Running USA wire 26, April 1, 2009

Running USA 2010: The Industry Conference to be powered by Active.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (April 1, 2009) - Running USA has announced that The Active Network has extended its partnership with the national industry non-profit organization through February 2011.The Active Network, the online registration leader, has been a part of the Running USA Industry Conference since its inception in 2004.

"As a Running USA Founding Member, The Active Network has been with us since 1999, and together, we have built the Running USA Conference into the sport's biggest and best, and their contributions and support will enable our "powered by Active.com" conference to continue its excellence," said Susan Weeks, CEO Running USA.

"Running USA has had tremendous success growing the sport of running and serving as a valuable resource to those involved in the running industry," said Dave Alberga, CEO of The Active Network. "We are proud to be a major partner of the annual Running USA Conference and look forward to contributing to the event for many years to come."

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves and promotes the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its annual conference, Running USA wire, Running USA E-News, website, annual marathon and State of the Sport reports and youth fitness portal RunningRocks.com and support of athlete development.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport. Running USA's more than 250 members include road races, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry. For more information, contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232 or visit: RunningUSA.org

About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network delivers integrated technology solutions, marketing services and online media properties that encourage and enable participation in activities and events. For more information, visit ActiveNetwork.com

Major U.S. running organizations to host local events as part of national effort to get Americans moving

NEW YORK - (April 1, 2009) - The United States running industry has announced an unprecedented, unified effort to launch the inaugural National Running Day on Wednesday, June 3, to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise. Across the country, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today's most pressing health issues.

Through a grassroots effort, the foremost road racing and track and field organizations from major U.S. cities - including New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Little Rock, Denver, Eugene and San Diego - in addition to national running organizations USA Track & Field and Running USA, are encouraging Americans of all ages and fitness levels to get out and run by hosting a variety of National Running Day activities, including professional athlete appearances, free running events, group runs and clinics.

This unified effort is aimed at encouraging people to lace up their shoes and invite a friend to join them in experiencing the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of running.

"Everyone can run. That's the message of this day," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "As an industry, we know first-hand how great running is. Millions of Americans have discovered that running is an easy way to feel better, look better and live better."

Runners can join in the National Running Day festivities by simply going for a run on June 3, then logging on to the national website and social media resources at RunningDay.org to download an "I'm a Runner / I Ran Today" Facebook button, interact with other runners and find complete information. Resources available on the site will include information on local community events with running clubs and retailers, course-mapping tools, training tips and other running-related information.

"This is a day to celebrate the most universal of all sports," said USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan. "By taking National Running Day into the virtual realm of social networking, we're doing even more to expand that universe. You might be running toward a goal, running with a purpose, or even just running away from your problems. Any reason is a good reason to run, especially on National Running Day."

"Running USA is delighted to be part of the National Running Day project. With our members, leading running organizations and individuals, this industry-wide initiative will encourage and motivate America to get out and run as well as experience the enjoyment and benefits of running," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

About National Running Day

National Running Day is an initiative whereby many of the major organizations within the United States running industry are joining forces in an unprecedented, unified effort to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy and accessible form of exercise. The inaugural National Running Day will be on Wednesday, June 3. From New York to San Diego, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today's most pressing health issues. For more information, visit: RunningDay.org

Predicted fast times put U.S. road 5K record in jeopardy

CARLSBAD, Calif. - (March 26, 2009) - The world's fastest five-kilometer road race has once again attracted a world class field to the Southern California beachside resort of Carlsbad. Renowned for producing 16 world records, a selection of America's best runners has signed up to compete in the 24th Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday, April 5.

Among them are four U.S. Olympians hoping to produce the level of performances that put them on the road to Beijing last year. Anthony Famiglietti, fresh from his recent victory at the USA 15K Championships, will be making his Carlsbad debut with his sights set on Marc Davis' 13-year-old U.S. record of 13:24.

"Winning the USA 15K Championship was a unique challenge, and switching gears from a long distance race to a 5K will be even more challenging," said Famiglietti, who used a last-second burst to win the 15K title with a time of 43:36. "Carlsbad has a great history, including a U.S. 5K record setting performance by Marc Davis in 1996. The race will be a great opportunity to test myself against some of the best middle distance runners around. I hope to live up to the tradition of great performances the Carlsbad 5000 is known for."

Famiglietti, who won the 2008 USA 5K Championship last year, is the fastest American to ever run the 5000m on U.S. soil with a PR of 13:11.93. He will face stern competition from NCAA 5000m champion Bobby Curtis, a collegiate All-American at Villanova, who holds a personal best of 13:25.66 in the 5000m. Curtis will be full of confidence after recently earning his first U.S. vest at the World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan.

Another U.S. Olympian competing in the professional field will be Jarrod Shoemaker of Massachusetts. Track fans may not be familiar with his name, as he usually competes in the multi-disciplined triathlon, an event in which he finished top 20 at the Beijing Olympics.

"I am excited to race with the elite field at the Carlsbad 5000 this year," said Shoemaker, two-time winner of the Carlsbad 5000's Open race. "One of my goals is to compete against the best 5000 meter runners on the Carlsbad course. I had the honor of competing against the best in the world in the triathlon last summer and now I will get to see how good my running legs are versus the world's best."

Leading the U.S. in the women's field will be San Francisco's Shannon Rowbury. After an injury riddled collegiate career, Rowbury burst onto the international track and field scene in 2008 with a number of world class performances. Most notable was her 4:00.33 1500m effort at the Paris Golden League, just one week after she comfortably qualified for her first Olympics.

"I had a great year in 2008 and I'm looking forward to building on that in 2009, with the World Championships in Berlin being my target," said Rowbury. "I'm excited to make my 2009 racing debut at the Carlsbad 5000 and I hope to mix it up with some of the best athletes in the world."

Fellow Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas will return to Carlsbad after finishing 2008 ranked the #3 female in the U.S. by Track & Field News. As the 2008 1500m USA Indoor champion, the Arkansas graduate is eager to perform well over the longer distance.

"I am very excited to race at Carlsbad again and I think it is probably the most beautiful course in America," said Wurth-Thomas, who paced world record holder Meseret Defar during her '07 victory. "I've stepped up my training and I'm well ahead of where I was last year. It will be exciting to see what I can do."

The complete field of international athletes will be announced race week and introduced at a local media briefing in Carlsbad on Friday, April 3. For more information or to register for the race, visit Carlsbad5000.com or call (800) 311-1255.

About Carlsbad 5000
The 24th running of the Carlsbad 5000 attracts amateur, competitive and professional runners from around the world. The 2009 event, known as the World's Fastest 5K road race and the home of 16 world records, 8 U.S. records and 11 world wheelchair bests is set for Sunday, April 5. Race day begins at 7:05am with the Masters Men 40 and over, the first of nine races that will take place throughout the morning.

The invitational event, featuring the world's fastest professional athletes, begins at 12:15pm. The Carlsbad 5000 is home to the current world 5K road records: 13:00, Sammy Kipketer (KEN), 2000 & 2001, and 14:46, Meseret Defar (ETH), 2006.

Saturday, April 4 will mark the 20th Junior Carlsbad, a running event for kids 12 and under. Eleven kids' races run throughout the morning crossing the same finish line as the professional field on Sunday. Registration is still open and available on race day. To view the full race weekend schedule or register online, visit: Carlsbad5000.com or JuniorCarlsbad.com