Running USA wire 5, January 17, 2010

Flanagan, Vega take USA Half-Marathon titles; event record of more than 26,000 runners; Run for a Reason charity program raises new high, $1.4 million

HOUSTON - (January 17, 2010) - Teshome Gelana and defending women's champion Teyba Erkesso led an Ethiopian sweep of the 38th Chevron Houston Marathon, each setting course and Texas state records in the process, on Sunday morning.

Gelana, 25, running his second marathon in six weeks, broke away from a pack of five runners at the 22-mile mark and finished in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 37 seconds. His time shaved 15 seconds off the previous course and state record set by countryman Deriba Merga last year.

"I did not expect to run this fast," said Gelana, who entered the race with a personal record of 2:11:50 set in 2008. "It was unexpected, but I hope the future will bring even more interesting things for me. I think I can run 2:05."

Zembaba Yigeze (ETH) was runner-up in 2:08:27, while Jason Mbote (KEN) was third in 2:08:58. For the first time in the history of the race, the top six runners ran under 2 hours, 10 minutes. American Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) finished seventh in 2:10:36 in his debut marathon.

The 27-year-old Erkesso dominated the women's race for the second consecutive year, once again setting a course. Erkesso won by nearly five minutes, lowering her mark by 25 seconds with a time of 2:23:53. The time is also the fastest female marathon ever run in Texas and makes Erkesso the only woman to run sub-2:25 twice in Houston. Both Galana and Erkesso received $35,000 for their victories.

Margarita Plaksina (RUS) was the runner-up in the women's race in 2:28:44 with Alemitu Abera (ETH) third in 2:31:01.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, host of the national championships again, Antonio Vega (St. Paul, Minn.) and Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) claimed crowns (left, PhotoRun).

Vega, 26, broke the tape in 1:01:54, setting a new personal record by more than a minute, and running the fourth-fastest time by an American on the course. The victory produced Vega's first national title. Team USA Minnesota teammate Patrick Smyth was seven seconds behind as national runner-up, while Brent Vaughn ran 1:02:04 for third.

In her debut for 13.1 miles, two-time Olympian Flanagan, 28, shattered the national championship and course record, clocking 1:09:41. The time bettered the marks set by Colleen De Reuck in 2003 (1:10:00) and 2004 (1:10:55) respectively. Over the final miles, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist pulled away from runner-up Serena Burla who set a PR of 1:10:08. Amy Hastings overtook Renee Metivier Baillie to take third place in 1:11:19 to Metivier Baillie's 1:11:51.

"It felt like just another day, just another practice. It wasn't until the last 400 meters did I say 'okay, this is a race and I need to make sure I seal the deal,'" said Flanagan, who earned $16,000 and has her sights set on the marathon. "It was a very good effort, very controlled and it was just a great day for running."

An event record of more than 26,000 runners participated in the 38th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon, the 9th Aramco Houston Half Marathon and EP5K.

A new standard for money raised by the Run for a Reason charity program is expected. Prior to the race, runners already had raised $1.4 million to benefit 46 Houston-area nonprofit organizations.

38th Chevron Houston Marathon
Houston, TX, Sunday, January 17, 2010

MEN
1) Teshome Gelana (ETH), 2:07:37*, $35,000
2) Zembaba Yigeze (ETH), 2:08:27, $17,000
3) Jason Mbote (KEN), 2:08:58, $7000
4) Hussan Adelo (ETH), 2:09:09, $4000
5) Charles Kibiwott (KEN), 2:09:10, $2000
7) Brett Gotcher (USA / AZ), 2:10:36
*course and state record (previous record, 2:07:52, Deriba Merga (ETH), 2009)

WOMEN
1) Teyba Erkesso (ETH), 2:23:53*, $35,000
2) Margarita Plaksina (RUS), 2:28:44, $17,000
3) Alemitu Abera (ETH), 2:31:01, $7000
4) Paige Higgins (USA / AZ), 2:33:22, $4000
5) Lydia Kurgat (KEN), 2:36:14, $2000
*course and state record (previous record, 2:24:18, Teyba Erkesso (ETH), 2009)

