Running USA wire 99, December 3, 2009

Premier medallions and awards manufacturer also presenting sponsor of Running USA 2010: The Industry Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (December 3, 2009) - Running USA, the national industry non-profit organization, has announced that Ashworth Awards is its Official Awards Partner through 2012 as well as a presenting sponsor of Running USA 2010: The Industry Conference set for January 31 to February 2 at the renowned La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.

"With 44 years of manufacturing experience, Ashworth Awards has been an integral part of the sport's growth and popularity as runners proudly wear and show their medals post-race, and it is fitting that they are Running USA's Official Awards Partner. In addition, Ashworth Awards is a presenting sponsor at our upcoming industry conference including the Leadership Luncheon," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

"At Ashworth Awards we understand the amount of time and devotion it takes to put on a high quality event. We are not only the premier manufacturer of medallions and awards in the endurance sports market, we are race directors as well as competitors in both marathon and triathlon. By partnering with Running USA, we are supporting an industry and lifestyle that we are passionate about on both a business level as well as a personal level. We look forward to our continued support of Running USA and being an intricate part in the growth and development of the sport," said Dan Ashworth, Ashworth Awards president.

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

About Ashworth Awards
Ashworth Awards, the leading supplier of medallions and awards in the endurance sports market, is a manufacturer with 44 years of experience, not an ad specialty distributor like most of the suppliers in the market. The company has a full knowledge of all manufacturing processes and delivers the highest quality medallions, lapel pins and awards at very competitive prices.

With manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and overseas, as well as distribution warehouses in Massachusetts and Los Angeles, Ashworth Awards has the flexibility with manufacturing costs, delivery schedules, freight and delivery expenses. The company is the medallion and award supplier to some of the world's most recognized sporting events such as the Boston Marathon and Ironman as well as the official award, lapel pin and medallion supplier to U.S. Figure Skating and other Olympic governing bodies. For further information on your one stop shop for event medallions, awards, lapel pins and keychains, go to: www.ashworthawards.com

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and through 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

Professional field announced for the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon; "Battle of the Sexes" in the marathon; watch a live webcast at www.runrocknroll.com

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - (December 3, 2009) - An international field of professional athletes will lead more than 27,000 registered runners down the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, December 6 for the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon powered by Zappos.com to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.

Nearly seven and a half miles of world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed for the race, with the entire 13.1 mile half-marathon course being run on the Las Vegas Strip. The revamped event, managed for the first time by San Diego-based Competitor Group, has been rebranded as part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series and drawn entrants from all 50 states and 39 countries.

With over 35 live bands interspersed with cheerleaders and themed water stations along each mile of the course, the race will embody the spirit of Las Vegas and feature a start line entertainment extravaganza, hundreds of running Elvi and 85 couples getting married or renewing their vows during the 'Run Through Wedding' at the Eiffel tower in front of the Paris Resort. The race will be broadcast in Las Vegas on KLAS Channel 8, the local CBS affiliate, and offered live over the internet on www.runrocknroll.com.

The main event will match the professional women against the professional men in a special 'Battle of the Sexes' format that awards the first marathon runner of either gender to cross the finish line a $10,000 bonus over and above the first place prizes of $15,000. The pro women will begin the race first, starting 19 minutes ahead of the men, a differential representing the average time gap between the top 50 men's and women's marathon times of 2009. Once the 19:00 gap has passed, the pro men will take off with the rest of the marathon field at 6:15am and try to chase down the lead women. The first runner to break the finish tape will earn $25,000.

"The 'Battle of the Sexes' format has re-energized race coverage, while bringing a rooting interest back to pro racing," explained Running USA Hall of Champions announcer Toni Reavis, who will help call the race for KLAS-TV along with Olympians Ed Eyestone and Juli Henner. "The men will have to average better than 43.5 seconds per mile to make up the time gap over 26.2 miles."

Leading the men's field is 25-year-old Kenyan Matthew Koech, who owns a sub-60:00 half-marathon. Las Vegas will mark his marathon debut, but he won the prestigious Berlin 25K in May in 1:13:24, the seventh fastest time ever run for the distance. Leading the U.S. contingent will be Justin Young, a Butler University graduate who recently represented Team USA in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany. Young established himself as one of America's elite distance runners in 2008 with a breakthrough performance at the Rotterdam Marathon, bettering his PR (personal record) by over five minutes to 2:13:54. Earlier this year, Young finished ninth at the USA Half Marathon Championships in Houston in 1:03:25, a PR.

With a 2:06:36 marathon PR, France's Benoit Zwierzchiewski - known as Benoit (Ben-wa) Z - owns the fastest time in the field. He has battled injuries the over the past couple of years, but is now healthy and anxious to challenge for the 'Battle of the Sexes' crown. Ethiopian-born Abebe Yimer won the 2008 Las Vegas Marathon and rounds out the men's favorites. Yimer lives and trains locally in Las Vegas, and recently became a U.S. citizen.

The women's pro field is lead by two runners with 2:26 PRs; Kenyan Alice Timbilili and Russian Alevtina Ivanova. Timbilili is a two-time world cross country medalist, who set her marathon PR of 2:26:39 in Paris last year. Ivanova also ran her PR last year, winning the Nagano Marathon in Japan in 2:26:39.

