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Learn from the Best, Escape Winter at Running USA 2009 in La Jolla
Outstanding keynote speakers, informative breakout sessions at premier running industry conference; theme "20 in 10: Setting the Course"

More than 300 leaders in the sport of running have registered for next month's Running USA 2009 Conference powered by The Active Network and Gen-A Media & Marketing. The February 8-10 conference at the Hilton La Jolla, Torrey Pines will have outstanding keynote speakers, informative and interactive breakout sessions and networking opportunities to help attendees improve their events and businesses and build the sport. This year's theme is "20 in 10: Setting the Course" (20 million race participants in 10 years).

"This year's conference - thanks to our sponsors, speakers, panelists and spectacular setting - should be our best yet as once again it is the place to be. Running USA 2009 will educate, energize, inspire and motivate the attendees," said Susan Weeks, CEO of Running USA.

Sessions and keynote speakers:
* World Marathon Majors - Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director, Bank of America Chicago Marathon; Mary Wittenberg, CEO, New York Road Runners; Guy Morse, Executive Director, Boston Athletic Association and Carlos Silva, President, Universal Sports
* What Makes the Pig Fly - Bob Roncker, The Running Spot; Iris Simpson Bush, Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and Bill Logee, ASICS
* Understanding Generation Me - Dr. Jean Twenge, author, "Generation Me"
* Working with and Marketing to Generation Me - Dave Alberga, CEO, The Active Network and Mary O'Brien, VP, Marketing, Saucony
* Harnessing the Power of Social Media - Jeff Risley, VP, Social Media Analyst, Barkley
* Good Experience - Sponsor & Participant - Bouker Pool, Consultant, Integrated Marketing

Breakouts & Workshops
* Race Directors Give and Take
* Keys to Sponsorship Success
* Making Your Event Green
* More Effective Sponsorships
* Youth Running Programs
* Plus more

Special Events
* ING Hall of Champions Dinner and Auction
* MarathonFoto Lunch featuring the Women's Running Trailblazer Award
* Fun Run with Team Running USA
* Sponsor Expo
* Morning runs
* Evening in San Diego's Downtown Gaslamp District

Record Sponsor Support for Running USA 2009
Running USA 2009 powered by The Active Network and Gen-A Media & Marketing has attracted a conference record level of sponsor support. Joining The Active Network and Gen-A Media & Marketing in making the conference a success are:

Platinum sponsors
ING, Leslie Jordan Inc., MapMyRun.com and MarathonGuide.com

Gold sponsors
AFM Inc., Brooks Sports, IPICO Sports, MarathonFoto, Saucony and Training Peaks

Silver sponsors
AMB-ChampionChip, Ashworth Awards, Atlanta Track Club, ChronoTrack, emedia group, Electric City Printing, Finish Line Promotions, MagnaTreads, Maxwell Medals, Micro Talk Systems, RFID Race Timing Systems, Runner's World Media Group, Sport Science, Visual Marketing Products, WearYourNumber.com, Winning Time USA and Women's Running Magazine

Bronze sponsors
Blue Dog Digital, Chill Towels, Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., Universal Sports / WCSN and Youth Runner Magazine

To register or for the latest conference information, schedule and attendee list, go to: www.runningusa.org/conference/rusa2009.shtml or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232 or ryan@runningusa.org

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Cheruiyot, Tune Set to Defend Boston Marathon Titles on April 20

BOSTON - (January 27, 2009) - John Hancock Financial, in its 24th year as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, has announced the return of four-time champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya and 2008 champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia for the 113th running of the race on Monday, April 20.

"I'd like to thank John Hancock for inviting me back to race in Boston again," said Cheruiyot. "Boston is one of my favorite races, and I am training as hard as I can to try to win for the fifth time if possible and run my best time."

The winner in 2003 and 2006-08, Cheruiyot, 30, is the youngest man and first Kenyan man to win four Boston Marathons. Last year, he won the race after surging off the Newton hills and away from his competitors. He crossed the finish line in a commanding lead, just 32 seconds off his 2006 course record of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 14 seconds.

In a memorable 2007 race, Cheruiyot battled the remnants of a stormy Nor'easter to claim his third win and secure the inaugural World Marathon Majors Series title. The series, now entering its third two-year cycle, brings together the best athletes in the world to compete in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

Cheruiyot shares the honor of at least four Boston wins with Gerard Cote and Bill Rodgers (4 wins each) and Clarence DeMar (7 wins). He is also the only man to win marathons in Boston and Chicago in the same year (2006) and was the 2002 Milan City Marathon champion.

Boston's 2008 women's champion, 22-year-old Dire Tune of Ethiopia, prevailed in the tightest race in Boston Marathon history last year as she found herself ahead of former champions Lidiya Grigoryeva and Rita Jeptoo. With great resolve, Tune triumphed in a back-and-forth duel over the closing miles with Russian Alevtina Biktimirova to win by two seconds in 2:25:25.