9th Aramco Half Marathon: USA Championships
MEN
1) Antonio Vega (MN), 1:01:54, $12,000
2) Patrick Smyth (MN), 1:02:01, $6500
3) Brent Vaughn (CO), 1:02:04, $4000
4) Tim Nelson (OR), 1:02:11, $2000
5) Stephan Shay (AZ), 1:02:26, $1500
6) Josh Moen (MN), 1:02:53, $1250
7) Nick Arciniaga (MI), 1:03:22, $1000
8) Josh Simpson (WV), 1:03:27, $750
9) Matt Gabrielson (MN), 1:03:44, $500
10) Lucas Meyer (CT), 1:03:51, $250

WOMEN
1) Shalane Flanagan (OR), 1:09:41*, $16,000
2) Serena Burla (MO), 1:10:08, $6500
3) Amy Hastings (CA), 1:11:19, $4000
4) Renee Metivier Baillie (CO), 1:11:51, $2000
5) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA), 1:12:22, $1500
6) Tera Moody (CO), 1:12:52, $1250
7) Heidi Westover (NH), 1:12:59, $1000
8) Kelly Jaske (OR), 1:13:03, $750
9) Katherine Newberry (VA), 1:13:07, $500
10) Melissa White (MI), 1:13:18, $250
*USA Championship record (previous record, 1:10:00, Colleen De Reuck, Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon 2003) and course record / $4000 bonus (previous record, 1:10:55, Colleen De Reuck (CO), 2004)

Full results and more at: www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com

Yae, Naser win marathon; three course records set; 148 runners also complete inaugural Rock 'n' Rock Ultra

PHOENIX - (January 17, 2010) - U.S. record holder and Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor returned to the winner's circle for the first time in ten months at the 7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon on Sunday morning. Kastor, 36, set an Arizona state record with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 43 seconds, ending the longest dry spell of her career.

"This race solidifies that my training has been going well," said Kastor (left, ASI photo) of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., after her victory that smashed the 15-year-old state record of 1:13:39 set by Marie Boyd in Tucson. "Running sub 1:10 off this training makes me excited about my next phase going into the London Marathon in April. Today was the first time in a couple of years I felt like my old self running again."

Kastor, who broke her foot during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon and spent most of 2009 recovering, ran an aggressive first mile in 4:54 and was on U.S. record pace through four miles before a stubborn headwind and lack of competition slowed her in the second half. Reigning U.S. marathon champion Ilsa Paulson of New York City finished a disappointing second in 1:17:04, well off her 1:13:20 personal best.

In the men's half-marathon, U.S. record holder Ryan Hall was upset by Simon Bairu, the 2009 Canadian national champion at 5000 meters on the track and 10K on the roads. Running in only his second half-marathon, Bairu shadowed the more experienced Hall throughout the race. As the route turned right onto Desert Drive at 10 miles, the 26-year-old Bairu dropped the hammer with a 4:42 11th mile that left Hall 26 seconds behind his wake. By the time he reached the finish line at Arizona State University, Bairu's lead had swelled to 1:21. His winning time of 1:02:47 was a 23 second personal best.

"My coach (Jerry Schumacher) told me to make this a ten mile race and, no disrespect to Ryan, but if we didn't win it would have been a disappointment," said Bairu, who bettered the late Ryan Shay's course record by almost 2 minutes. "We knew Ryan would throw everything he had at me, but if I could weather the early storm, I felt that I would have the mental edge in the final miles. He is a world class athlete and I could never count him out."

A two-time NCAA cross country champion at the University of Wisconsin, Bairu's win makes him a hot commodity on the racing tour. He has his sights set on a debut marathon this fall. Hall, who is signed up for this April's Boston Marathon, took a philosophical approach to his loss.

"The goal was to go out fast and practice for the pace I'll need to run later this season," said Hall, who passed the 2 mile mark in 9 minutes flat, sub 59:00 half marathon pace. "Boston is the big picture, so this was a test to see where I am, and I still have New Orleans to go before Boston."

