Dave McGillivray, president of DMSE Inc. and race director of the Boston Marathon; Dr. James Zachazewski, clinical director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Sports Medicine & Elite Athlete Health Center and Bill Squires, the legendary coach of a roster of U.S. distance greats that included Bill Rodgers. Greg Meyer, winner of the 1983 Boston Marathon when he lived and trained in Boston, will be keynote speaker at a dinner to conclude the summit. Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and its five-year-old B.A.A. Half Marathon on Oct. 9 was highlighted by American newcomer Celedonio Rodriguez's victory over an international field. The organization also sponsors other local events, including the Oct. 23 Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races, in which athletes from several of the USA Distance Running Summit teams are expected to compete. In addition to events, the B.A.A. supports comprehensive charity, youth and year-round running programs. Visit the B.A.A. website at: BAA.org Return to top / Return to main page SunTrust Richmond Marathon
Poised to Break Entry Record RICHMOND, Va. - (October 18, 2005) - The 2005 SunTrust Richmond Marathon will set a new record for the most entries in the event's 28-year history in the next two weeks. As of Monday, October 17, over 4,000 runners had registered for the marathon, quickly approaching last year's record total of 4,221. With three and a half weeks left to register, a total field of over 4,500 is expected by race day on Saturday, November 12. This is the seventh consecutive year that the marathon has set a new entry record. The marathon's companion race, the NTELOS 8K, is also expected to boast a record field. With 3,100 already registered, past history indicates a race day field of at least 4,200 registrants, which would break the record of 4,037 set in 2003. The SunTrust Richmond Marathon will be held on Saturday, November 12 beginning at 8:00am at 7th and Broad Streets in downtown Richmond. The NTELOS 8K - with a new, more scenic course for 2005 - will follow at 8:35am. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will begin at 9th & Main Streets at 8:15am. NTELOS 8K participants will want to keep their eyes open for the PUNCH surprise while out on the course. Devised and sponsored by Richmond-based creative firm PUNCH, the surprise promises to be something totally out of the ordinary. Online entries for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, NTELOS 8K and Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will be accepted at RichmondMarathon.com. up until Wednesday night, Nov. 9. After that, people can sign up at the Race Expo at the Omni Richmond Hotel on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 4:00 - 8:00pm and Friday, Nov. 11 from 11:00am until 9:00pm. There is no Race Day registration. The best place for runners and the media to get updated news about the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, including traffic information and race day parking, is at RichmondMarathon.com. For more information, please call Scott Schricker at (804) 285-9495. Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Tamara Hills, Brooks Sports, Inc., (425) 489-2444; tamara.hills@brooksrunning.com Brooks Sports®, Urban Athletics to Crown Central Park Reservoir Champ BOTHELL, Wash. - (October 19, 2005) - Running in circles may seem inefficient, but efficient is exactly what runners will need to be when participating in the second annual "Urban Athletics Reservoir Challenge" in New York City on Friday, November 4. Back by popular demand, the competition will draw some of the world's fastest runners for a spirited race around the famed Central Park Reservoir running path, each looking to break the unofficial record of 7 minutes and 3 seconds. While millions of New York residents and visitors grace this recreational path every year, only one man - Greg Meyer, the last U.S. man to win the Boston Marathon (1983) - is said to unofficially hold the record for the fastest time around the 1.58-mile loop. With some of the world's most talented runners in town for the ING New York City Marathon, New York specialty running retailer Urban Athletics and event sponsor Brooks Sports predict the Reservoir Challenge will deliver performances close to, if not faster than Meyers. "Anyone who has visited Central Park on a regular basis has undoubtedly looped the reservoir as part of their regular run or training route, and some of the most talented do so in the days leading up to the marathon," said Jesse Williams, manager of Brooks' Athletes and Ambassadors program. "The Urban Athletics Reservoir Challenge is a great way to spice up that route, give runners a fun memory and, crown the official King and Queen of the reservoir." Designed as a time trail event, the Urban Athletics Reservoir Challenge will schedule competitors to run at specific times between 9am and 4pm on Nov. 4. The challenge is open to the public for an entry fee of $15, which Urban Athletics will donate in full to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Timeslots can be reserved on Urban Athletics' website at UrbanAthleticsNYC.com or at its retail store located on Madison between 91st & 92nd, just steps from Central Park. "We want to help every runner find their running inspiration - whether that's through a new technical outfit, a personal record or an alternate route, and this event allows us to expose just one of many popular trails located in the park," said Urban Athletics Owner Jerry Macari. "And Brooks makes a perfect partner for us in this event, as we both share the same desire to provide our customers the best performance running gear on the market." The fastest male and female finishers of the day will each receive $1000. They'll be awarded an additional $2000 if they also beat the previous male/female course record. The top age graded time of the day will receive a $500 gift certificate to Urban Athletics and the fastest male and female members of the media will each receive a $250 gift certificate to Brooks. All Urban Athletics Reservoir Challenge participants will take home a technical, moisture-transfer top from Brooks. Meyers will be on hand to clock runners' times and hand over his title. About Brooks About Urban Athletics Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Carlsbad Marathon Reaches Out to Weather-Weary
Runners CARLSBAD, Calif. - (October 17, 2005) - The Carlsbad Marathon will hold its second annual "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad" promotion, announced race organizer, In Motion, Inc. Free entry into the Carlsbad Marathon will be offered to finishers of fall marathons where snow covers at least a portion of the course. Marathoners who trekked through their race in the rain will be treated to half-price entry fees with the exception of runners in September's Fox Cities Marathon who were unable to finish because of an unusually violent thunder storm. "Those poor souls can have free entry and a gift certificate for some warm soup," said Lynn Flanagan, Carlsbad Marathon race director. The race is set for January 15, 2006. The promotion prompted numerous requests for free or discounted entries last fall. "It has been a fun way for us to showcase our classic Southern California climate and to reward runners who brave snowy or rain-soaked fall marathons," said Flanagan. Carlsbad, located approximately 30 miles north of San Diego on the Pacific coast, has an average low temperature of 47 degrees and average high of 65 degrees in January. Normal rainfall in the San Diego area in January is 1.8 inches. By contrast, Seattle's average rainfall in January is 5.94 inches and Chicago's average snowfall in January is 10.7 inches. "Southern California is not immune to rain," said Flanagan. "But we certainly have much better weather here than in other parts of the country, especially in January." The free entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check application because of snowy fall marathon conditions. The half-price entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check because they ran their fall marathon in the rain. Rain Check applications and complete promotion rules and regulations are available online at CarlsbadMarathon.com or by calling (760) 692-2900. Rain Checks must be mailed to: "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad," c/o In Motion, Inc., 6355 Corte del Abeto, Suite C-103, Carlsbad, CA 92011. The 15th annual Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, January 15, 2006, are San Diego County's only winter seaside marathon and half-marathon. The fast out-and-back half-marathon course and the rolling marathon course feature live bands and offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Carlsbad beaches. The event weekend also includes the Keebler Kids Marathon Mile on Saturday, January 14, 2006, and a three-day Health and Fitness Expo. For more information on Carlsbad tourism, visit VisitCarlsbad.com or call (800) 227-5722. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |