Running USA wire 78, September 23, 2009

Leading running-oriented social networking company also "Presenting Sponsor" of Running USA 2010's opening reception

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (September 23, 2009) - Running USA, the national industry non-profit organization, has announced that MapMyRun.com, the running specific entry in the MapMyFitness suite of websites, has renewed its sponsorship of the annual Running USA Conference through 2011. MapMyRun.com, the Internet's fastest growing running-oriented social networking and training application, has been a conference sponsor since 2008. Running USA 2010: The Industry Conference will run from January 31 to February 2 at the famed La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.

"We welcome and thank MapMyRun.com as a Running USA Conference World Record and returning sponsor. In addition, MapMyRun.com will be the Presenting Sponsor of the Running USA 2010 opening reception, a popular networking gathering," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO .

"At MapMyRun.com, our goal is to help runners of all levels achieve their health and training goals, and we believe our continued sponsorship of Running USA offers us a great opportunity to engage other running industry members and collaborate towards that objective. Our sponsorship of the conference is a natural synergy for us, and we are thrilled to continue to be a part of it for the coming years," stated Robin Thurston, CEO of MapMyFitness, Inc.

Register today for Running USA 2010, the industry's conference. The conference rate of $529 for members / $729 non-members is available until Thursday, December 31, 2009. On-line registration and hotel, travel and other information for Running USA 2010 powered by Active.com is available at: http://runningusa.org/programs/conference

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular 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 by supporting athlete development.

Running USA's more than 250 members include road races, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport. For more information, visit: RunningUSA.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232 or ryan@runningusa.org

About MapMyRun.com
MapMyRun.com is the running specific entry in the MapMyFitness suite of websites. The MapMyFitness suite of websites includes MapMyRun.com, MapMyRide.com, MapMyWalk.com, MapMyHike.com, MapMyFitness.com and MapMyTri.com. MapMyRun.com provides its users with a signature, super-fast mapping application that enables them to record and store their daily runs in our online database, or plot out tomorrow's run. Not only do we give our users access to this advanced and invaluable mapping application, but we also deliver them a searchable database of routes across the globe, essential community-based fitness content, unique online training tools and fitness calculators, comprehensive global event listings, and our innovative mobile application-iMapMyRun. iMapMyRun uses the built-in GPS technology of the iPhone 3G to help a user record and chart their daily running routes.

For more information about MapMyRun.com and its offerings, visit: www.mapmyrun.com or contact Mark A. Merolli, Editor-in-Chief, mark.merolli@mapmyfitness.com

U.S. contingent looks to challenge the world's best distance runners in Birmingham, England

INDIANAPOLIS - (September 22, 2009) - 2008 Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley (Portland, Ore.) will lead a strong U.S. contingent at the IAAF / EDF Energy World Half Marathon Championships on Sunday, October 11 in Birmingham, England.

Ritzenhein (left, PhotoRun) and Yoder Begley are both coming off of an impressive track season that saw Ritzenhein finish sixth at the World Championships 10,000 meters, eleven days before setting a new U.S. record of 12:56.27 for 5000 meters in Zurich. Yoder Begley, the 2009 USA champion at 10,000 meters, went on to finish sixth in the women's 10,000 at the Berlin World Championships and won last weekend's USA 5K road title in Providence, R.I.

The U.S. squad for Birmingham will also include several of the top up-and-coming American distance runners, giving Team USA an outstanding chance for a team medal in both the men's and women's events.

The men's team will also include recent USA 20K champion Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Gotcher has competed for Team USA on several occasions, including in 2003 when he won the gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the Pan American Junior Championships.

Ritzenhein and Gotcher will join forces with 2008 USA 15K champion Andrew Carlson (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Scott Bauhs (Chico, Calif.), a multiple NCAA Division II Track & Cross Country All-American at Chico State who finished fifth at the USA 20K championships and James Carney (Boulder, Colo.), a past U.S. champion at 20K and the half-marathon.

Joining Yoder Begley will be Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who has had an outstanding summer of her own, running a personal best 2:27:53 to finish 11th at the World Championships Marathon last month. Rounding out the team will be Serena Burla (Baldwin, Mo.), the recent USA 20K Championship runner-up; along with Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) and Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.), who finished fifth and seventh respectively at the USA 20K Championships to earn their berths on the team.

At the 17th edition, a total of $245,000 will be offered in prize money, with $30,000 going to the individual world champions and $15,000 to the respective men's and women's team champions. The top finish for a U.S. team at this event came last year in Rio de Janeiro where the Team USA women finished fourth, while the best U.S. men's team finish was sixth in both 2005 and 2006 (20K). The fastest U.S. times at the Worlds were produced by Bill Reifsnyder in 1992 (1:02:00 / 18th) and Deena Kastor in 2007 (1:09:38 / 16th).

