Return to top / Return to main page Running USA 2008 Conference Recap SAN DIEGO - (February 12, 2008) - A record number of nearly 400 people attended and participated at the Running USA 2008 Conference on February 10-12 in beautiful La Jolla, California. The premier running industry conference, powered by The Active Network and Gen-A Media & Marketing, covered the gambit of topics and challenges tied to the sport including branding, new technologies, youth running, best practices, race production and building the industry. "This conference was a kick-off to our theme and goal "20 in 10" - 20 million event participants in 10 years, and with record attendance, terrific and informative speakers and breakout sessions, generous auction winners and ideal weather, this was our best conference yet. And we thank the sponsors, the attendees and the speakers for making it all possible," said Basil Honikman, CEO of Running USA. CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS * Anne Audain (Evansville, IN), athlete, author and race founder The following conference awards were also presented by the Running USA Youth Committee and YouthRunner.com: Youth Program of the Year Youth Program Contributor of the Year In addition, at the conference's silent and banquet auctions, over $80,000, a conference record, was raised for the Team Running USA and youth running programs. Before the ING Hall of Champions banquet at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, there was a 30 minute fun run with Team Running USA athletes and 40-50 attendees. Team Running USA was represented by Ryan and Sara Hall, Jen Rhines, Ian Dobson, Julia Lucas, Steve and Sara Slattery, Meb Keflezighi, Kassi Andersen and Dan Browne and coaches Bob Larsen and Terrence Mahon. At Monday's MarathonFoto luncheon, Sharon Barbano, a women's running leader and current Saucony public relations director, was presented the Her Sports Women's Trailblazer Award for her contributions to the sport, and on Tuesday, Craig Masback, Director of Business Affairs, Global Sports Marketing, Nike and former USA Track & Field CEO, gave the featured addressed at the MapMyRun.com Leadership Lunch. About Running USA Its event members represent over 500 U.S. races including many of the leading ones with over 2 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. Return to top / Return to main page Olympic Trials Champion Ryan Hall, Dan Browne to Compete at USA Cross Country Championships. SAN DIEGO - (February 11, 2008) - Bob Larsen won't be on the starting line, but the veteran coach will have a major impact on the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego as the entries of two of his top Team Running USA athletes - reigning U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion Ryan Hall and 2004 Olympian Dan Browne - have been announced by race officials. The USA Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, February 16 over a looped course at Mission Bay Park. A series of seven races that begins with the Road Runner Sports Community 4K at 9:00am, the national championships culminate with the Open Women's 8 kilometer race at 1:15pm and the Open Men's 12 kilometer race at 2:00pm. Because this is an Olympic year and the two Open races serve as the U.S. qualifiers for March's World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, a strong field is expected at Mission Bay. And, it doesn't get any stronger in American distance running these days than Hall. "He's the real deal," said Larsen, a Hall of Fame distance running coach whose roots go back to the Jamul Toads in the mid-1970s, Grossmont College and UCLA, where his teams won nine Pac-10 titles over 13 years. "This will be a real treat to watch Ryan and the other world class athletes run over a 2-kilometer course that makes several loops," said Larsen. "If we get nice weather with this venue, well you don't get that many opportunities for San Diego to be right there seeing Olympians competing. I'm hoping that some young kids come down to watch and are inspired to take up running because of what they'll see. You never know, you hear it happen in other sports, and these athletes are the type that can inspire the next generation." Hall is certainly of that caliber. He is at the forefront of a continued resurgence in world-class marathoning by Americans, sparked in large part by the guidance of Larsen and Joe Vigil at Team Running USA, as well as the personal coaching of Terrence Mahon. Training in the high altitude of Mammoth Lakes, as well as at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Team Running USA athletes broke a U.S. 20-year distance drought by winning two Olympic marathon medals at the 2004 Athens Games - San Diego's Meb Keflezighi taking the men's silver and Deena Kastor capturing the women's bronze. Hall seems poised to continue that trend at the Beijing Olympics this summer. On November 3, 2007, the 25-year-old from Big Bear, Calif., broke loose on what was thought to be a slow and difficult course in New York's Central Park to dominate the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon. Running effortlessly late in the race, Hall shattered the U.S. Olympic Trials record with his winning time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds. A year earlier, Hall made his debut on the world marathon stage, finishing 7th at the Flora London Marathon. His time of 2:08:24 was the fastest marathon debut by any American, and the fastest marathon ever run by a U.S.