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2008 U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon Teammates Kastor, Lewy Boulet, Russell to Race at NYRR New York Mini 10K
NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE defending champion Kibet and Mexican Olympian Pérez to round out women's professional field

NEW YORK - (May 28, 2008) - The 2008 U.S. Olympic women's marathon team of Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell will take a victory lap through Central Park when they compete at the NYRR New York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 7, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE reigning champion Hilda Kibet of The Netherlands and Mexican Olympian Madaí Pérez fill out the women's professional field.

The NYRR New York Mini 10K, the world's original women-only road race that debuted in 1972, will be one of the highlights of the inaugural Running Week Presented by New York Road Runners, a week of events and happenings that commemorate the 50th anniversary of the organization's founding on June 4, 1958. Running Week will extend from June 1 to 8 and will feature special runner services in Central Park, a free five-mile Anniversary Run on June 4, and Run to Work Day on June 6, among other events.

Kastor, Lewy Boulet and Russell all qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon on April 20 in Boston, one day before the 112th Boston Marathon. They will represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Beijing on Sunday, August 17.

"This is a formidable and very experienced squad with legitimate Olympic medal hopes that all of America should be very proud of," said Wittenberg. "Having them all here for the Mini reflects our commitment to America's top athletes and demonstrates that the road to Beijing continues to run through Central Park for America's Olympians."

Kastor, 35, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, produced the second-fastest Olympic Trials performance in U.S. history by winning the race in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds. A three-time Olympian, Kastor is the defending Olympic bronze medalist and the U.S. record-holder in the marathon. The Team Running USA athlete has twice competed in the NYRR New York Mini 10K; she won the race in 2004.

Lewy Boulet, 34, of Oakland, CA, narrowly missed a spot on the 2004 Olympic Team with her fifth-place finish at the Trials. This time around, Lewy Boulet pushed the pace from the start and led for 23 miles of the 2008 Olympic Trials race before finishing second to Kastor in 2:30:19. Lewy Boulet is no stranger to the New York racing scene, having previously competed in the Mini three times (2003, '04, '06) and twice in the ING New York City Marathon, first as a pacemaker in 2003 and then in 2006, when she earned her Olympic Trials qualifying time.

Russell, 32, of Pacific Grove, CA, finished a heartbreaking fourth at the 2004 Olympic Trials when Jen Rhines passed her in the last half-mile to claim the final spot on the Olympic team. In the 2008 Trials, Russell shook off the demons of the past and finished third in 2:32:40. While this will be her Mini debut, Russell's most recent race in New York City was a resounding success; she won the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park.

Kibet, 27, notched a breakthrough performance in winning the 2007 NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE, edging Catherine Ndereba of Kenya by one second to win in 1:10:32. Kibet, who is Kenyan-born, is the current world leader at the 10K in 2008, having run a 31:01 at the Dutch national championships in February.

Pérez, 28, had a spectacular month of May, qualifying for the Mexican Olympic team at the national marathon trials and setting a personal best for 10,000 meters (31:30.23) at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. She set the Mexican national marathon record (2:22:59) when she finished fourth at the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Pérez finished third in the 2007 Boston Marathon and was fifth in last year's NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE.

New York Road Runners has increased the prize money structure for 2008 to include a separate purse for top U.S. finishers. A total prize purse of $34,000 is up for grabs, with $10,000 awarded to the winner. Founded by NYRR in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the first sponsor to run a six-mile "mini" marathon-named for the miniskirt, which was then in fashion-rather than a full marathon. The first race featured 78 participants; the Mini has been on the NYRR calendar ever since.

For more information including athlete bios, visit: NYRR.org

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Bolder Boulder Champ, Runner-Up to Have Rematch at 30th Freihofer's Run for Women
Duo join deep professional, masters field for prestigious 5K event in Albany, New York on May 31

ALBANY, N.Y. - (May 28, 2008) - With the 30th Freihofer's Run for Women just days away, all signs indicate it will be another hotly-contested race among the professional and the masters runners.

