Julia Emmons to Retire from the Atlanta Track Club

Facing the fact that there is no Botox cure for her impending 65th birthday, Julia Emmons has informed the Atlanta Track Club Board of Directors of her intentions to retire from her post of the Club's Executive Director, including her duties as race director of the 55,000-runner Peachtree Road Race.

"The past 20 years have been the happiest and most fulfilling of my life," says Emmons. "This is and will remain a dream job. There has not been a day since the spring of 1985 that I did not relish going to work."

"However," she continues, "it is time to turn the reins over to the talented next generation. But," Emmons firmly adds, "I shall not be retire-retiring, and plan to stay fully engaged in the civic life of Atlanta that has meant so much to me."

The Atlanta Track Club Board of Directors has appointed a Transition Committee, headed by ATC Vice President, Bruce Whitmer. Whitmer says a search committee will be appointed by the Board, and likely be ready to receive resumes for the position by early summer. Emmons has expressed her interest in concluding her duties by the end to 2006, though is willing to stay on into 2007 should that be in the best interest of the organization.

"Julia is leaving a smoothly functioning organization, with a fine staff widely acclaimed for their outstanding road race management skills and sense of service to the community," says ATC President, Mark Brayman. "The ATC Board will make every effort to hire a replacement who will not only respect, but strive to enhance, her legacy."

For more, contact:
Bruce Whitmer, (404) 231-3000
Julia Emmons, (404) 231-9064 x14; jemmons@atlantatrackclub.org

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Top International Field Expected at Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run®
First-Ever Elite Women's Advance Start; $31,500 Purse

WASHINGTON, DC - (March 28, 2006) - Last year, Gilbert Okari, the favorite in the 2006 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® on Sunday, April 2 in West Potomac Park, was a bit of a late starter. During the spring he lost to John Korir at three major spring races, the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile and the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA. Over the summer, Okari hit his stride with nearly weekly trips to the winner's circle as he strung together wins at the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, the Utica Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY, the Quad-City Times Bix 7 mile in Davenport, IA, the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, ME and the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, MA (beating Korir in the last three of these outings).

However, at year-end, he ended up just fractions of a percent behind Korir in Running Times Magazine's "Road Racer of the Year" rankings. He appears to be getting an earlier start in 2006 as he bested Korir at the World's Best 10K (placing 2nd in 28:04 to Korir's 8th in 28:44). Korir is not defending his title here as he prepares for his marathon debut at the Boston Marathon, but Okari looks poised to start his roll a bit earlier this year with an eye toward the top spot in the 2006 rankings. Reuben Chebii is the man considered most likely to derail the "Okari Express". Chebii placed second in 46:58 here last year to Okari's third in 47:16 in near gale force winds. A third Kenyan, Samuel Ndereba, fresh off a win last weekend at the Azalea Trail 10K in Mobile, AL (28:35) and with a second place finish here (48:14) in 2004, could be in the mix.

For a third year, a talented squad of three Japanese runners, traveling here from the Feb., 11th Himeji Castle 10 mile in Himeji, Japan, the "sister" race of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom, will take aim at breaking the Kenyan juggernaut in the winner's circle. Michitaka Hosokawa, who placed 2nd at Himeji in 47:11, Kazuo Ietani, 3rd at Himeji in 47:11 and Shin-ichi Watanabe, 6th at Himeji in 47:19, could offer serious challenges. Last year, Ietani set a fast pace in the early miles before fading to 11th in 48:19.

The top Americans in the men's field are Matt Downin of Norwood, NJ and Chris Graff of Palo Alto, CA. The top American male will be invited to compete in the 2007 Himeji Castle 10 mile.

In the women's race Luminita Talpos of Romania, the 2002 champion, and Olga Romanova of Russia, the 2003 champion, will take on 2000 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Lidia Simon, who is making her debut here. Alevtina Ivanova of Russia, 3rd last year in 53:17 and 1st last weekend at the Uptown 8K in Dallas, TX in 25:16, also could be a factor. Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia is a bit of a wild card as she is racing on just two week's rest after winning the Los Angeles Marathon in 2:25:10.

Whoever wins the women's race will establish a world record as the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile is the first 10-miler on a loop course to utilize an advance start for the elite women's race. Approximately 25 women will begin at 7:50am - 10 minutes before the men - guaranteeing that the first runner to reach the tape will be female and will set the world record for a women-only race. If the first American woman finishes ahead of the first overall man, she will establish a U.S. 10 mile women-only record as well. Top Americans in the field include three Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholars Kristin Price, Turena Johnson Lane (6th here last year in 55:37) and Lucinda Hull. Heather Hanscom, the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon champion (2:37:59) and formerly from Alexandria, VA now training in Palo Alto, CA, is also entered. The top American female will receive an expenses-paid trip to a race in Japan.

