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Why do Americans Run? Are the demographics of runners in Texas different from those in New York? What populations offer the most potential for running market growth? Many valuable answers will be obtained in the months to come as results are compiled for the first National Runner Survey conducted by Running USA and the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). The overall purpose is to identify attitudes, habits and demographics of all types of runners as well as potential runners in order to better serve participants and build the sport. "Learning about runners is the primary focus of the survey and the partnership between the Road Runners Club of America and Running USA. The more we know, the better we can serve everyone involved in our sport," explains Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. "We will utilize our grassroots connections to help spread the word about the survey and report results that benefit the whole running community." |
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In the first phase of the year-round survey effort, 3 respondent groups will be sought: RRCA club members via emails, specialty shoe store customers via in-store computers and running event entrants in partnership with participating race directors via pre-race or post-race online forms. Later in 2007, a second phase will be launched that surveys spectators at events and training program participants. All participating entities will get a detailed, confidential report describing their constituencies and summary analysis will be presented in press releases and at future Running USA and RRCA meetings. "As the purpose of Running USA is to build the sport of running for every age and for every interest, we need to know what America's runners are thinking about" says Basil Honikman, Running USA Executive Director. "What are their habits and preferences and how would they like things to change and develop? Thus an in-depth survey of the runners, our customers, is vital. Partnering with the RRCA allows us to reach a much wider audience and ensures that the survey results will be as comprehensive as possible." Interested specialty stores or road races should contact Linda Honikman, survey coordinator, at rric@runningusa.org and any RRCA club wishing to survey their constituents should contact Jessica Sleight at membership@rrca.org. Participating clubs, races and stores will be selected based on their size and location to ensure a representative sample. About Running USA Its event members represent over 350 U.S. races including many of the leading ones with over 1.7 million participants and millions of spectators and over $3 million in prize money. For more information on Running USA, its objectives, members and annual conference, visit RunningUSA.org or call Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232. About RRCA |
Return to top / Return to main page Birhanu, Dubovik Win Under
Armour Baltimore Marathon BALTIMORE - (October 14, 2006) - Most elite athletes would be ecstatic to win their debut marathon, especially at the tender young age of 20 and on a first trip to the United States. And they certainly would be excited to pocket $15,000 for the victory. But not Ethiopia's Yirefu Birhanu. Moments after quickly breaking away from his last competitors with a bit more than three miles to go, Birhanu said he was disappointed with his first marathon experience at the 6th Under Armour Baltimore Marathon. "I am not happy about the time," Birhanu said through interpreter Rashid Tbahi. "I just wanted to get the marathon experience. I like the fast pace. I was prepared for a 2:09. I tried to get into Chicago 10 days ago, but I couldn't get in." He said he will have another chance next spring at Boston or London. His time on the hilly 26.2-mile course through the city of Baltimore was 2 hours, 16 minutes, 27 seconds. The women's champion, Rima Dubovik of the Ukraine, was more than pleased with her time of 2:35:45. She sliced more than four minutes off the event record of 2:40:21 set by Russian Ramilia Burangulova in 2004 and also took home $15,000. In fact, the first four women surpassed the record, aided by perfect marathon temperatures which began at race time in the 40s and warmed into the 50s by the finish. The Kenyan men have fared well here since race inception in 2001, but this year, they were most dominating, taking eight of the top 12 spots. Just Birhanu and defending champion Mykola Antonenko of Ukraine prevented a Kenyan sweep, emerging from a pack that still was 11-strong at 17 miles, eight-strong at 20 miles and six-strong at 22 miles. The slower first-half of 1:10:27 was a perfect setup for Birhanu and a killer for the pure marathoner Antonenko. Birhanu quickly gapped the