24 Hour Run Championship and National Team Announced
From Dan Brannen, AUA

The Ultracentric 24 Hour Run U.S. National Championship will be staged Fri-Sat, November 16-17, 2007 in Grapevine, Texas for the second consecutive year. Race Director Robert Tavernini's offer of $12,000 U.S. athlete prize money will again, as in 2006, be the largest award purse for an American ultramarathon. Also for the second consecutive year, the event will serve as the selection race for the following year's National 24 Hour Run Team.

Last year's Ultracentric event, won by Alex Swenson of Vashon, Wash. and Carolyn Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., was the selection venue for this year's National Team, which will represent the USA in the 5th annual World 24 Hour Run Championship, to be held next month, July 28-29 in Drummondville, Canada. This year marks the first time this longest annual world title event will be held in the western hemisphere. U.S. teams have made it onto the awards podium every year but 2006, when the event was held in Taiwan. The best individual finish ever by an American was Stephanie Ehret's individual bronze medal, achieved by running the #3 all-time U.S. women's performance of 140.16 miles, in the 2004 event in the Czech Republic. For the 2007 national team, the top 3 American men and women from the 2006 Ultracentric National 24 Hour Run Championship, held in Grapevine, last November, were automatically selected. The remaining 3 men and women, plus alternates, were selected based on other 24 hour run performance rankings during the previous year.

The members of the 2007 U.S. National 24 Hour Run Team are:

MEN
Scott Eppelman, 40, Coppell, Texas
John Geesler, 47, St. Johnsville, New York
Phil McCarthy, 38, New York, New York
Garth Peterson, 44, Beck Row, England (U.S. Air Force)
Roy Pirrung, 58, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Alex Swenson, 42, Vashon, Washington

WOMEN
Connie Gardner, 43, Medina, Ohio
Debra Horn, 47, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Rebecca Johnson, 37, Lafayette, Colorado
Laura Nelson, 41, Woodstock, Virginia
Pam Reed, 45, Tucson, Arizona
Carolyn Smith, 41, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Geesler, Pirrung and Reed are the only athletes to have been named to the team all five years of its existence. Pirrung, at age 58, breaks his own record as the most senior athlete ever to be named to an Open U.S. national team. He also doubles, as he has every year, as team manager.

The 2007 team is a mixture of veterans and newcomers, as McCarthy, Peterson, Gardner, Johnson and Horn will all be running in their first World 24 Hour. Peterson, an air traffic control specialist with the U.S. Air Force, recently completed a tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq.

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Contact: Chad Sims, (513) 533-4708; csims1@fuse.net

Hyde Park Blast Expecting Fast Field for Sixth Edition
Olay returns with the "Love the Skin You're In Mile" for the women's field

CINCINNATI - (June 16, 2007) - On Saturday, June 30, more than 4,000 participants are expected at the 6th Hyde Park Blast, which includes Ohio's 4 Mile Championship, kid's fun run and a large evening post-race party. The annual event also supports the fight against cancer.

The four mile run and walk will begin at 8:00am at Ault Park and end at Hyde Park Square. The challenging point-to-point course has been recognized as one of the area's coolest and scenic residential courses.

The 2007 Blast will offer prize money (for both men and women): race champion - $1200; runner-up - $600; third finisher - $300

After a successful debut last year, Olay has returned to The Blast to add an extra incentive for the women's field. The Olay "Love the Skin You're In Mile" will award the first four women to hit the three-mile mark an added cash bonus of $1200, $700, $400, and $200 respectively. The top Ohio female runner will also receive an extra $300 and she can add this to her bonus if she is also in the top four to cross the Olay mile mark.

In addition, Olay will present gift baskets valued at over $100 to all four women (plus the Ohio runner) as well as the top three walkers.