The elite runners will compete for a total purse of $31,500, the event's largest ever, with $6000 going to each race champion. The event is the only world-class running event in Washington and is part of the Professional Road Running Organization circuit.

The event, which filled its 10,000-runner field in a matter of days last December, draws runners of all abilities to participate in what is known as "The Runner's Rite of Spring" in the Nation's Capital. Two members of Congress, Sen. Max Baucus and Rep. Jim Marshall, lead the nation's lawmakers taking part. The event, which costs the Washington, DC taxpayers nothing and has minimal impact on the city's neighborhoods, is conducting an economic impact study through George Washington Univ. to measure its impact on the Washington, DC economy.

This year's charity recipient is the Children's Miracle Network, which will receive a donation of over $500,000. This will bring the total charitable contributions to over $1.5 million dollars since the Credit Union Miracle Day Committee became the title sponsor in 2002. The event also funds two $5000 grants for developing U.S. distance runners as part of the Road Runners Club of America Roads Scholar program.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is part of the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 25 to April 9. The race will be televised on local ABC affiliate WJLA Channel 7 in a half-hour special from 5:30pm - 6:00pm on Saturday, April 8th and in a half-hour show on the Outdoor Life Network.

For additional information, visit CherryBlossom.org, send an e-mail to race_director@cherryblossom.org or contact the race hotline at (301) 320-3350.

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Danny Elfenbein, (305) 278-8668; dannye@PRRacingEvents

ING Miami Marathon™ Marks Fifth Edition with Reduced Entry Fees - April 10-17
Sign-up premiums include performance shirt, hat and ING Direct Orange Savings Account Bonus

MIAMI - (March 29, 2006) - As the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon™ begins celebrating its 5th Anniversary as South Florida's premier running event, organizers announce the opening of registration for the 2007 race, slated for Jan. 28. To commemorate the milestone and honor thousands of runners who are set to run Miami, organizers plan on offering major premiums to participants and special registration fees during a weeklong "Registration Blitz." Registration for both the full and half-marathon will be discounted up to fifty percent during the blitz and all runners will receive a performance t-shirt ($25 value), a running hat ($15 value), personalized race bibs and $25 from ING DIRECT to help runners save their money with an Orange Savings Account.

The Registration Blitz will officially open online only at INGMiamiMarathon.com on Monday, April 10 and will last thru midnight, Monday, April 17. The first 200 people to register for the marathon or half-marathon will pay just half of the regular entry fee, the second 200 to register of each race will receive a forty percent discount and all other registrants registering through the end of the Blitz will receive a thirty percent discount. Additionally, all registrants have the opportunity to receive an additional $25 bonus from ING DIRECT upon the completion of opening an Orange Savings Account (INGDirect.com).

As an added bonus for runners who have completed either race during the first four years, organizers announce the "5 in 5 Club," honoring runners who have showed determination and loyalty to running Miami and Miami Beach. Runners who complete their fifth consecutive race in 2007 will be given a special commemorative award to acknowledge their achievement. In 2012, runners will be honored again with the "10 in 10 Club."

The 2006 race weekend included over 12,000 runners and organizers expect that number to increase in 2007 to celebrate the 5th running of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon™. For more information, go to INGMiamiMarathon.com or call (305) 278-8668.

ING is the title sponsor of the ING Miami Marathon and 17 other major marathons across the globe. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit: ING.com

Part of ING, ING DIRECT is the operating name of ING Bank (Member FDIC), a federally chartered savings bank offering the Orange Savings Account and other high value financial products including the Orange Mortgage. For more information, visit: INGDirect.com

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Contact: Hank Brown, Co-Event Director, (423) 229-1167; hankelope@hotmail.com

Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's Announces New 8K Course, New Location
All Races Will Finish in J. Fred Johnson Stadium

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (March 28, 2006) - Crazy 8's race organizers have announced the popular Fun Fest event will have a new course and new start and finish location.

The "World's Fastest 8K" will move from Green Acres Shopping Center on Eastman Road to J. Fred Johnson Stadium on Fort Henry Drive. The 8K runners will run a very similar figure-8 course as the old course and return to finish inside the stadium.

Thousands enter the race each year, which is also the home to two world road records.

