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Sell Set to Defend USA 25K Title at Fifth Third River Bank Run
$45,000 plus national championship prize purse for Open and Masters divisions

INDIANAPOLIS - (May 8, 2008) - Brian Sell (Rochester Hills, Mich.) will look to defend his men's national title and Kristin Price (Raleigh, N.C.) will lead the women's field Saturday, May 10 at the 15th running of the USA 25K Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. The national championships are held in conjunction with the 31st Fifth Third River Bank Run.

Last year at River Bank, Sell, who earned a 2008 Beijing Olympic berth at the marathon trials in New York City last November, won his second USA 25K title (also 2005) in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 49 seconds which made him the fifth fastest American all-time at the 15.5 mile distance.

Joining Sell in the hunt for the U.S. title will be Peter Gilmore (San Mateo, Calif.), who recorded a personal best of 1:03:53 for the half-marathon distance in February. Additional top 10 contenders include Sell's Hansons-Brooks teammates Mike Morgan and Patrick Moulten (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and former All-American at the University of Colorado Bret Schoolmeester (Portland, Ore.).

In the women's race, Price, a former All-American at North Carolina State University, will seek her first USA road title and will be challenged by Paige Higgins (Littleton, Colo.), Linsey Smith (Madison, Wis.) and Katie Nowak (Rockville, Md.).

This year's event will also host the USA Masters 25K Championships featuring top masters (40 and over) athletes Liz Wilson (Seattle, Wash.) and Dennis Simonaitis (Draper, Utah).

The USA 25K Championships offers more than $45,000 in prize money with the men's and women's national champions earning $4000 each and the men's and women's masters champions earning $1500 each.

USA Running Circuit
The USA 25K Championship is the fifth stop on the 2008 USA Running Circuit (USARC) for men and the fourth for women. The USARC, a USA Track & Field road series, features USA Championships from 5K to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The fourteenth edition for the men and thirteenth for the women, the 2008 USARC has eight events for men and nine events for women.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided more than $7 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the 2008 USA 25K Championships and the USARC, visit: USATF.org

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Runners to Experience a Rock and Roll History Tour at Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

CLEVELAND - (May 8, 2008) - The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum have joined forces to provide the participants in the 31st annual road race on Sunday, May 18 with a rock and roll history lesson throughout the course.

Runners will get their rock and roll "history tour" both visually and audibly through 16 History of Rock and Roll stations. Signs listing the major eras in rock music history will be placed along the marathon's 26.2-mile stretch with corresponding music stations playing songs from the era's most notable artists.

From Elvis and Johnny Cash in the Memphis Era, to Nirvana and Pearl Jam in the Seattle Era, to the music of Ohio, race participants will learn about and hear the music of a variety of the world's most notable entertainers.

"With the official source for the history of rock and roll right here in Cleveland, we thought a 'rock history tour' for the race participants would be the perfect way to demonstrate the motto 'Cleveland Rocks and Runs,'" said Todd Mesek, vice president of Marketing and Communications for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

"The Rock Hall is an iconic part of Cleveland. It helps make this city great and unique," said Jack Staph, executive race director of the Cleveland Marathon. "Our race is all about promoting the best that Cleveland has to offer, so we're very excited to give thousands of runners a glimpse into this part of Cleveland's heritage."

The Rock Hall will also provide all Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K participants with a discount voucher to the museum to continue their rock and roll history experience. Runners can download the rock hall voucher from the marathon website at: ClevelandMarathon.com

Staph said the History of Rock and Roll stations will be a significant part of the course entertainment this year, but as in past years, there will be cheering sections, spectators and volunteers spread out along the course as well. Once the participants cross the finish line, they can join the spectators at the 26.3 mile finish line rock party featuring live bands and other rock history trivia and music.

"Constant entertainment. That is our goal for the marathon course," said Staph. "Whether it is provided by charity cheering sections, lively water stations or musical stations, runners won't go far without being entertained. Runners and spectators alike will experience unique entertainment and an enjoyable atmosphere."

The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon offers the following opportunities for people to participate in the event: full marathon, half-marathon, 10K, full marathon walking division, half-marathon walking division, 10K walking division, full marathon wheelchair division, 10K wheelchair division, Kids' Run and Corporate teams. Volunteers are needed for a number of pre-race and race day responsibilities.

For more information on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, visit RockHall.com or call 216-781-ROCK. For details on the race, or to register for the 31st Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, call (800) 467-3826 or visit: ClevelandMarathon.com

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Inaugural Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend to Create Fairy Tale Experience for Runners in 2009
Fantasy-filled weekend to feature popular Disney princesses; event expected to rank among nation's biggest women-specific endurance events

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (May 2, 2008) - Disney's Wide World of Sports is creating Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend, a new fantasy-filled event in 2009 designed to bring to life the "princess" in women runners of all ages and abilities.

The weekend event, scheduled for March 6-8, 2009, involves a health and wellness expo tailored for women, as well as two road races - a fun 5K and a signature 13.1-mile half-marathon - through multiple Walt Disney World theme parks, all themed around Disney's popular princess characters. In all, more than 10,000 runners are expected to participate, making it one of the country's largest road races geared toward women and the only race runners can experience a storybook start and a fairy tale finish. Women and their family and friends will also have the opportunity to participate in a post race celebration at Magic Kingdom.

Disney's Princess Half Marathon is the latest addition to Disney's Endurance Series, which gives recreational athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to walk, jog, run, bike and swim their way "around the world." From running marathons to road races and triathlons, participating athletes from around the world compete to stay in shape, to achieve personal-best times and often to raise donations for charitable causes.

"Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for women and girls of all ages. Disney princesses have attributes that all women want to possess: courage, loyalty, strength, commitment and perseverance. We feel this weekend is an opportunity to recognize those attributes within each woman and celebrate their accomplishments," said Kathleen Duran, sports area manager for Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Registration for Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend opens on Monday, May 5, 2008 and is $120 for the half-marathon and $40 for the 5K event. Participants can register online at: DisneyPrincessHalfMarathon.com

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T-Bone on the Go at Fargo Marathon

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - (May 8, 2008) - Tim "T-Bone" Arem, America's Health & Fitness Ambassador, will be visiting eight elementary schools in the Fargo, North Dakota area to perform his stage show "T-Bone's Healthy Adventure" prior to the Fargo Marathon. He also will be leading the warm-up for the kid's runs on Saturday, May 17, the day of the marathon.

For more information on the event or T-Bone and his Healthy Adventure, visit: FargoMarathon.com or T-BoneRun.com

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