Running USA wire 71, August 30, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - (August 28, 2009) - On Friday night, Dathan Ritzenhein set an American record in the men's 5000 meters and Sanya Richards continued her quest to win her third Golden League crown at the Weltklasse Zürich, the fifth leg of the AF Golden League 2009.

Thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the U.S. record of 12:58.21 in the 5000 meters at the Weltklasse Zürich meeting, Ritzenhein (left, PhotoRun), 26, smashed that record by nearly 2 seconds finishing third in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds, an almost 20 second personal improvement. The two-time Olympian is now the second fastest non-African in history and only the third American ever to run under 13 minutes (also Bernard Lagat, 12:59.22 in 2006). Double Berlin world champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia won the race in 12:52.32.

2009 world champion Sanya Richards won the women's 400 meters in a world leading 48.94. Even with three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix coming after her off the turn, Richards sped away down the final straight to run her third-fastest time ever. Felix finished a distant second in 49.83. Richards is now five-for-five in Golden League meetings this season.

In the women's 1500 meters, Anna Willard became the fifth American woman ever to break the four-minute barrier with her runner-up finish in 3:59.38. Before this year, only two Americans had ever broken that barrier. Berlin bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury was fourth in 4:00.81, and Christin Wurth-Thomas was fifth (4:01.01). Berlin world champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain won the 1500 in 3:59.15.

For more information and complete results from the Weltklasse Zürich Golden League meeting, visit: www.IAAF.org

ARLINGTON, Va. - On Friday, September 18, 2009, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) will promote the 4th National Run@Work Day®. The purpose of National Run@Work Day is to promote physical activity and healthy living through running or walking.

The goal of Run@Work Day is to raise awareness about the importance of daily physical activity for adults and to help combat the national inactivity crisis gripping our nation. Running clubs, company-based wellness programs, human resources departments and individuals nationwide are encouraged to plan fun runs and/or walks with their employers throughout the United States. Or, simply get out with a friend, co-worker or family member on that day and run or walk for 35 minutes.

Run@Work day events are community based events that promote and provide the opportunity for individuals to incorporate at least thirty-five minutes of exercise into their daily routine either before work, during lunch or immediately following work. Therefore spreading the message that incorporating exercise into one's daily routine can markedly improve a person's overall physical health and can help alleviate health related medical costs associated with the overweight and obesity crisis.

For more Run@Work Day information, go to: http://www.RRCA.org/programs/runatwork

Other developments include no "offline registration"; early bird registration ends August 31; participant cap raised to 15,500

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - On the morning of the 2009 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, the normally closed campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, open only to patients, their families, staff and special visitors, will welcome more than 10,000 runners. For the first time in the seven year history of the race weekend, marathon and half-marathon participants will run through the St. Jude campus, between miles four and five, passing patient care facilities and research buildings that are integral to the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children.

The 2009 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend races - marathon, half-marathon and the Memphis Grizzlies House 5K - will be held Saturday, December 5. Because of high participant demand in the previous year, the marathon committee has increased the weekend's participants' cap to 15,500 from the 14,000 race cap instituted in 2008. Registration for the marathon has increased to 3,500. The Memphis Grizzlies House 5K has increased its participant limit to 4,000 and the half-marathon maintains its cap at 8,000.

Also, race registration has gone "green", meaning all participants must register at www.stjudemarathon.org. Interested runners and walkers should take advantage of early bird prices that end August 31. The fee structure is:

Race / Current Fee / Fee beginning September 1
St. Jude Memphis Marathon = $70 / $80
St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon = $45 / $60
Memphis Grizzlies House 5K = $25 / $30

On race day, there will be an additional competition fueled by the St. Jude Heroes Team Challenge. Runners and walkers participating in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend are encouraged to become St. Jude Heroes and raise funds in support of St. Jude. Not only will St. Jude Heroes receive fundraising tools such as a personalized Web page, but team members can also earn great incentives such as hotel accommodations, a VIP tour of St. Jude and an invitation to an exclusive St. Jude Heroes Pasta Party. Post-race awards will be given to top performing groups, including Top Fundraising Team and Fastest Team. To learn more about the St. Jude Heroes Team Challenge and to register for the St. Jude Heroes program, visit: www.stjudemarathon.org/heroes.htm

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of the few major marathons in the country to benefit a single charity. Last year, from event proceeds and funds raised from participating St. Jude Heroes, more than $2.2 million was raised for St. Jude. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, presented by Juice Plus+®, is a collaborative effort between St. Jude and the Memphis Runners Track Club.

Nation's "greenest road race" readies for 16th edition on October 10th

GLASTONBURY, Conn. - (August 28, 2009) - The Hartford region's largest race event received another national distinction this year. The Hartford Marathon Foundation's signature event, the ING Hartford Marathon, is being recognized as a 2009 Regional Championship by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). The distinction supports the Foundation's continuing mission to organize programs and events that promote health, fitness and enjoyment for all participants.

A Regional Championship designation communicates to athletes and the community that the ING Hartford Marathon - set for Saturday, October 10, 2009 - follows approved guidelines set forth by the RRCA and excels in providing events and services for participants. The status will help further catapult the ING Hartford Marathon to recruit top performing runners, attract new sponsors and improve civic support.

This recognition comes just months after the ING Hartford Marathon was Gold Certified by the Council for Responsible Sport and named as the nation's "greenest road race". The ING Hartford Marathon has been at the forefront of sustainability efforts and has proven to be a national example of eco-friendly event planning and management. Highlights include the Marathon's state-of-the-art water bubbler designed to eliminate plastic water bottles; locally sourced and organic post-race menu; single stream recycling and off-sets of the race's carbon footprint.

"We've always strived to be an attentive race organization and to provide our runners, volunteers and spectators with the best facilities, training programs, race day events and support possible," said Beth Shluger, race director of the ING Hartford Marathon. "Achieving Championship status from RRCA is an honor and is indicative of our dedication to hosting successful events."

The 16th running of the ING Hartford Marathon will take place Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Bushnell Park offering kid running events, 5K, half-marathon and marathon races.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to create and manage fitness events to benefit the local community. Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes more than 20 annual athletic events, including the ING Hartford Marathon. For more information, visit: www.INGhartfordmarathon.com