For more information on Team USA at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, visit: USATF.org

20th edition expects event record 20,000 participants

TORONTO - (September 15, 2009) - Ninety-eight-year-old Fauja Singh and 78-year-old Ed Whitlock are confirmed to join 1984 gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson as "The Legends" at the 20th Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, September 27th. Singh will run the Waterfront 5K and Whitlock the half-marathon along with an event record 20,000 participants.

The British Sikh and the retired Canadian mining engineer re-mapped the limits of aging and captured the world's imagination on September 30, 2003, when they took advantage of Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront's flat, fast, lakeshore course to set new world records. Singh ran 5 hours, 40 minutes, 4 seconds for a new 90+ marathon record, while Whitlock (photo left, STWM) ran 2:59:10 to set a new mark for 70+ and become the only septuagenarian on the planet to go under the magic 3-hour barrier.

"The marathon's Greatest Day! New World Records in Berlin and Toronto," boomed Amby Burfoot's headlines in Runner's World. "A Day for the Ages."

Whitlock and Singh astonished the world, not only expanding the limits of what "Seniors" could do, but providing inspiration for people of all ages. This was everyone's granddad breaking 3-hours, and your great granddad completing a full marathon in under 6 hours. They became "everyday Superstars", the talk of the global running community and the toast of the town.

"A 92-year-old guy called Fauja Singh just made everyone in Toronto look like the 'Tool of the Day' today," said Q107s celebrated radio DJ, John Derringer, on the Monday after the race.

Both Whitlock and Singh returned to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2004 for even more magic. Fauja set a new World Record for 90+ in the half-marathon with a 2:30:02. Ed again astounded the world when he took his mark down to 2:54:49. He remains the only person over 70 to go under 3 hours. "Ed and Fauja fever" took hold, as Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon went from 935 entries in 2003 to 1,938 in 2004. The event as a whole went from 5,863 to 9,001.

"Not just Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, but marathoning in Canada as a whole owes a lot to Ed and Fauja," said race director Alan Brookes. "Today, STWM is arguably the most exciting marathon in Canada with an IAAF Silver Label and global recognition. But it began with Ed and Fauja. In the U.S., the UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, France, there's a mystique about "the marathon". It's become the life-achievement of the everyday person in our era. That certainly hasn't been the case in Canada, where we've focused more on participation, doing a 10K or maybe a half-marathon. But Ed and Fauja are about excellence. About the pursuit of excellence regardless of age or other perceived limitations. "Don't underestimate yourself" is Ed's message. You can do a marathon, and put it on your list of the Top 10 Things you have to do in your life. Don't be the Tool of the Day! That's the spirit of our event, and we're proud that Ed and Fauja have infused STWM with this."

On September 27th, Fauja Singh will be joined in the Waterfront 5K by Amjit Singh and Amrik Singh, both British Sikhs over 80-years-old. A large posse of children from the Guru Gubind Singh Children's Foundation will also accompany their nonagenarian hero. Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone will start the Waterfront 5K at 10:20am in front of the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place, then jump in and walk the 5K to Nathan Phillips Square for his neighborhood charity, St. Christopher House. Deputy Premier George Smitherman, who has previously completed both the Waterfront Marathon and the Half, will run the 5K for his neighborhood charity, the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.

Mayor David Miller will join Ed Whitlock and Joan Benoit Samuelson in the half-marathon, running for a family charity. Councillor Karen Stintz and Ontario Liberal Chief Whip Mike Colle will be running the marathon. Colle completed last year's Waterfront Marathon [4:59:24] for the Foundation Fighting Blindness - his chosen charity again this year - while Councillor Stintz is going the distance for Providence Healthcare Foundation.

Come to "Run, Pledge, and Cheer" as a participant or spectator at the 20th Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half & 5K, Sunday September 27th. Combined, the event record 20,000 heroes expect to raise more than $1.5 million for 99 local charities on the day, and maybe set a few more new records. Online entry and pledging, plus further information on the best locations to watch, is at: www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com

Prizes include 25 round trip tickets courtesy of JetBlue and other prize packages

LONG BEACH, Calif. - (September 22, 2009) - In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon will be giving away a host of prizes in a random drawing contest. Anyone registered for any of the marathon events by the contest deadlines (October 1 for mail-in registrations and October 7 for online registrations) will automatically be eligible for the contest drawing. Topping the list of prizes will be 25 round trip travel certificates on JetBlue Airways, the Official Airline of the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon. Certificates are valid from any JetBlue departure city to any non-stop JetBlue destination city.

Additional prizes include: $250 prize package from Clif Bar; $250 prize package from Road Runner Sports; $250 prize package from Hyatt Regency Hotel Long Beach and ten $25 gift certificates from Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. To be eligible for the prize drawing, participants must register on-line at www.runlongbeach.com for any 25th Anniversary event before the on-line registration deadline on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at midnight.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 11. Events include: Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Bike Tour, Bubba Gump Run Forrest Run 5K and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run.

No purchase is necessary for participation in the Sweepstakes Contest. For complete contest rules and registration information on the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon, go to www.runlongbeach.com or call (562) 427-4606.