Hall, 27, is scheduled to run the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon in six weeks for his final tune up before the Boston Marathon, where he took third in 2009.

In the men's marathon, Ethiopia's Terefe Yae notched his second P.F. Chang's title, adding the 2010 crown to his '07 victory. Yae, 29, finished in 2:12:41, 15 seconds ahead of Kenya's Christopher Kipyego (2:12:56). Flagstaff Arizona's Jeff Eggleston made a successful marathon debut running 2:14:32, good for sixth place as the top American. Eggleston's performance qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

In the women's race, fellow Ethiopian Teyba Naser, 23, set a course record with her marathon debut in 2:30:39. Arizona's Alvina Begay was the top American in 2:37:14, good for fifth overall. Begay, who trains with the McMillan Elite in Flagstaff, bettered her PR by more than five minutes and was one of eight Americans in the marathon who qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Yea and Naser earned $17,500 each for their victories at the 7th edition.

"The Rock 'n' Roll races are always so much fun and this event embodies a celebration of fitness and running," added Kastor. "There are thousands of people here that are so enthusiastic and really put it out on the line today; it was an incredible weekend to be a part of."

Senator John McCain fired the starting gun for the marathon and half-marathon that attracted more then 32,000 entrants and had live bands, cheerleaders and themed water stations entertaining runners along each mile of the route.

The event began at 6:30am with the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Ultra, a special 50K competition hosted by Dean Karnazes, that was won by Michael Labrecque and Zoe Bellinghausen in 3:24:02 and 4:06:35 respectively.

"The event exceeded my wildest expectations and I think it exceeded everyone's expectations," said Karnazes, who was one of 148 runners to complete the 50K (31.05 miles). "I was rapping out for the first 22 miles with a big group and several of the ultra runners' spouses had pizzas waiting out on the course. I had a delicious slice at about the halfway point."

"Today was an historic day for ultra running," said Tracy Sundlun, Vice-President of Events for the Competitor Group. "All of us, including Dean, were surprised how quickly the race sold out. We looked at the event as a grand experiment and there is no doubt it was a roaring success."

The eighth edition of the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is set for Sunday, January 16, 2011.

7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe, AZ, Sunday, January 17, 2010

MEN
1) Terefe Yae (ETH), 2:12:41, $17,500
2) Chris Kipyego (KEN), 2:12:56, $10,000
3) Meshack Kirwa (KEN), 2:13:06, $5000
4) Wegayhu Girma (ETH), 2:13:16, $3000
5) Christopher Torotich (KEN), 2:13:56, $2000
6) Jeff Eggleston (USA / AZ), 2:14:32, $1500

WOMEN
1) Teyba Naser (ETH), 2:30:39, $17,500
2) Meseret Legese (ETH), 2:33:01, $10,000
3) Olena Shurkhno (UKR), 2:33:15, $5000
4) Selomie Getnet (ETH), 2:35:26, $3000
5) Alvina Begay (USA / AZ), 2:37:14, $3500*
*includes top U.S. prize

7th P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon
MEN
1) Simon Bairu (CAN), 1:02:47
2) Ryan Hall (CA), 1:04:08
3) Luke Humphrey (MI), 1:06:02

WOMEN
1) Deena Kastor (CA), 1:09:43
2) Ilsa Paulson (NY), 1:17:04
3) Addie Bracy (NC), 1:18:47

Complete results and more at: http://arizona.competitor.com

Saucony® signs on as presenting sponsor; premium subscription site - www.runnersworld.com/challenge - offers up training tips & interactive tools for race day

NEW YORK - (January 14, 2010) - Runner's World Editor-in-Chief David Willey and VP, Publishing Director Chris Lambiase have announced that the brand would extend its highly popular Runner's World Challenge into a four-city initiative in 2010 to include marathons and half-marathons in Cincinnati, San Francisco, Toronto and Richmond.

The program built around an exclusive 16-week marathon training plan and 10-week half-marathon plan, created by Runner's World's Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso, kicked off www.runnersworld.com/challenge in January 2010. Saucony, the leading manufacturer of award-winning premium running shoes, has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Runner's World Challenge.