"Las Vegas is going to provide a great backdrop for a fantastic challenge as the men chase the women down one of the most famous streets on the globe," said Matt Turnbull, Elite Athlete coordinator for the race. "We have some great talent from all over the world, and it should be exciting to watch it unfold."

Headlining the men's half-marathon is 2009 Carlsbad 5000 road champion Bekana Daba of Ethiopia, who is making his half-marathon debut. Daba has run a sensational 12:59 over 5000m, with sub-13:00 being the gold standard for 5000m track racing. The top American will be Fernando Cabada, past winner of the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville. Cabada also recorded the ninth fastest debut marathon ever by an American with a time of 2:12:27.

Olympic triathlete Matt Reed will also compete in the half-marathon and challenge the field of international distance runners. Matt won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games, and has won six triathlons this year including the Miami International, Oceanside 70.3, Pan American Championships, Rev3 Half-Ironman, Lifetime Fitness Minneapolis and the Chicago Triathlon.

Highlighting the women's half-marathon field is Ethiopia's Werknesh Kidane, winner of eight individual medals at the World Cross Country Championships, and 2005 champion of the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, where she ran her PR of 1:09:38.

Kidane will be challenged by rising U.S. stars Desireé Davila and Sally Meyerhoff. Davila runs with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Rochester Hills, Mich. and represented the USA at the World Championships in Berlin over the summer. Meyerhoff set her 1:12:52 PR for the half-marathon at the 2008 Rock 'n' Roll San Jose ½ Marathon. Also expected to contend is Katerina Stetsenko of Ukraine, who recently won the 2009 Dublin Marathon.

The professional field will be introduced at the event press conference on Friday, December 4 at 11:00am in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, adjacent to the Performance Expo in Bayside Hall-C. Limited registration for both the marathon and half-marathon will be available at the Performance Expo from 11:30am - 7:00pm Friday, December 4 and 9:00am - 5:00pm Saturday, December 5.

For more information, visit: http://las-vegas.competitor.com or call (800) 311-1255.

Put scenic race on "your life list" recommends December 2009 Runner's World; 25th silver edition on April 25, 2010

CARMEL, Calif. - (December 2, 2009) - The Big Sur International Marathon finds itself in prestigious company, alongside Boston and New York City, having just been named one of America's top three marathons by the editors of Runner's World magazine. The honor comes at an opportune time as Big Sur is gearing up for its 25th silver presentation on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

"If we were told we only have one marathon to run in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it," Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer for Runner's World, has stated in the past. Now, the most-read running magazine has further endorsed this claim, encouraging runners to "put this one on your life list" in its December 2009 "Best of Running" issue.

"New York has the Yankees, Boston has the Red Sox, and we have the Carmel Padres," jokes Wally Kastner, race director for the Big Sur Marathon. "We're a small race in comparison, but we've established a great reputation. We're honored to be recognized by Runner's World."

The 26.2 mile course is arguably one of the most scenic races in the world. Set along the picturesque Big Sur coastline, the trek to Carmel travels four miles through redwood forests before breaking out into open vistas of ocean, cliffs, pastureland and iconic rainbow-arched bridges. It's known for its challenging hills, live music including a grand piano on Bixby Bridge and overall scenery.

The Runner's World accolade can now be included among other top honors for the Big Sur International Marathon. It has twice been named the "best destination marathon in North America" by the Ultimate Guide to Running, was named among the world's top five marathons by the German edition of the International Guide to Marathons in 2005, and received the 'Best Marathon Moment' by Reader's Digest magazine. Marathon & Beyond stated, "Of course we know that perfection is impossible, but once you've experienced the Big Sur International Marathon, you'll agree that it comes pretty darn close."

Begun as a humble race with a huge vision, the first Big Sur International Marathon drew 1,800 runners in 1986. Over the years, the event has grown to a capped field of 12,000, adding a variety of running and walking distances on the course, including 21, 10.6 and 9 milers, a marathon relay, a 5K and a 3K children's fun run. The 25th Presentation of the Big Sur International Marathon will be held on April 25, 2010, and will feature a new Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge for runners participating in both races just six days apart. The 25th year will also debut new whimsical mile markers and a post-race party for participants.

For more information including registration, go to: www.bsim.org

Runners to be "pampered" after covering 13.1 miles through Track Town USA

EUGENE, Ore. - (December 1, 2009) - The inaugural Eugene Women's Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, September 5, 2010 and will be capped at 2,500 runners and walkers. The 13.1 mile event will be produced by the Eugene Marathon. Since 2003, according to Running USA, the half-marathon has been the fastest growing road race distance in the U.S. with double digit percent gains over the past three years.

"We want to have the best schwag for our runners and walkers of any event in the Northwest with stylish gifts, champagne and a spa at the finish line," said event director and two-time Olympian Nicole Teter.

The fast course starts in downtown Eugene and finishes at the 5th Street Market. Finishers will be greeted with wine tasting, chocolates, a yoga studio and a Gervais Spa experience to unwind after their half-marathon.

This event will be a fund raising platform for the American Cancer Society and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

2010 event sponsors include: Pepsi, Gatorade, Earth2O, GloryBee Foods, Krusteaz, Gervais and the Fifth Street Market.

Runners can register for the inaugural event at: www.eugenewomenshalf.com