Running USA wire 91, November 5, 2009

WMM champions awarded $500,000 each for accomplishment

NEW YORK - (November 2, 2009) - Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya and Irina Mikitenko of Germany (left, WMM) are the winners of the 2008-09 World Marathon Majors series, and both were presented with $500,000 USD for their respective accomplishment at an award ceremony on Monday in New York. Wanjiru collected 90 points over the two-year series, winning at the 2008 Olympics, as well as at London and Chicago in 2009. He was also runner-up at London 2008. Similarly, Mikitenko won three major marathons and finished second place in another during the last two years; she won at London in both 2008 and 2009, was victorious at Berlin 2008, and was runner-up at Chicago last month. Mikitenko also won the 2007-08 WMM series.

In the series, the world's top runners score points for winning and top placings at the five events which comprise the World Marathon Majors: Virgin London Marathon, Boston Marathon, real,-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and ING New York City Marathon. In years in which the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships are contested, those marathons also count in the point totals.

WMM series points are collected for top five finishes with 25 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and 1 for fifth.

2008-09 Final Leader Board
MEN
1) Samuel Wanjiru (KEN), 90 pts, $500,000
2) Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), 50 pts
3) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN), 41 pts
4) Abderrahim Goumri (MAR), 40 pts
5) Tsegaye Kebede (ETH), 35 pts
5) Jaouad Gharib (MAR), 35 pts

WOMEN
1) Irina Mikitenko (GER), 90 pts, $500,000
2) Dire Tune (ETH), 40 pts
3) Liliya Shobukhova (RUS), 35 pts
3) Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS), 35 pts
5) Ludmila Petrova (RUS), 31 pts
5) Salina Kosgei (KEN), 31 pts

Winners of the World Marathon Majors series:
2006-07
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN)
Gete Wami (ETH)

2007-08
Martin Lel (KEN)
Irina Mikitenko (GER)

2008-09
Samuel Wanjiru (KEN)
Irina Mikitenko (GER)

To view biographies of Wanjiru, Mikitenko and the world's other top marathoners, as well as leader boards for the 2008-09 series and the 2009-10 series, which is now halfway to completion, go to: www.worldmarathonmajors.com

Upscale demographics and new events draw more corporate interest

CHICAGO - (November 5, 2009) - North American-based companies will spend an estimated $86.1 million to sponsor marathons, triathlons, 10Ks and other running events this year, a 2.5 percent increase from the $84 million spent in 2008, according to IEG, the world's leading authority on sponsorship.

While the projection is down significantly from the nearly 9 percent increase in spending from '07 to '08, it outpaces IEG's expected .7 percent spending increase on overall sponsorship of sports properties.

The reason: Increasingly sophisticated sponsorship sales techniques by marathons and other types of running events, as well as the upscale demographic of runners and other endurance sports athletes.

"Corporate marketers continue to be enthralled by endurance sports' affluent participant base," said William Chipps, senior editor of IEG Sponsorship Report.

Corporate interest also has been fueled by a new player on the scene: Competitor Group Inc. New York City-based private equity firm Falconhead Capital, LLC formed CGI in January 2008 following its acquisition of four media and event companies in the endurance sports space: Competitor Publishing, Elite Racing, Triathlete Magazine and Inside Communications.

The acquisitions gave CGI a number of assets - including the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, the Muddy Buddy Series, Inside Triathlon and Velo News - around which it is offering multi-dimensional marketing platforms.

Those packages have caught the interest of corporate marketers, with CGI this year securing new deals with Brooks Sports, Inc.; Nissan North America, Inc.; Amway Corp.'s Nutrilite vitamins and MillerCoors, LLC's MGD64 brand.

Other new deals in 2009 include The Procter & Gamble Co., which inked presenting status of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, and the Jamaica Tourist Board, which partnered with the Nautica New York City Triathlon. Manhattan's Hospital for Special Surgery and T-Mobile USA, Inc. both signed new deals with the ING New York City Marathon.

For more information about IEG and the sponsorship industry, visit www.sponsorship.com or call (800) 834-4850 (outside the U.S. and Canada, (312) 944-1727.

Sold-out field enjoy classic Northern California autumn day on Halloween

HEALDSBURG, Calif. - (October 31, 2009) - On a classic Northern California autumn day, a sold-out field of runners filled the start line at Francis Ford Coppola Winery for the 2nd Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon on Halloween. Sergio Reyes, 28, from Palmdale, CA, crossed the finish line first in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 47 seconds, while Tiffany Marley, 27, of Lake Hughes, CA was the women's winner in 1:20:13. Both set course records.

In the athlete VIP tent, Reyes (left, brightroom) commmented on the incredible experience, "fifteen minutes before the race we were all standing at the start in the pitch black with temperatures in the 40s. Then the dawn broke and the fog rose over the vineyards, and the sun started to warm the air and light the vineyards - totally inspiring! It was easily the most beautiful race I've competed in."

A rising star on the national running scene, Reyes, only three weeks ago, was the first U.S. finisher at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a personal record 2:15:30 - making this feat all the more impressive.

Josh Spiker from Ventura, CA was the runner-up in 1:07:25. Winner of the January 2009 Carlsbad Marathon, Spiker enthused about this half, "The views are absolutely awesome!"