pack with successive downhill miles of 4:51 and 4:36 on miles 23 and 24, respectively, and crossed the finish line 29 seconds ahead of Antonenko. Wilson Komen, a 28-year-old Kenyan residing in nearby Washington, was third in a personal best 2:17:07. Dubovik, a 42-year-old teacher who heard about Baltimore last year from Antonenko, took over the women's race after 21 miles, reeling in a fading Maria Portilla of Peru who led from the early stages of the race. Dubovik's time was two minutes off her personal best from 1998 but one of her fastest of 20 marathons. In the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Half-Marathon, Valentine Orare of Kenya finally shook off Worku Beyi of Ethiopia after 10 miles for his first victory at the distance, in 1:03:45. Beyi ended six seconds back. "I was trying to pull ahead of [Beyi] from the time we started the race," said Orare, 23, who earned $2000 for his efforts. Lyubov Denisova of Russia had no such issue. She left her competition from the first steps and triumphed by more than two minutes in 1:15:14. Kathleen Jobes, Bethlehem, Pa., was second in 1:17:38. "1:15 is good because of the hills, not a fast course," said Denisova, who hopes to run 2:26-2:27 at Honolulu in December. "I thought I'd run a faster time." 6th Under Armour Baltimore
Marathon WOMEN CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Half-Marathon WOMEN More results at: TheBaltimoreMarathon.com Return to top / Return to main page Franke, Price Capture Columbus
Marathon Titles COLUMBUS, Ohio - (October 15, 2006) - Cecil Franke didn't need to take many glances at his watch to gauge his progress Sunday at the 27th running of the Columbus Marathon. Good thing he didn't count on his timepiece. It malfunctioned midway through the race. No big deal. The lack of faces around him let him know he held a comfortable lead throughout. Franke, 38, broke away from the competition about five miles in and cruised to an easy win in a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 13 seconds. The time qualified the Dublin, Ind. native for the "A" standard to qualify him to participate in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York. The "A" standard means the host will pay for his trip to New York next November. Running solo is nothing new for Franke. "I train a lot by myself," he said. "I could have pushed myself a little harder if other people were around but I'm really happy with my time." Franke set a course record earlier this year in the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and claimed his second career marathon win in just his third start. Brendon Moody of Van Wert, Ohio finished second in a time of 2:24:07 and said, "I had no idea where [Franke] was after about four miles." Brian List of Milford, Ohio finished third in 2:29:28. Issac Barnes of Williamsport, Ohio (2:31:00) and Kevin Michalske of Westlake, Ohio (2:35:13) rounded out the top five. Female champion Kristin Price one-upped Franke. The former North Carolina State cross country runner won in her debut marathon (2:44:09) and qualified for the "B" standard to participate in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston. "I made the decision to run in it on Friday," she said. "I had a friend coming up [from Raleigh, N.C.] and decided to tag along with him." Phyllis Parker of Carmel, Ind. finished second in 2:50:17 and Concord, Ohio's Tara Gruskiewicz finished third in 2:53:52. A pair of out-of-state women finished fourth and fifth, Michelle Peltier of New York City (2:58:33) and Melissa Reyes of Dacula, Ga. (3:01:26). Cincinnati's Mike Greiwe claimed the inaugural Columbus 1/2 Marathon with a time of 1:10:41. He edged Dave Johnston of Xenia, Ohio (1:13:21) for the title. P.J. Ball of Norwood, Ohio won the women's half-marathon in a time of 1:22:28, outlasting Upper Arlington, Ohio's Nancy Jeggle (1:28.13). A field of 3,000 runners competed in the half-marathon. Sunshine and a start-time temperature in the low 40s greeted the more than 7,700 participants in the event. The 28th running of the Columbus Marathon and second annual Columbus 1/2 Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. The Columbus Marathon is one of the 20 largest marathons in the United States. Nearly 20 percent of the field qualified for the Boston Marathon. The Columbus Marathon is presented by Nationwide and Discount Drug Mart and the Columbus 1/2 Marathon is presented by Atlas Butler. 27th Columbus Marathon MEN WOMEN Full results at: ColumbusMarathon.com Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Karen Kalan, Generic Events, (310) 365-2904; karen@genericevents.com Top Field Expected at Inaugural Saint John's