In addition to two-time defending champion Benita Johnson's bid for a three-peat, a strong Kenyan contingent will be on hand to prove they can dominate the short courses just as well as the long courses. Included in that group will be Monday's Bolder Boulder 10K champion Millicent Gathoni, whose winning time in Colorado (32 minutes and 49 seconds) was the fourth-fastest women's time in the history of the race.

Joining Gathoni on the start line will be fellow Kenyans Jane Gakunyi, a 2004 Olympian, whose PR in the 5K is faster than the Freihofer's course record (15:18), Genoveva Kigen, Evelyne Lagat, Florence Jepkosgei, Jane Kibii and Jacqueline Nytipei, who has finished in the top three of almost every race she entered over the last year, including a first-place finish at the Carlsbad Half-Marathon in January.

Also set to toe the line on Saturday, May 31 at 9:15am are Ethiopian teammates Amane Gobena, 25, (second at 2008 Bolder Boulder) and 2004 Olympian Meskerem Legesse, 21, whose Junior records in the indoor 800m and the 1500m have yet to be surpassed.

"The addition of Gathoni and Gobena to our field has the potential to bring the race up a notch and place pressure on Asmae Leghzaoui's 2005 course record," said Event Director George Regan, noting that he expects a fast race. "Defending champion Benita Johnson will need to pull out all of her tricks to retain her title."

Hometown favorite Emily McCabe earned the distinction of being the top American at last year's Freihofer's, finishing ninth. Originally from nearby Queensbury, NY, the 24-year-old Duke University grad student says she's excited about coming back to Albany, where she competed during high school.

"I like coming back to do this race because it's close to my hometown," said McCabe, whose other recent accomplishments include a sixth place finish at last year's Pan American Games in the 10,000m and a seventh place spot at the 2007 Peachtree 10K. "It was nice last year getting my friends and family to come out and watch, and also to see some area high school coaches."

Recently recovered from an injury, McCabe says her workouts have gone well over the last several months.

"My confidence is back in my running and I know I can come back and do well at this race," she added. "I definitely think I'm capable of running a faster time than last year."

In the masters field, a number of familiar names will answer the starting gun on Madison Avenue. In addition to legendary marathoner Joan Benoit Samuelson, Freihofer's legend Carmen Troncoso (competing in her 17th Run for Women) and hard-charging Sylvia Mosqueda will be vying for the top spot in the 40-and-above age bracket.

Mosqueda, 42, has enjoyed a lengthy running career since capturing the NCAA 10,000m crown at Cal State Los Angeles in 1988. Last year as a master, she placed first at the Cooper River Bridge Run and runner-up at Peachtree. As for Troncoso, she's currently the reigning USA Masters 10K champion for the 45-49 age group, and lays claim to two wins in the Freihofer's Run for Women's masters division since 2005.

With the race just days away, the excitement can already be felt on Albany's historic streets. Organizers are expecting a record crowd turnout this year in light of the quality of the professional and master's field and also the festivities surrounding the event's 30th edition.

"I think this will be one of the most exciting races in recent memory," said Regan, who has been the race's helmsman since 1982. "We have some of the most celebrated women in the world coming to race - some of them past and future Olympians. But not only that, there will also be thousands of other women as well, young and old, runners and walkers, celebrating the 30th anniversary of this event. I'm looking forward to a great day."

For more race information, visit: FreihofersRun.com

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Three Marathons Create California Dreamin' Racing Series
The San Francisco Marathon(tm), Surf City USA® Marathon and Long Beach International City Bank Marathon form CA Race Series

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 29, 2008) - Three major marathon events in California have unveiled a new marketing alliance called the California Dreamin' Racing Series. The move, which expands each event's marketing reach to over 125,000 runners, is expected to enhance the runners' event experience and offer more robust and powerful sponsorship packages to corporate partners. The three events in the series include The San Francisco Marathon(tm), Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Surf City USA® Marathon in Huntington Beach. Other California marathons are expected to join the group as the project gains momentum.

