Contact: Hank Brown, Co-Event Director, (423) 245-8311; hankelope@...

Talpos, Klimina Headline Latest Women's Commitments for Crazy 8's 8K
Demissie, Wangui, Newberry also on Their Way to Kingsport

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (July 7, 2005) - Romania's Luminita Talpos and Russia's Victoria Klimina finished just one second apart Monday, July 4th at the prestigious Peachtree 10K Road Race in Atlanta. Talpos got the best of Klimina, finishing 4th in 32:32, with Klimina a shoelace behind (5th, 32:33). These two will go at it again at the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run on the candle-lit streets of Kingsport, July 16. Each will have their sights on the 8K world record of 24:28 (Asmae Leghzaoui, 2002) and the Regional Eye Center $10,008 World Record Bonus.

"Peachtree is a fantastic race, so we always look to see who runs well there," said co-event director Tyler Hobbs. "Both Talpos and Klimina put on quite a race so I'm sure they'll be close again when they race here."

Talpos can flash a pretty gaudy resume when she travels to races. In addition to her 31:54 10K, she also has a marathon best of 2:27:32. She won the Bay to Breakers 12K in 2002 and boasts runner-up finishes at the 2002-03 Utica Boilermaker 15K, 2003 Bix 7 and 2003 Beach to Beacon 10K.

Klimina will try to avenge her narrow defeat to Talpos and claim the coveted Crazy 8's title. She certainly has the wheels to do it, running 15:41 for 5K, 31:05 for 10K and 2:28:30 for the marathon. She has won many Russian national championships over her career, recently competing for her homeland at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 17th in the 8K.

Also announcing their commitments to run the world famous figure-8 8K course are Astere Demissie from Ethiopia, Naomi Wangui from Kenya and American Kathy Newberry. Demissie finished 10th at Peachtree in 33:26. Her 10K best is a very envious 31:57, and she recently ran 32:48 at the Vancouver Sun Run 10K.

Wangui is a familiar name to Crazy 8's, capturing the 8K crown in 2000 (26:22). She returned to Kingsport in 2001 (6th), 2002 (4th) and 2003 (8th). She hopes to return to the form that helped her break the Crazy 8's tape in 2000 and is always near the top of any race she enters. The 26-year-old Newberry is one of America's most promising young runners. She recently competed for the USA at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 33rd in the long course. She also wore the red, white and blue at 2004 World Cross, finishing 32nd. Her 5000m PR is 15:45.32 and 10,000m PR 32:45.78.

"The women's field is shaping up to be anyone's race," said co-event director and elite athlete recruiter Hank Brown. "I think I would give a slight edge to Talpos and Klimina, but there are several others we can't ignore. That's what we like to see, a close race. I think Demissie is a real threat, and Wangui knows this course better than anyone. I really like Newberry - she could be our first American winner in many years."

For more information or to register, visit Crazy8s.org. Registration is also available at the Fun Fest Store in the Ft. Henry Mall. Sponsors are Indian Path Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, Holston Medical Group, Cardiovascular Associates, Regional Eye Center, Citadel Broadcasting, YMCA, Culligan, Food City, Kingsport Rental, Domino's Pizza and Charter Media. Fluid station/Invited Athlete Sponsors are Mather Dentist Office, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Fleming's Tune-Up, Holston Medical Group, Martin Dentistry, Celebration Church, Dr. Rachel Monderer and UBS Financial Services. Crazy 8's, a Running USA Founding Member, is managed by We Run Events.

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American Team Headed to Austria for IAU 24 Hour World Challenge

For the third consecutive year, an American team will be at the starting line at the World 24 Hour Challenge, the longest annual world title event endorsed by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) and recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). This year, the third annual version of the world's premier all day-all night run will be hosted by the small Austrian village of Worschach, in the foothills of the Austrian Alps, on the weekend of July 16-17.

Last year, the American women earned the team bronze medal when the event was held in the Czech Republic town of Brno.

The American National Team includes the following athletes:

WOMEN
Sue Olsen, 48, Burnsville, Minnesota
Sandy Powell, 48, Greenville, Virginia
Pam Reed, 44, Tucson, Arizona
Carolyn Smith, 40, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

MEN
Rudy Afanador, 46, Medford, New York
Scott Eppelman, 38, Coppell, Texas
John Geesler, 46, St. Johnsville, New York
Dean Karnazes, 42, San Francisco, California
Roy Pirrung, 57, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Danny Ripka, 48, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Olsen, Reed, Afanador, Geesler and Pirrung are past USA 24 Hour Run champions, and all of the others except for Smith have placed among the top three scorers in 24 hour national title events. Reed and Geesler hold the current U.S. Records for 24 hours on the track and 48 hours (road or track), respectively. The 57-year-old Pirrung, who doubles as team organizer and is affectionately known as the squad's "player-coach," breaks his own record (set last year) as the most senior athlete ever named to a national athletics team. He won his first national 24-hour run championship title in 1988, set the American 24 hour road record (154+ miles) the following year, and a decade later set an American 48 hour run record (243+ miles) which stood until Geesler broke it by running 248+ miles in two days in 2003.

