Running USA wire 45, June 4, 2009

Editor-in-Chief David Willey & 13 other RW editors to train with Marathon Challengers and run the 2009 SunTrust Richmond Marathon

NEW YORK - (June 4, 2009) - Runner's World Editor-in-Chief David Willey and VP, Publishing Director Chris Lambiase have announced that the brand will kick off its first-ever Marathon Challenge - a premium community-oriented program built around an exclusive 16-week training plan created by Runner's World's Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso. The Marathon Challenge will debut in the pages of Runner World's July issue, on sale Tuesday, June 9 and extend online at www.runnersworld.com/challenge.

The Runner's World Marathon Challenge will feature a premium-training site through a partnership with TrainingPeaks, the most powerful web-based training and nutrition platform for runners. Runners will have the option to choose between two premium marathon-training programs based on individualized goals.

Premium Plan One ($130) is intended for all runners, regardless of what fall marathon they are training for, and will feature personalized marathon training tools including online training logs; weekly training e-mails targeting specific goals and exclusive insider access to the Runner's World's Loop, the site's online community platform.

Premium Plan Two ($250) will include the above mentioned along with targeted programs for subscribers who would like to run the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on Saturday, November 14, 2009 with the Runner's World editors. Premium Plan Two participants will obtain a race entry as well as elite admission to the Runner's World clubhouse - the central hub where marathon challengers will gather pre- and post-race, pick up their numbers, check their bags and receive a well-earned post-race massage.

"Our Marathon Challenge literally brings the pages of the magazine to life and connects the editors with the running community in a more personal way," says David Willey. "Each participating editor will share his or her own stories, triumphs and training regimes to further inspire members of the Marathon Challenge. We're all training together to reach individual goals."

Willey, along with 13 Runner's World editors, will be training alongside all marathon challenge participants and all 14 editors will be running the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. In-book and online, the editors will share their best tips on nutrition, injury-prevention, health issues and other essential training topics. Readers will be privy to videos, podcasts and articles to help achieve their personalized training goals. RW editors will also share their personal stories and experiences to help inspire and train participating runners for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon - coined one of the best marathons in the U.S. by Runner's World.

"The editors have created a unique new revenue stream directly from the pages of Runner's World," says Chris Lambiase. "Entering the world of premium content in this tough economic environment epitomizes the bond between our editors and readers, and at the same time, creates specific and targeted audience opportunities for our advertisers."

Fast legs for Open and Masters divisions toe start line on June 6; course records under threat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (June 4, 2009) - The 36th Hospital Hill Run announces its elite field for half-marathon on Saturday, June 6. Some are attracted to the expanded prize purse, while others simply want to compete on the famous course that has been covered by running legends and stars such as Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Billy Mills, Jim Ryun, Ryan Shay, Jenny Crain and Helen Moros.

The men's field has drawn a remarkable selection of talent for this year's race, including many runners with proven sub-1:10 speed, and six who have run faster than the event record of 1 hour, 3 minutes, 26 seconds established by Gert Thys in 1996. Standouts on the men's side include Demesse Tefera of Ethiopia, winner of the April SunTrust National Marathon in Washington, DC; Kenyans Rotich Kipruto, winner of Memphis' Germantown Half Marathon in March and Jynocel Basweti, who finished second in the ING Miami Marathon last January.

On the women's side, Hyvon Ngetich of Kenya brings a personal best 1:09:45 half-marathon time to the race, and countrywomen Ogla Kimaiyo and Caroline Rotich, both of whom have sub-1:13 finishes. Each may vie for the event record of 1:12:54 set back in 1992 by Janis Klecker.

"We're extremely excited to have such an impressive elite field at this year's Hospital Hill Run," said race director Beth Salinger. "It only adds to the excitement at the oldest running event in Kansas City and provides spectators with an opportunity to watch world class athletes run through the streets of their city."

First held in 1974 with a field of 99 runners, the Hospital Hill Run, a non-for-profit organization, has grown in size and stature over the ensuing years to the point that it was named one of the top races in the country by Runner's World magazine.

For more information, go to www.HospitalHillRun.com or call (312) 925-6067.

World Championships qualifier could challenge course record

OTTAWA, Canada - (May 31, 2009) - Tara Quinn-Smith has confirmed her entry into the 2009 Emilie's Run 5K on Saturday, June 20th. She is coming off her new Canadian Half Marathon win and record of 1:12:08. Quinn-Smith, 29, a member of the Brooks Canada Marathon Project based in Toronto, has a personal best of 15:58 for 5K and is expected to threaten the course record of 16:30. She placed 6th - first Canadian - at the recent MDS Nordion 10K in 33:39 and has qualified for the World Marathon Championships this August in Berlin.

Lioudmila Kortchaguina, the 2009 Canadian Marathon champion - having run 2:32 in Ottawa on May 24 - is also entered.

Emilie's Run - The Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women will be run on June 20th from the Aviation Museum in Ottawa. Emilie's Run is a women-only 5K road race named after Emilie Mondor who was killed in a car accident in September of 2006. She was the first Canadian woman to run under 15 minutes for 5000 meters and 2004 Athens Olympian. Mondor had moved to Ottawa to start training for the marathon with the goal of going to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in that event.

Last year, Emilie's Run was the only "women-only" road race in Canada and it is certainly one of the fastest women's 5K races. Last year, 38 women ran under 20:00. Emilie's Run had four out of the top ten 5K female performances in Ontario last year and 6 of the top ten Masters (40+) performances!

While there is over $7000 in prize money for the top individuals and teams, the race is open to all women and is designed to be a celebration of women's running in memory of a Canadian Olympian.

There is also a 1K run for children 12 and under and they will receive free admission to the Aviation Museum

The course record of 16:30 was set by two-time winner Nicole Stevenson of Toronto in 2006. Last year, Paula Wiltse of Kingston set a Canadian Masters (40+) record of 17:02 while placing second overall to Stevenson's 16:58.

The race offers several unique features to enhance the participants' experience such as timing mats at each kilometer and the race numbers 1 through 50 designate runners who placed 1 through 50 in the previous year's race.

CHEO - the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is the official charity of the event.

Online registration is available at: www.EmiliesRun.com