-born citizen. "Ryan is just a super talented guy," said Larsen. "You could see very early on that he was special. He was a four-minute miler in high school and could have run a world-class marathon while he was at Stanford. His coach was sending me his workouts while he was in high school, and I was coaching world-class athletes who would have been hard pressed to do them. "He's like America's Kenyan runner," added Larsen. "Encouraged by his father, he ran at an early age at altitude in Big Bear, just like the Kenyans do. And, he's obviously very gifted with genetics, just as the Kenyans are. The sky is the limit for Ryan. He's really got it. He can run with anyone in the world." On February 16, San Diegans will get a chance to see for themselves when Hall, Browne, James Carney, Anthony Famiglietti, Jason Lehmkuhle, Dathan Ritzenhein, Josh Rohatinsky, Jorge Torres and others line up for the USA Cross Country Championships at Mission Bay. Larsen, who coached his San Diego-based Jamul Toads to a team title in the 1976 USA Cross Country Championships, will be on hand to watch the best of America's current distance runners and re-visit with his athletes from the '70s. "I'm sure I'll see some of the Jamul Toads down there," said Larsen, rattling off names like Dale Fleet, Kirk Pfeffer, Thom Hunt, and Dave Harper. "I do think of them from time to time, particularly when I run into them. That was a special time because the team title back then was even more important than the individual title. It probably overshadowed even the NCAA championship back then. I still think about it." More information about the USA Cross Country Championships including entrant lists is available online at www.usatf.org/events/2008/USAXCChampionships or by contacting co-meet directors Paul Greer (paul@hipstars.com) or Thom Hunt (thunt@sdccd.edu). Return to top / Return to main page Running Times to Debut Editorial Redesign in May 2008 Issue NEW YORK - (February 11, 2008) - Running Times Editor-in-Chief, Jonathan Beverly, has announced the magazine's plans to debut its anticipated editorial redesign in the May 2008 issue. The magazine is published by Rodale Inc. Further solidifying its position in the marketplace, Running Times' new look will capture the power and passion of competitive runners and endurance athletes with compelling photojournalism, new and enhanced editorial content and unprecedented news and service. The magazine's redesign will introduce two new monthly sections - the NCAA Section and the Master's Section - each featuring up-to-date training tips, reader profiles and expert advice. The NCAA Section, spearheaded by new contributing editor Chris Lear, author of Running with the Buffaloes and Sub-4, will provide college athletes direct access to coach / athlete profiles, team reports / statistics as well as training and racing advice from top coaches and timely topics such as the dos and don'ts of transitioning out of college and into the pros. An interactive, online channel will compliment the in-book NCAA Section. This marks the first-time in the magazine's 30-year history that it will strategically engage and focus on the rapidly growing competitive college market. The Master's Section will specifically target the 40+ master runner and offer competitive training techniques and resources for this experienced demographic. "Today's field of college athletes is one of the most competitive in the history of the sport," said Andrew Hersam, publishing director of the Runner's World Media Group. "Running Times recognizes the importance of these talented athletes and has created an exciting editorial product to meet their specific needs." The May 2008 issue will also expand existing sections including the High School Section - bringing stories of the nation's best prep runners to life along with industry advice on scholastic running, science features and timely news / information and Running Shorts - the "reader favorite" front-of-book section enhanced to deliver a variety of news, notes, new product information and colorful interviews with some of today's most accomplished distance runners. "The newly-redesigned Running Times has raised the bar in terms of editorial excellence," says Beverly. "As a magazine that focuses exclusively on the highly competitive runner, we are committed to delivering coverage that speaks to seasoned runners of all ages and levels of training. We are confident that new and existing readers will be impressed with the many editorial and visual upgrades." About Running Times Return to top / Return to main page Brown, Jones Win Buffalo Run Half-Marathon on Catalina Island AVALON, Calif. - (February 9, 2008) - Ben Brown of La Mirada (CA) successfully defended his title on Saturday morning at the Buffalo Run on Catalina Island. Brown, 26, finished the half-marathon distance of 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 24 minutes, 19 seconds - 17 minutes in front of the pack. This win sets up Brown to defend his American Trail Championship crown at the 31st Catalina Marathon on Saturday, March 15. Wadley Wad (Los Angeles) was runner-up, followed by Mike Whitcombe (Manhattan Beach). On the women's side, Buffy Jones led the way with a time of 1:48:07. Hope Hall (Sherman Oaks, CA) placed second. American Trail Championship defending champion Amy Micheletti (Hermosa Beach, CA) clocked in at 1:59:04 to round out the top three. Age proved to be nothing but a number in the 5K course. 10-year-old Chance Weston (Redondo Beach) was victorious in 19:56. 14-year-old Zachery Rice of Carlsbad, CA followed Weston in second, and Tim Young of Brea, CA took third. For the 5K women, Jane Buskirk (Talkeetna, AK) garnered the top spot with a time of 23:19. Michel Perlin of Irvine and Catalina resident Alexis Romero followed her to finish in the top three. Nature could not have provided a more perfect setting for the 450 athletes that headed out to Catalina this past weekend. 70-degree weather and clear skies made for beautiful scenic views as participants trekked up the interior of the island. The finale of the American Trail Championship, the Catalina Marathon, takes place on Saturday, March 15. There are already approximately 750 participants registered to compete in the Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kid's Run courses. It is a hilly, challenging marathon, but worth every mile! Register at www.PacificSportsLLC.com to take part in the "#1 Off Road marathon in the world" (Runner's World Magazine). Buffalo Run Half-Marathon MEN WOMEN Complete results available at: www.pacificsportsllc.com/BuffaloRun/brresults.html |
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |
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