While he maintained an even pace throughout the race, Spiker noted that the ups and downs on the course made measured breathing a challenge.

Seventy percent of this year's competitors were female, and the women delivered with some fast times led by women's winner Marley. What was her biggest advantage? "My coach", said Marley, "who just so happens to be my boyfriend, 5th place finisher Justin Patananan."

Finishing 13th overall and second women was Shawna Burger from Santa Monica, CA, in 1:21:55. Was the morning of the race entry meant to throw the competition in the lady's field? "Not so," said Burger.

Having just finished the recent Santa Monica 5000, Burger was cajoled by local friends Maria and Dorothy, who also ran but finished distantly back in the pack, to compete. "My legs are a bit jelly right now after the SM5000 and I didn't plan to compete. But a girl can only take so much of a good razzing from friends without getting up at 4:00am and representing on a gorgeous Fall morning!"

The Halloween inspired event was an athlete and crowd favorite, with all of the top finishing athletes commenting on how much fun and inspiration they gleaned from all the volunteers manning the water stations along the route and the fans cheering them on at the finish below Lake Sonoma in the end of Dry Creek Valley.

The men's and women's overall winners each received $400 cash, a Ball wristwatch and a 9-liter bottle of Shiraz from Francis Ford Coppola Winery. At the completion of the race, which had 1,560 finishers, participants rocked out to the groovin' tunes of Five AM, while enjoying wines from sixteen of the areas finest wineries.

2nd Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon
Healdsburg, CA, Saturday, October 31, 2009

MEN
1) Sergio Reyes (CA), 1:06:47*, $400, a Ball wristwatch and wine
2) Josh Spiker (CA), 1:07:25
3) Jeff Gardina (CA), 1:08:12
*course record (previous record, 1:14:36, Christian Hesch (CA), 2008)

WOMEN
1) Tiffany Marley (CA), 1:20:13*, $400, a Ball wristwatch and wine
2) Shawna Burger (CA), 1:21:55
3) Sarah Raitter (NV), 1:24:58
*course record (previous record, 1:20:52, Tamara Karrh (GA), 2008)

For complete race results, go to: www.runhealdsburg.com

RW's annual domestic Winter Shoe Guide winners also revealed

NEW YORK - (November 3, 2009) - The international editors of Runner's World magazine, the worldwide authority on running information, awarded ASICS Gel-Kayano 15 with the International Editor's Choice award for best shoe of 2009. Now in its fifth year, the 2009 International Shoe Summit unites the editors and publishers of Runner's World's 15 global editions for an exclusive look at the 2010 product lines from today's leading running shoe manufacturers.

Representatives from manufacturers ASICS, adidas, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Saucony were among those presenting before 15 international Runner's World editors at this year's International Shoe Summit. A special award ceremony was held on Friday evening at Providence in New York City, concluding the annual three-day conference.

The Runner's World International Editor's Choice award for "Shoe of the Year" is presented annually in collaboration with the International Shoe Summit, part of Runner's World's global initiative to find, test and designate the best shoes in the world for its readers in the 15 countries where it currently publishes: Australia / New Zealand, Brazil, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands / Belgium, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"Runner's World is a trusted resource for runners around the globe. We pride ourselves on identifying the running shoes with the best combination of design, technology and performance for the international running community," said David Willey, Editor-in-Chief of Runner's World USA. "Runner's World congratulates ASICS for receiving the International Editor's Choice award for their Gel-Kayano 15."

The ASICS Gel-Kayano 15's exceptional fit and superior impact protection won top honors from global wear-testers. Testers were almost unanimous in their praise of the shoe's new off-center lacing pattern, which follows the natural topline of the foot for a snug arch wrap. ASICS also filled the heel with more Gel and topped it off with a plastic cap that keeps the gel from feeling too soft underfoot. The ASICS Gel-Kayano 15 is recommended for runners with normal arches who need a stable, well-cushioned shoe.

Brooks Ghost 2 received Runner's World's International Best Update, given to a shoe that demonstrates standout improvements and / or revisions. Brooks Ghost 2's most pronounced features are its fit, flexibility and supportive arch. This year's International Best Update is recommended for runners with normal arches and a relatively efficient stride looking for plenty of arch support.

Runner's World editors and hundreds of independent wear-testers, both domestically and globally, put all running shoes through rigorous testing. Additionally, mechanical testing at the Runner's World Shoe Lab objectively assesses all shoes reviewed in the magazine. The Runner's World International Shoe Awards help runners select the most appropriate shoes for their levels and needs.

Additionally, Runner's World's December 2009 issue, on sale on Tuesday, November 3, features its annual Winter Shoe Guide. Four of the 15 shoes highlighted - all of which were put through rigorous testing by Runner's World editors, 350 "wear-testers" and the one-of-a-kind Runner's World Shoe Lab - were cited best in class in the following four categories: Editor's Choice, Best Update, Best Debut and Best Buy.

The domestic winners are as follows:

* Editor's Choice: ASICS GT-2150
* Best Update: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10
* Best Debut: Brooks Launch
* Best Buy: ASICS Gel-1150

For more, visit: www.runnersworld.com