"Since I was a young girl, I always dreamed to come and compete in the Boston Marathon," said Tune. "My dream came true not only to come to Boston, but to win. Now I have an unbelievable determination to defend my title. Boston has become a special place for me, and I thank the sponsor John Hancock for the opportunity."

In 2008, Tune also won the Chevron Houston Marathon, established the world record for the One Hour Run (18.517km), finished 15th at the Beijing Olympic Marathon, and placed seventh in New York City. She is also the 2007 Chevron Houston Marathon winner and the 2006 Hong Kong Marathon winner.

"We are proud that both of our defending champions have chosen to return for the 113th Boston Marathon," said Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association. "No one can forget Dire's sprint to victory in 2008, and of course Robert will be looking to make history, so fans can expect an exciting race from both of these champions."

"Throughout our 24 year sponsorship, John Hancock Financial has had the honor and pleasure of bringing to the Boston Marathon each year many of the world's top runners like Robert and Dire. Having the world's best here year after year ensures that the Boston Marathon remains one of the world's premier road races," said John D. DesPrez III, President and Chief Executive Officer of John Hancock Financial. "We are very excited for Robert as he goes for his fifth Boston victory and his fourth in a row. We are equally pleased to have Dire back after providing us with the most exciting finish to the women's division in the history of the race.

"As we once again fulfill our promise to the city of Boston and surrounding communities to support this great race, we are very pleased that the Boston Marathon can provide such a tremendous positive economic effect on the region, particularly during the challenging economic times that we all face now. This race will generate a direct and indirect economic impact estimated at $95 million for Boston and the region."

For more race information, go to: BostonMarathon.org

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Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon Named Race of Year by RRCA

MILWAUKEE - (January 28, 2009) - Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon has been named the 2008 Road Race of the Year by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).

Race director Kristine Hinrichs will accept the award on behalf of the Lakefront Marathon at the RRCA's Annual Convention to be held in San Francisco in March. Hinrichs is thrilled to be able to accept the award on behalf of the annual race that is driven by more than 2,000 volunteers.

"This award is a testament to all the hard working volunteers who give of their time and talents each year to provide a first-class experience to runners from around the world," said Hinrichs, who is serving in her 10th year as race director. "Runners come back each year and rave about their experiences in Milwaukee thanks to our volunteers. We are honored to be named the race of the year."

The 29th Lakefront Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2009 in Milwaukee. The race is the premiere event of the Badgerland Striders running club, and annually fills hotels, restaurants and the streets of Milwaukee's North Shore each October. Registration for the 2009 race opens January 29.

For more information, visit: www.badgerlandstriders.org/lfm

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Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year: Jordan Hasay
California standout named nation's top high school performer

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - (January 28, 2009) - In its third decade of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE Magazine, has announced senior distance runner Jordan Hasay of Mission College Prep (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) as its 2008-09 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Hasay as the nation's best high school girls cross country runner. A national advisory board comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped to select Hasay from more than 190,000 high school girls cross country runners nationwide. Hasay is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year Award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

A two-time Gatorade California Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Hasay was unbeaten this past season and raced to a national title at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. The senior, who also won the Foot Locker championship as a freshman, captured the 2008 Division 5 state title with the fastest time in any class, 17:18, and also broke the tape at the Mt. Sac Invitational in October. The 5-foot-4 Hasay became the first runner ever to win four Foot Locker Cross Country regional championships when she topped the field at the 2008 West Regional in December.

The owner of nine national age-group records, Hasay, who finished 10th in the 1500 meter finals at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials last July in Eugene, set a new high school record with a time of 4:14.50 in the Trials semi-finals.

The 2007-08 USA Cross Country junior champion has maintained a 4.53 GPA in the classroom. She is active in the St. Patrick's Parish Youth Ministry program, has volunteered in the People's Kitchen at the Prado Day Center for the homeless, and has donated her time to the Special Olympics and the Invisible Children Project humanitarian-aid initiative.

"She runs a very strategic race every single time," said Joy Kamani, Chief Operations Officer and Girls Recruiting Chair for the National Scholastic Sports Foundation. "That sticks out to me more than anything else about her because down the road, that's what's going to count. She's beautiful to watch. She's all business until you see that glorious smile at the end. She's a beautiful runner to watch because she competes instead of just running. A lot of distance kids start to decline as a junior and senior. She has not. She has maintained and gotten better and turned herself into arguably the best girls' high school talent of the last generation."

Hasay, who joins 2007-08 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year Ashley Brasovan as the only other female to win the honor, remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

"Without question, Jordan is deserving of recognition as the nation's best high school girls cross country runner based on her performance and the tremendous ability she's demonstrated," said Gatorade Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Jeff Urban. "But she is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young players of what a leader and a student-athlete should be. She represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient."

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE Magazine, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Former notable Gatorade National Players of the Year include:
* Reigning 200 meter world champion Allyson Felix
* 2007 Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning
* Two-time American League Most Valuable Player Alex Rodriguez
* WNBA all-time leading scorer and rebounder Lisa Leslie
* Beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information and lists of past winners and future announcement dates, visit: gatorade.com/playeroftheyear

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