The 2010 Runner's World 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 training programs based on individualized goals.

* The General Challenge / "Train with Us" ($130 for full marathon/$99 for half) is intended for all runners, regardless of what 2010 full or half-marathon they are training for, and will feature personalized marathon training tools including a four-month trial of RW's Personal Trainer; weekly training e-mails from Bart Yasso targeting specific goals; online training logs; and printable quick reference guides for their specific training plans. These challengers will also obtain access to RW's brand new private microsite, built exclusively for RW Challengers, offering up expert advice, motivational tips and community-driven support. Subscribers will also receive a branded Challenge shirt and choose one of the following complimentary RW books: The Runner's Rule Book or The Runner's World Guide to Road Racing.

* Event Specific Challenges / "Train with Us & Run with Us" (starting at $250 for full marathon / $240 for half) will include the above mentioned along with targeted programs for subscribers who would like to run any of the four full or half-marathons with Runner's World's seasoned editors. On-site, challengers will receive a race entry as well as elite admission to the Runner's World VIP area where challengers will gather pre and post race, pick up their numbers, check their bags and receive a well-earned post-race massage. The VIP areas will also have bathrooms with no lines at the start of the race and a post race buffet designed by RW's editors to enhance recovery, including a smoothie bar.

Willey, along with Runner's World editors will be training alongside all marathon challenge participants and all editors will participate in one of the four marathons in 2010. 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 training goals.

"Extending the RW Challenge to four cities allows us to further connect with the ever-growing running community on a more personal level. We are excited to see how respective running communities will respond to such a unified approach and are confident the opportunity to train and succeed together will be a win-win for all participants," said Willey.

In this first-ever partnership, Saucony branding will appear on all-things Challenge, including presence in-book, online and on-site within the four-city event. Additionally, Saucony will launch branded events at specialty retailers. RW editors and Challenge participants will also be outfitted in Saucony-branded gear during the four-city event.

"We are proud to have Saucony, a company that embodies the spirit of running, as our presenting sponsor of the 2010 Runner's World Challenge. They understand the power and expertise of our brand and this partnership allows us to further deliver premium opportunities to the running community," Lambiase added.

"At Saucony, we know that 26.2 is the short part," stated Mary O'Brien, Saucony's vice president of marketing. "We also know that making it to the starting line is the result of tough work and a diligent spirit. Joining forces with the Runner's World Challenge allows us to extend our support to these dedicated marathoners as they prepare for what we know will be an unforgettable experience."

Visit: www.runnersworld.com and www.saucony.com

New interactive online training system and an exclusive offer from Focus-N-Fly for 99th edition of San Francisco May tradition

SAN FRANCISCO - (January 8, 2010) - In its 99th year, the 2010 running of ING Bay to Breakers 12K will partner with locally based Focus-N-Fly to offer an online interactive training program for all entrants. Race participants - from beginners to experienced competitors - will have the opportunity to use this individually crafted training at an exclusive price for ING Bay to Breakers participants.

The Focus-N-Fly training system uses individual parameters to deliver a completely personalized regimen. The training adapts to each participant's fitness level, as they enter training log details and run / time trial results so that paces, progression and variance adapt accordingly. The Web 2.0 experience is user-friendly and features a forum where race participants can discuss nutrition, shoes and injuries. This approach has helped thousands of runners complete their first race and set new personal records.

"By providing training powered by Focus-N-Fly, we hope to enhance the experience of our running competitors, as well as first time ING Bay to Breakers participants. Our race on May 16, 2010 provides a perfect New Year's fitness resolution, and we hope that this leading edge training resource will help more runners take on the challenge and succeed," said Angela Fang, race director, ING Bay to Breakers.

"We are excited to partner with one of the premier footraces in the world," said Tom McGlynn, three-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and founder of Focus-N-Fly. "The ING Bay to Breakers is a memorable experience for all and Focus-N-Fly is pleased to offer yet another way to make the third Sunday in May a successful day to remember for every runner."

For more information and to access this exclusive Focus-N-Fly training offer, visit: http://ingbaytobreakers.focusnfly.com