"Our three coastal and scenic marathons truly represent the best of the California Lifestyle," said Bob Seagren, CEO of International City Racing. "Now runners from around the world can complete the series and take home some of that California Dreaming for their accomplishments."

"By promoting the events as a series, we can enhance the event experience for everyone involved," says Amy Tomchak, Executive Director of the Surf City USA Marathon. "We can produce higher quality events for the participants and offer very compelling marketing value for partners."

For corporate partners who support these events, this means direct access to thousands of runners across the most attractive markets in California: the Bay Area, Orange County and Los Angeles.

Runners who participate in all events in the series receive special perks such as a series finisher's jacket and a large medal in the shape of California depicting the symbols of each race they have completed in the series.

"Runners love to have a goal, something new to strive for," says Meghan Steed, runner and Marketing Director for The San Francisco Marathon. "The California Dreamin' Racing Series is a great challenge and will be a lot of fun for runners to achieve."

The first race in the series starts with the San Francisco Marathon on August 3rd, 2008, followed by Long Beach on October 12th and Surf City on February 1st, 2009.

For more information, go to: caldreaminracing.com

Contact: Amy Tomchak, Surf City USA Marathon, amy@surfcitymarathon.com or 760) 512-7004

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JUST RUN® Reaches New Milestones at End of School Year

As the 2007-08 academic school year comes to an end, the JUST RUN® youth fitness program boasts top grades and earns "extra credit" for reaching new milestones.

Nearly 6,800 children ran over 200,000 miles, far surpassing last year's totals of 4,200 and 134,000 miles respectively. Additionally, 23,000 Just Deeds (acts of good citizenship) were completed. Sixty-seven schools throughout the United States participated in the program as compared to 41 the previous year.

Created in 2004 by the non-profit Big Sur International Marathon JUST RUN was designed to promote fitness and healthy lifestyle choices for Monterey County children and youth. As word spread, the free, web-based, turnkey program began attracting attention from schools and youth organizations throughout the country. In 2008, schools in 14 states participated in JUST RUN.

"We are proud to offer a solution to the rise in childhood obesity and the lack of physical activity in our youth," said Susan Love, program administrator. "The success of JUST RUN and its positive impact encourage and motivate us to reach as many children as possible."

Another milestone for JUST RUN was the creation of the JUST RUN!® Just Kids 3K race series. Held in conjunction with the marathon's two major events - the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay in November and the Big Sur International Marathon in April - the fun runs drew of a total of 2,700 children and family member participants.

"The JUST RUN races are a perfect complement to our existing events," stated Big Sur Marathon race director Wally Kastner. "Families coming for the larger races can bring their kids and run with them the day before. I truly believe that runners can help save the health of this nation."

Additionally, Michael Dove, JUST RUN program developer and Big Sur board member, received the highest volunteer honor - the Jefferson Award for Public Service for his devotion to JUST RUN and the cause of youth fitness. Dove will be honored in Washington, D.C. at the national Jefferson Awards event in June.

The JUST RUN program has proven effective and works. Research-based examination of California School Fitnessgram test scores indicated that children participating in the JUST RUN program in Monterey County showed significant increases in passing scores in aerobic capacity, flexibility, and strength. Scores for children in the same geographic/demographic area who did not participate in the program all declined compared to the previous year.

As JUST RUN moves into its fourth full year, organizers continue to implement changes and improvements to the program. The popular web feature "Run Across the USA" will be supplemented with a new "Run Across Europe" map for those classes wishing a virtual tour abroad. The Hispanic website is being updated and additional activities and information on nutrition have already been added. Special home pages for cities, marathons and school districts outside Monterey County are being developed so that they may update their local events and relevant information.

For more information, JUSTRUN.org or contact Susan Love at (831) 625-6226 or susanwlove@sbcglobal.net

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