| Running USA wire 25, April 5, 2006 |
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Contact: Audra Fleming / Susan Reid, Elite Racing, Inc., (858) 450-6510 Olympic Gold Medalist Highlights Carlsbad 5000
Field CARLSBAD, Calif. - (April 5, 2006) - A race renowned for fast runners and world records once again welcomes a stellar field for the elite invitational at the 21st Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday, April 9, 2006. Leading the way will be Olympic gold medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, who won gold in the 5000 meters at the 2004 Games in Athens. She will be joined by the runner-up in that same race, silver medalist Isabella Ochichi of Kenya. Ochichi returns to Carlsbad as a past champion who broke the women's world record in 2004 and finished second last year. The spring running season is in full swing as a contingent of runners will travel to Carlsbad straight from Fukuoka, Japan where they competed at the World Cross Country Championships, April 1-2: Ethiopians Sileshi Sihine (12K silver medal) and Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam and Mohamed Moustaoui of Morocco from the men's field and Defar, Ochichi, Australian Benita Johnson (4th 4K and 8K), Jo Pavey of Great Britain and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya from the women's field. If history holds true, a world record could be in sight, as last year, Tirunesh Dibaba tied the women's world mark at Carlsbad (14:51) after winning gold in both the long and short races at the World Cross Country Championships. Defar, 22, owns the fastest 5K in the elite women's field this year. She made a previous appearance in Carlsbad when she finished third in 2004 en route to a stellar season that saw her capture Olympic gold. Australian Benita Johnson adds to the competition as well. After winning gold at the World Cross Country Championships two years ago, she joined the elite women's field in Carlsbad where she finished second in a time of 15:07. Crowd favorite and three-time Carlsbad champion Sammy Kipketer, who set the current men's world record of 13:00 when he won Carlsbad in 2000 and matched the effort in 2001, returns again. After finishing third last year, Kipketer again eyes the top of the podium. Challenging Kipketer and making his Carlsbad debut is Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia, the silver medalist in the 10,000 meters in Athens. He enters the race with the fastest time in the field at 12:47.04 on the track. Kenyan Shadrack Kosgei, who finished third last year, will also return. Top Americans will be joining the field on the women's side led by Amy Yoder Begley of Albuquerque, the 2004 USA 10K champion. Jenelle Deatherage, Christin Wurth and Annie Bersagel round out the U.S. group. In addition to the elite invitational, the Carlsbad 5000 promises a scenic course, healthy competition and a weekend of fun for participants of all ages and skill levels. The popular Junior Carlsbad kids' event, now in its 17th year, is held the day prior, Saturday, April 8. Registration for both events will be available on race day. For more information or to register for the races, visit EliteRacing.com or call (858) 450-6510. Carlsbad 5000 Field WOMEN Return to top / Return to main page Quadriplegics to Complete Frederick Marathon Thru The "Running Down a Dream" Organization FREDERICK, Md. - (April 5, 2006) - For the first time ever, a group of disabled people will complete the Frederick Marathon in Frederick, Maryland on Sunday, April 30, 2006. "Running Down a Dream" is spearheading the event by teaming over a dozen riders in wheelchairs and the over 50 volunteers who will be pushing them. They can't run. They can't walk. Some have no use of their hands or legs at all. Yet, on April 30, 2006, they will feel what it's like to have the wind in their faces, to see the scenery go by, to be cheered by thousands, to experience the pure joy of completing the 26.2 mile distance. The Frederick Marathon will be featuring an exciting addition to this year's field of competitors. Relay teams of between 4 and 10 individuals are volunteering to push severely disabled riders in wheelchairs over the course. The race, known as one of the best organized and fastest growing marathons in the Northeast, will be the first event for the tandem pusher-rider organization "Running Down a Dream", founded in 2006 by Dr. Larry Herman, a Chiropractor living in Frederick to "bring the experience and joy of running to those who can't". The non-profit organization has had a tremendous outpouring of support from runners and walkers, families and businesses, school teams and strangers to make this inaugural event a huge success. Herman hopes to eventually recruit participants, sponsors and support for entrance in races throughout the United States and beyond. Dr. Herman was inspired to the project by a Rick Reilly article in Sports Illustrated. The article detailed the amazing achievements of Dick Hoyt and his disabled son Rick, who have completed 212 triathlons among their long list of accomplishments. Dick has pushed, pulled and carried his son in every one of these races including 24 Boston Marathons. Their best marathon time (2 hours, 40 minutes) is only 35 minutes slower than the overall world record. "The thrill and excitement on the faces of everyone involved is overwhelming!" said Herman. "When these courageous folks zoom across the finish line and have that medal placed around their necks, it will be a life-changing, transformational experience for all involved, whether they are a participant, pusher or spectator." Pushers, riders, volunteers and sponsors for teams
are welcome for the Frederick Marathon debut of "Running Down a
Dream", as well as future marathons across the United States as
this project has already attracted the attention of race organizers
across the country. Anyone interested in helping for any amount of time
or distance should contact Larry Herman at Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Roxana Hoveyda, Army Ten-Miler, (202) 685-3361 Jeff Galloway Creates Special Army Ten-Miler Training Program WASHINGTON, DC - (April 5, 2006) - With the opening of registration on Monday, April 3, it's time to start thinking about training for the 22nd running of the Army's annual race. The Army Ten-Miler has partnered with Jeff Galloway Training to bring its registrants two specialized training programs to help runners of all levels achieve their goals. Both programs include personal communication, training schedules, Galloway's Book on Running and more. Additional information regarding the programs can be found on the Training Page on ArmyTenMiler.com. Upon registration for the 2006 race, runners will also receive a link to join in their Confirmation E-mail. The Army Ten-Miler Training Program will start on July 22. "After advising more than 500,000 runners, I've designed the Army Ten-Miler training program which will prepare anyone for the challenge, in a minimum of time. Overwhelming feedback is that aches and pains are avoided or minimized and exercise becomes fun - when following the pace and training schedule," said Jeff Galloway. "The Army Ten-Miler is excited at this opportunity to enhance the race experience for our runners. Jeff Galloway's Army Ten-Miler Training Program will help runners to achieve their goals and allow them to interface with other members of the running community," commented Race Director, Jim Vandak. About Jeff Galloway Training
About the Army Ten-Miler Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Tanner Bell, (801) 495-7044; tanner@backroadevents.com Backroad Events Announces Inaugural Great River Relay SOUTH JORDAN, Utah - (March 31, 2006) - Acclaimed for its extraordinary XanGo Wasatch Back Relay in the Rocky Mountains, the Backroad Events is announcing an exciting new relay race - The Great River Relay - on the banks of America's most famous river on Aug. 25, 2006. An exhilarating long-distance relay race from La Crosse, Wis., to St. Paul, Minn., the Great River Relay traverses more than 200 miles of the Great River Road - a national scenic byway that courts the upper Mississippi River thru five states. Though this race is physically demanding, it allows for a diversity of participants, from serious competitive runners to casual recreational runners and walkers who enjoy the company of friends and the beauty of the Mississippi River Valley. Starting Friday, Aug. 25, teams of 12 runners will compete for more than 24 straight hours, braving the elements, sleeping in decorated vans and cheering on teammates, who each run three legs that range from 3 to 8 miles per leg. Teams race from the serene shorelines of La Crosse, Wis., to the finish upon a breathtaking island in view of Minnesota's historic capital city, St. Paul, 207 miles upstream. "The Great River Relay is a team event," said race director Mary Anderson. "Members will decorate vans, wear costumes and invent original names. For many of them, partying with teammates will be as memorable a part of the race as crossing the finish line." Live bands dotting the course will entertain participants and community members alike, while volunteers engage spectators in events at key exchange points. The Great River Relay offers participants both solitude and camaraderie, its course weaving a spectacular braid of road and river thru wooded hills, towering bluffs and vibrant communities. Many of these towns, such as Prescott, Wis., Stillwater and Hastings Minn., hark back to the burgeoning days of steamship travel. Today, visitors can still hear the churning of paddlewheels and the tolling of bells from the operating ferry landings visible from the picturesque brick-lined sidewalks in town. "We've always wanted to stage a running event here that would showcase the beauty of the Mississippi River," says Dave Clements of the La Crosse Convention and Visitors Bureau, where bald eagles hover beyond the vistas. Three years ago, USA Weekend named the region one of the 10 most beautiful places in America. While myriad runners, bikers and hikers have long sojourned the scenic byway, Clements says he hasn't seen anything like this: "This is something unique, something different. We're very excited to be a part of it." Organized by Backroad Events, the Great River Relay has two sister races - the XanGo Wasatch Back Relay near Park City, Utah and the new Relay del Sol outside Phoenix, Ariz. In two years logistics planners at Backroad Events turned the Wasatch Back Relay into Utah's premier long-distance running event, with an expected 3,500 participants in 2006. Following that model, they're bringing the same sophisticated racing technology and one-of-a-kind party milieu to the Great River Relay. "If we can help people see that it's not just a race, that it's an opportunity to build life-long friendships, conquer challenges together and strengthen communities, then we think we will have succeeded," stated Dan Hill of Backroad Events. Best of all, through their alliance with Operation Kids - a children's charity committed to serving the needs of the "whole child," the Backroad Events has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for deserving and well-run charities. "It's a wonderful opportunity for participants to have a chance to give back in a very positive way," said Debra Hanks of Operation Kids. "We think it's a win-win situation." Teams may register online at GreatRiverRelay.com, even if they haven't filled all 12 spots. Entry fees per person are $70 till May 1, $80 till July 15 and $90 till Aug. 15. Registration is now open. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232 |