Reed and Karnazes have almost become American household names by virtue of their recent overall wins in the 135+ mile nonstop race from Death Valley to Mount Whitney in California, and the uncommon (for the otherwise esoteric sport of ultrarunning) media attention which followed, including appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and Nightline and reports in Time Magazine, The New York Times and Sports Illustrated, among many others media outlets. Karnazes' autobiography, "Ultramarathon Man", has recently become an international bestseller.

The American National Team's results from next weekend's World 24 Hour Challenge will be reported on the American Ultrarunning Association website: AmericanUltra.org

For further information, contact:
Dan Brannen, Executive Director, American Ultrarunning Association
danbrannen@...

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Contact: Glenn Kass, (309) 269-3634

Swanberg First Woman Selected for "Race for the Jackpot" at Quad-City Times Bix 7
Age group champ from 2004 will try to beat the best

DAVENPORT, Ia. - (July 8, 2005) - Officials from the Quad-City Times Bix 7 have announced that Janelle Swanberg was chosen at random to participate in the Second Annual Rhythm City Casino "Race for the Jackpot." The 2005 Quad-City Times Bix 7 is set for Saturday, July 30 beginning at 8:00am.

Swanberg has participated in the Bix 7 for over 20 years. Last year, she was third in the overall women's master race and won the 50-59 Women's Age Group in 47:03. On race day, Swanberg will receive a head start on the course based on her past performances. If she beats the first place elite runner across the finish line, she will win $3,100 - which is $100 for every year of the Bix 7.

"It's an exciting opportunity and I want to support the race any way I can," said Swanberg, who is an attorney and executive director of H.E.L.P. Legal Assistance, a private organization that has provided legal services to low income and senior citizens since 1970. "It will be hard not doing the full race, but I want to win, donate the prize money to our organization and gain some publicity for what we do."

In 2004, Tim Delf was the first "Race for the Jackpot" participant. He finished 13 seconds behind John Korir, who passed Delf on the Third Street straightaway. Like Delf, Swanberg was chosen at random from all people that registered for the race by June 15, 2005.

Bix 7 applications are available at various Quad City Area locations. Also register online at the race's official website: Bix7.com

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Las Vegas Roadrunners, Training Program for the New Las Vegas Marathon, to be
Led by Olympic Medalists

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - (July 8, 2005) - The New Las Vegas Marathon has announced plans for its groundbreaking official training program, Las Vegas Roadrunners, which will kick off with a training session on July 16. Olympic legends Rod Dixon and Lorraine Moller will lead the first session.

The 20-week program will not only offer the expertise of the Las Vegas Track Club and its President Tim Kelly, it will include regular seminars led by Rod Dixon, whose come from behind win at the 1983 New York City Marathon remains one of the most memorable in marathon history.

Dixon, who is Director of Coaching for race organizer Devine Racing, plans to offer "professional marathon training for the everyday athlete" by bringing in experts in such specialized areas as sports medicine, podiatry and nutrition, along with world-class coaches and other legendary elite marathon runners - all for the benefit of Las Vegas Roadrunners.

The program is designed to prepare everyone from the non-runner to the experienced marathoner for race day. The weekly group runs are fully supported with Sparkletts water stations and the products to be featured on race day including gels, electrolyte replacement fluids and first aid. Participants will be provided with a training manual and a weekday training calendar.

Recognizing that treadmill training will be important during the hottest part of the summer, all members of Las Vegas Roadrunners will receive a complimentary membership at 24 Hour Fitness locations in the greater Las Vegas area from now until race day on December 4, 2005.

The cost of the training program is $85. An all-inclusive, discounted fee of $145 includes entry into the race and the training program. Those who have already registered for the race can join the Las Vegas Roadrunners for a discounted fee of $50. Online registration is available at LVMarathon.com

In-person sign-ups and a 30 minute training session were held July 9 from 8:00-10am at 24 Hour Fitness Agassi Club, 2556 Wigwam Parkway in Henderson, which will serve as the location for all weekly training runs. On Saturday, July 16, Olympic medalists Rod Dixon and Lorraine Moller will lead the first session starting at 7:00am. All future training sessions will take place Sundays at 7:00am.

The New Las Vegas Marathon will debut on Saturday, December 4, 2005 as the first marathon to run the world famous Las Vegas Strip and through the Fremont Street Experience. The race is capped at 15,000 participants and will likely sell out well in advance. Any questions, contact Race Director Terry Collier by phone at (702) 731-1052 or email at elvis@...

Media contact:
Laurence Cohen, TLC MediaWorks, (310) 474-5116
Rachel Wilkinson/Lee Haney, Rogich Communications Group, (702) 796-1773

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
415 E Figueroa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
Ryan@...

www.runningusa.org