In 1990, the old Fun Fest Midnight 5-Miler, which had been in existence in some form or fashion since the beginning of Fun Fest, went through a major renovation, and after a few brainstorming sessions, the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K was born. At that time, organizers unveiled a new figure-8 course with the start, middle and finish at the virtual intersection of the figure-8. The unique design attracted huge and boisterous crowds who gathered in the middle of the action.

Sixteen years and two world records later (Peter Githuka, 22:03, 1996; Asmae Leghzaoui, 24:28, 2002), the course has become known as the "World's Fastest 8K."

"The new course actually runs on exactly the same streets, but in a different order," said co-event director Hank Brown. "We're starting on Ft. Henry Drive in front of the stadium, then we will basically reverse the order of the two loops of the figure-8. In other words, we'll run the old second half of the course first, pass by the stadium at the halfway point (on Ft. Henry Dr.), and then run the old first half of the course last. We will then return to J. Fred Johnson Stadium for what I think is the highlight of the course - a spectacular finish inside the stadium."

So, why move when you've had so much success on the old course?

According to Brown, the certification on the old 8K course had expired, so it would have had to be re-measured and re-certified anyway.

"So, we felt like if we were going to move, this was a good time, plus we saw an opportunity to relocate to a much better staging venue, but still use basically the same course. To be honest, we had kind of outgrown and worn out our welcome at the Green Acres Shopping Center, so when we started looking around for a new location, my wife Natalie suggested J. Fred Johnson Stadium, and everything just fell into place from there."

An added benefit is that all Crazy 8's activities will now take place at the same location.

The Holston Medical Group Little 8's Youth Runs, which had been staged at Johnson Elementary School, will now run inside the J. Fred Johnson Stadium walls. Also, Neil's Walk, presented by Cardiovascular Associates and the Eastman Credit Union, will follow a 3K course around the bordering Greenfields neighborhood, and return to a grand finale inside the stadium.

Dave Rogers, the official USA Track & Field certifier for the state of Tennessee, measured the 8K course and thinks the new design has some advantages over the old one.

"It is basically the same layout as the one used to set the current men's and women's world records. Some advantages of the new course are that it has a long, flat straightaway for the start before turning right onto Eastman Road. Also, having Githuka Hill (Wilcox Drive) on mile 2 rather than mile 4 should make it less of a challenge."

Tyler Hobbs, co-event director with Brown, thinks the new location is just what the race needed. "There aren't many races in the country which will have a better finishing arena than J. Fred Johnson. We think the runners and walkers will get a big kick out of entering the stadium under the big scoreboard and running the length of the football field under the lights to the finish line. Plus we kept all the good features of the old course but eliminated some of the problem areas, most notably the crossover at the halfway point. It was a good time to move."

Crazy 8's is managed by We Run Events. For more information, visit: Crazy8s.org

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Inaugural Carpe Diem® Santa Monica Classic to Celebrate Earth Month
April 30 Event to Benefit Heal the Bay

LOS ANGELES - (March 29, 2006) - On Sunday, April 30, in celebration of Earth Month, the inaugural Carpe Diem® Santa Monica Classic will feature a spectacular run on new 10K and 5K courses plus the opportunity to help keep coastal waters safe and clean.

The races will begin at 8:00am at Ocean Park/Barnard Way and take participants from the world famous Santa Monica Beach, up Main Street and through the winding streets of San Vicente Blvd. Participants will cross the finish line atop the picturesque Santa Monica Pier and all proceeds from the event will benefit Heal the Bay.

Heal the Bay is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to making Santa Monica Bay and Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for people and marine life.

The Carpe Diem® Santa Monica Classic will include an environmentally themed expo, high-quality technical running shirt, tours of the Santa Monica Bay Aquarium, kids play area, Carpe Diem recovery lounge, concierges in the event parking lots, free pre-race coffee service from Peet's Coffee and an interactive website featuring streaming video, podcasts and blogs.

The inaugural run is sponsored by Carpe Diem, and produced by Peter Abraham and Pacific Sports. Pacific Sports is dedicated to the management of top-notch sports events all around the world; including triathlons, marathons and other running events. Pacific Sports has produced over 100 triathlons in the United States including the Los Angeles Triathlon as well as the Catalina Marathon. For more information or to register for the run, please log onto CarpeDiemSMClassic.com.

Contacts: Emily Wilson / Denise St. Jean, Murphy O'Brien Inc., (310) 453-2539

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director

(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org

RunningUSA.org