"Olay is proud to be a part of such an incredible event, here in Cincinnati," says Christopher Heiert, Brand Manager at Olay. "Some of the most elite female runners in the country will be in attendance and Olay looks forward to showing them how our product, Olay Complete Defense SPF-30, can be a great asset in their daily workout routine. With runners spending most of their time in the sun, Olay SPF, promises to provide them with the most elite, in sunblock care, while nourishing their pores with essential vitamins and nutrients."

Past men's winners TJ Lentz (past P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona ½ Marathon champion) and Chris Reis (2006 Heart-Mini Marathon winner and 2006 Flying Pig Marathon runner-up) will be joined by other top Ohio runners including Tilahun Abebe, Jim Jurcevich, Brian List, Omar Nash, Josh Ordway, Shawn Pawsat, Eric Putnam and veteran racer John Sence.

The women's field will also be deep with Norah Shire (2006 Flying Pig Marathon champion), Alison Bedingfield (2005 Flying Pig Marathon champion), Lyndsi Benedict (2006 Ohio 10K champion) and other top women toeing the line.

"This year's event should be exciting with our best field to-date. We have been fortunate to have fast fields in the past and the addition of the Olay Mile at a very strategic place on the course should definitely add to the quick times. In addition to all of our local and state favorites, we know we'll also have some great runners from out of state including a few top 20 Boston Marathon finishers," says Chad Sims, event co-founder.

Proceeds from the event will go to the three benefiting charities: The Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Wellness Community and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

For more race information, visit HPBlast.com or call (513) 533-7323.

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Contact: Beth Johnson, Public Relations Coordinator, (703) 432-1165

Marine Corps Marathon Announces New Running Event
Half-marathon presented by the Marine Corps Marathon will be held in Fredericksburg, Virginia

QUANTICO, Va. - (June 14, 2007) - The Marine Corps Marathon has announced a new half-marathon to be held in Fredericksburg, Virginia in May 2008. In a presentation to the members of the Fredericksburg City Council on Tuesday, June 12, the MCM proposal was supported with enthusiasm and excitement.

"Fredericksburg is pleased to be the location for the new half-marathon," said Kevin Gullette, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Fredericksburg. "This event serves as a tool to strengthen the relationship between the City and the Marine Corps, and we anticipate the inaugural race in 2008 to be the beginning of a long-term event the City is proud to host."

The 13.1 mile course will be held entirely within Fredericksburg city limits, beginning and ending at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. The Sunday, May 18, 2008 event will be open to a race field of approximately 5,000 participants. Registration details will be announced in Fall 2007.

"The Marine Corps Marathon team is excited about the partnership between Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Fredericksburg community," said Rick Nealis, Race Director. "I am confident this new event will bring a significant economic impact to the area by promoting tourism, businesses, the city's historic and scenic sights and, of course, the local running community."

The new half-marathon is the first time in MCM history that the organization will hold a running event outside of traditional race weekend. Founded in 1976, the Marine Corps Marathon is currently the 4th largest marathon in the U.S. and the 7th largest marathon in the world. Known for a commitment to excellence and impeccable organization, the Marine Corps Marathon brings 32 years of planning experience to the creation of this new running event. Visit: MarineMarathon.com

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America's Health & Fitness Ambassador T-Bone Returns to Crazy 8s Youth Run

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - (June 14, 2007) - Tim "T-Bone" Arem, M.Ed. will be making his third Little 8s youth run return appearance at J. Fred Johnson Stadium. On Saturday evening, July 14 at 7:00pm, America's Health & Fitness Ambassador will be warming up, running with and performing his motivational stage show for 1,500 children and parents in Kingsport, Tenn.

"We are very pleased to bring the leader of youth fitness entertainment back to our Little 8s youth run. He really motivates the boys and girls to be active and do their best," said Hank Brown race director.

Crazy 8s is the home of the men's and women's 8K world road records. For more information, go to Crazy8s.org or call (423) 817-2696.

For more information on T-Bone and his kids' fitness program, visit: TBoneRun.com

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org | www.RunningUSA.org