Santa Monica 5000 SANTA MONICA, Calif. - (October 13, 2006) - The Saint John's Santa Monica 5000 will kickoff on Sunday, October 22, 2006 with a top-notch field expected to participate in the Los Angeles Sports & Fitness (LAS&F) Invitational, the elite wave featuring athletes from around the region. The competitors will compete for a share of the $5000 prize purse plus time bonuses on a flat, fast course along the ocean in Santa Monica. The LAS&F Invitational, which was first run in 2004 in Agoura Hills, brings together the best athletes in Southern California to compete in the Championship of L.A. Road Racing. "The LAS&F Invitational is the stage for California's best to compete. It makes for outstanding competition, a great race and also a wonderful event to watch," said LAS&F Publisher Danny Greenberg. On the men's side, the leading American contenders are Bolota Asmerom, Fernando Cabada and Team Running USA athlete Jacques Sallberg. Asmerom, a resident of Oakland, recently won the 5000 meter race at the 2006 Stanford Invitational in 13:39 and participated in the same event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Emerging star Cabada set the U.S. 25K record after winning the Fifth Third River Bank Run in 1:14:21 last May. Pasadena resident Sallberg, who has been helping Meb Keflezighi prepare for the upcoming ING New York City Marathon, also looks to be a top contender, having placed 4th at the 2006 USA 3000 Meter Steeplechase Championship in 8:28.18, a personal record. The trio will also be challenged by Kenyans Haron Lagat and Richard Kimeli, who placed second and third at the Inaugural National City Invitational Mile on October 1st with times of 4:11 and 4:12, respectively. Edward Muge, a teammate of Lagat and Kimeli, who ran 5000 meters in 13:18.24 earlier in the year, is one of the top contenders in the 10K race. Another runner in the LAS&F Invitational who could shake things up is Josh Spiker from Ventura. Spiker, an All-American at the University of Wisconsin, finished 11th in 3:41 in the 1500 meter race at the 2005 NCAA Championships. 2004 LAS&F Invitational winner Christian Hesch from Morro Bay, who placed 9th at the recent Inaugural National City Invitational Mile after coming off an injury, is also expected to compete. The leading contender in the women's field is Kenyan Emily Chebet, an up-and-coming member of the AmeriKenyan Running Club in Santa Fe, New Mexico who will be running her first race in the United States. Chebet placed second in the Kenyan 10,000 meter Championships in 32:27.0 back in July, beating four-time B.A.A. Boston Marathon Champion Catherine Ndereba. She also won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meter race at the Africa Athletics Championships last August in 31:33.39. The top U.S. woman is Jennifer DeRego who qualified for the 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials and recently placed second in the Glide Floss Bridge to Bridge 12K in San Francisco in 43:09. As part of the LAS&F Invitational, the 5K race will feature $5000 in prize money, including $1000 for the men's and women's winner in addition to time bonuses and incentives for the top Santa Monica finishers. For the complete prize money structure, visit SantaMonica5000.com. In addition to the athletes competing in the LAS&F Invitational is a growing list of celebrities. The newest addition to the star-studded list is JAG Actor David James Elliott, who currently stars as District Attorney James Conlon on the CBS show "Close to Home." Elliott joins Isaiah Washington from "Grey's Anatomy," Univision KMEX 34 Entertainment Reporter Cecilia Bogran, Actress Lisa Arturo from "American Pie 2" and "Jackass 2," Alex Bell and Kim Powers from "Survivor" and 2005 Miss Massachusetts Cristina Nardozzi. The post-race Party on the Pier will feature several live bands including Los Angeles-based "Kelly's Lot," "New Maximum Donkey," "Seeking Zenith," and "For Pete's Sake." Participants can also look forward to a pancake breakfast served by "Survivor's" Kim Powers, gait analysis performed by Coach Pat Connelly and activities for children including balloon animals, face painting and a magician who works with live animals. In addition, all rides on the Santa Monica Pier will be open on race morning. Race proceeds will help build the new Saint John's Emergency Department. With 30,000 patient visits each year, the Saint John's 24-hour Emergency Department provides life-saving services to the community each and every day. It also features a Fast Track program to provide care for life's minor bumps and bruises. "Saint John's has served the people of Santa Monica and neighboring communities for over 60 years. We are pleased to be the beneficiary of such a wonderful health and fitness event right here in our own community," said Robert O. Klein, Saint John's Vice President of Foundation and Health Center Relations. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |