In this Edition

Wire 95, November 19, 2009 (click)

• Photo Finish Decides "Texas Showdown" for First Time Half-Marathoners
• Runner's World Honors the 2009 "Heroes of Running"
• XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Returns to Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii
• Marine Corps Marathon Announces 2009 Healthy School Award Winners

Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry in America.

Copyright © 2000-09 Running USA, Inc.

• Ragnar Relay Florida, Clearwater-Daytona Beach, FL, Nov 20-21
• Cape Henry 10 Miler, Virginia Beach, VA, November 21
• Crossroads 12K & Turkey Trot 5K, Quantico, VA, Nov 21
• Philadelphia Marathon, Philadelphia, PA, November 22
• Inaugural The Women's Half Marathon & 5K, St. Petersburg, FL, Nov 22
• Williams Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa, OK, November 22
• Hanji Aoki Cup Int'l Chiba Ekiden Relay, Chiba, JPN, November 23
• Senior's First Turkey Trot 5K, Orlando, FL, November 26
• Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon, GA, November 26
• Towson YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, Towson, MD, November 26
• Turkey Trot 8K, Chicago, IL, November 26
• Giving Thanks 5K, St. Paul, MN, November 26
• 102nd Turkey Day 5 Mile, New Orleans, LA, November 26
• Mile High United Way Turkey Trot 4 Mile, Denver, CO, Nov 26
• O'side Turkey Trot, Oceanside, CA, November 26
• Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, Seattle, WA, November 29
• Running USA 2010, Carlsbad, CA, Jan 31-Feb 2
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Photo Finish Decides "Texas Showdown" for First Time Half-Marathoners
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series heads to the Las Vegas Strip in December
By Dan Cruz, Competitor Group

SAN ANTONIO - (November 15, 2009) - A Texas-sized field of half-marathon runners took to San Antonio's streets for the second Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & ˝ Marathon on Sunday. Leading the 20,020 half-marathon finishers were two Texans who arrived at the finish line less than one second apart in the "Texas Showdown".

After racing the entire 13.1 mile distance stride-for-stride, Westly Keating, a University of Texas Pan American graduate out of Pharr, Texas edged out Texas A&M Corpus Christi grad Shadrack Songok of Kenya by less than a full body width at the Alamodome finish line. Both runners, making their half-marathon debuts, finished with identical times of 1 hour, 5 minutes, 24 seconds (road race times are converted to the next full second).

"It feels good," said Keating, after his first road racing and "Texas Showdown" victory. "But given the conditions, I was a little concerned with the marathoners having to follow. I thought he (Songok) had better leg speed, so I tried to push the pace early."

Currently a high school Chemistry teacher, Keating, 27, was a five-time collegiate all-American at Texas Pan-American. He and Songok broke away from the other half-marathon runners after mile two, setting the pace for the lead marathon pack over the first 10 miles. Both runners are veterans on the track over 10,000 meters, each having run sub-28:25 in college.

California resident and pre-race favorite Josh Cox, 34, finished third in 1:06:44. Cox, who set the U.S. record over 50 kilometers at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona in January, was using the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio ˝ Marathon as his final tune-up for the California International Marathon in Sacramento on December 6.

"I'm not a great runner in the humidity," Cox told the San Antonio Express-News after the race. "But everyone has to run in it. I came here for a good work out and I definitely got one."

Houston's Mary Davies, 27, won the women's half-marathon in 1:18:16. Defending "Texas Showdown" champion Melisa Christian of Dallas finished second in 1:18:31, while Allison Macsas of Austin rounded out the top three in the half-marathon with a time of 1:18:58.

"It was a little humid," said Davies, who is originally from New Zealand but now lives and trains in Houston. "Some of the marathoners who train in Seattle or up north said it was a lot harder."

San Antonio resident Daniel Jess won the "Texas Showdown" for the marathon in a time of 2:36.58. Jess, 28, who finished fourth at the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon in August, was well off his pre-race goal of breaking 2:25, but did manage to finish after dropping out of the October Bank of America Chicago Marathon at 18 miles in near-freezing temperatures reminiscent of inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio in 2008.

"The conditions out there were tough," he said, not knowing for sure if he was the first Texan to cross the finish line. "Nobody passed me over the last half of the race - I just tried to run my pace. It was a great event; I'm looking forward to improving my time at my next marathon."

Jess, who took home $2000 for the "Texas Showdown' along with $500 as the top finisher from Bexar County and $200 fifth U.S., won the race on his mother's birthday and his wife Lindsay is expecting the couple's first child.

"I did it for them," Jess added.

Russian Albina Gallymova, 45, of Austin won the women's "Texas Showdown" marathon. Her time of 2:40:38 was good for fourth place and second Master overall.

After a sold-out field of 32,000 entrants in San Antonio, the Rock 'n' Roll Series heads to Las Vegas on Sunday, December 6 for the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ˝ Marathon. More than 25,000 runners are expected to rock world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard as the entire 13.1-mile half-marathon course will run on the Las Vegas Strip. The event will feature the world's largest contingent of Running Elvi, a run-through wedding chapel, as well as a professional field of international Olympic athletes. For more information or to register for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, visit: www.runrocknroll.com

2nd Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio: Texas Showdown
San Antonio, TX, Sunday, November 15, 2009

Marathon
MEN
1) Daniel Jess, 28, San Antonio, TX, 2:36:58, $2700*
2) Martin Alvarez, 30, San Antonio, TX, 2:40:22, $1250#
3) Joshua Keena, 35, Pflugerville, TX, 2:40:58, $500
*includes 5th U.S. & 1st Bexar County; #includes 2nd Bexar County

WOMEN
1) Albina Gallymova (RUS), 45, Austin, TX, 2:40:38, $4500**
2) Kate Brown, 31, San Antonio, TX, 3:01:50, $2000+
3) Bridget Binning, 27, San Antonio, TX, 3:06:57, $750#
**includes 4th overall & 2nd Masters; +includes 3rd U.S. & 1st Bexar County; #includes 2nd Bexar County

Half-Marathon
MEN
1) Westly Keating, 27, Edinburg, TX, 1:05:24, $1000
2) Shadrack Songok (KEN), 25, Corpus Christi, 1:05:24, $750
3) Koby Styles, Holliday, 25, 1:08:49, $500

WOMEN
1) Mary Davies (NZL), 27, Houston, TX, 1:18:16, $1000
2) Melisa Christian, 33, Dallas, TX, 1:18:31, $750
3) Allison Macsas, 25, Austin, TX, 1:18:58, $500

More event results at: http://san-antonio.competitor.com

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Runner's World Honors the 2009 "Heroes of Running" in Its December 2009 Issue
Annual recognition of the year's most inspirational and extraordinary runners

NEW YORK - (November 13, 2009) - Runner's World magazine, the worldwide authority on running information, announced the recipients of its sixth annual "Heroes of Running" - an editorial and online package highlighting six inspirational individuals who use running to improve the lives of others, redefine the limits of human potential and literally make the world a better place. These six honored runners have gone above and beyond, defying expectations, breaking barriers and leading future generations of runners. The December 2009 issue is currently on newsstands.

"The 2009 'Heroes of Running' are living proof that this sport has the capacity to transform our minds and spirits, and to improve the lives of others," said Runner's World Editor-in-Chief David Willey, who launched the "Heroes of Running" in 2004. "Running is more than a trim physique or a finisher's medal; it unites communities, drives positive change and celebrates the amazing accomplishments people are capable of when faced with a challenge."

The six inspirational 2009 "Heroes of Running" include:

Amputee, Founder of the Achilles Track Club Dick Traum
Traum's story begins more than 44 years ago when he was accidentally crushed between two cars at a gas station at the age 24. His right leg may have been amputated but his motivation to move was not hindered. Traum, the first amputee to run a marathon (New York City in 1976) went on the complete 11 races on his prosthetic and 25 more in his current his racing vehicle - the handcrank. In 1983, he founded the Achilles Track Club with the mission to integrate disabled athletes into mainstream events. In its first year, six disabled athletes finished the NYC Marathon. Today, there are 150 Achilles chapters in more than 60 countries and more than 500 Achilles participants will complete a marathon this season.

World Champion Distance Runner Kenenisa Bekele
There is a growing number of people calling him the finest distance runner of all time and Bekele has the resume - five world track titles, three Olympic gold medals, 10 world cross-country championships and five world records. With all the titles to be had, he is now putting his winnings to good use for his hometown of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The natural-born champion plans to fund an athletics center to help inspiring young athletes train, motivate and persevere. And with Bekele as the main attraction, it looks more promising than ever. It's speculated that he's in full force training mode to beat the marathon record time of 2:03:59, currently held by fellow Ethiopian great, Haile Gebrselassie.

Special Operations Wounded Marine Keith Zeier
Zeier, an American Marine has experienced his fair share of overseas battle while serving his country in Fallujah. With more than three near death experiences, Zeier returned home following a road side bombing that left the active 20-year-old with a 12-inch scar and virtually no sensation in his left leg. On the mend following months of physical therapy, Zeier was ridden with survivor's guilt ("I'm alive and a bunch of my friends aren't"), and knew he needed to find his calling. He decided to run a 100-mile race from Key Largo to Key West, Florida to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides financial assistance to wounded soldiers and college tuition to children of service men and women. Twenty-four hours after he announced his mission online, the foundation received $50,000 in pledges, the most ever in a one-day span. To-date, Zeier has raise $85,000, all on a leg he may have to amputate one day.

World-Class Adventure Racer, Founder of Project Athena Robyn Benincasa
A world-class adventure racer, Benincasa has climbed the Himalayas in Nepal and trekked across lava fields in Fiji. In 2007, she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and told she may never run again. But it takes much more than a bad health report to knock down the 42-year-old San Diego firefighter. She quickly underwent hip resurfacing surgery and 16 weeks later ran the Sedona Marathon. Months later, she launched Project Athena - a non-profit that helps women who have suffered a medical setback live out their athletic dreams. She recruited a team of accomplished females athletes to serve as coaches and mentors to Project Athena's growing roster. "For women battling a medical condition, being alive sometimes isn't enough. Doctors can cure bodies but we can cure their spirits."

Teenage Humanitarians Phil Carlitz and Andrew Hudis
When American teenagers Carlitz, 16, and Hudis, 15, first saw the plight of Karen refugees while on a trip to Thailand with Rustic Pathways - a global community service program for students - they felt they had to do something big. Both avid runners, the Philadelphia-area teens organized a marathon in Thailand to raise awareness and funds for Karen refugee children living under severe circumstances. On July 5, 2009, in Mae Sariang, Thailand, the teens' vision became a reality with The Rustic Pathways Foundation's Inaugural Tribe-to-Tribe Marathon to benefit Karen refugee children. They had hoped for a few dozen runners, but 500 people, including runners from Australia, Japan, England and the United States joined the cause, raising $10,000 for the local orphanage. Additionally, those funds provided the necessary resources to send more than 25 teenage refugees to high school. Carlitz & Hudis have committed the next decade to this event and plan to turn Tribe-to-Tribe into a destination race to raise $250,000 annually for the refugees.

For more information, pick up the December 2009 issue or go to its award-winning website: www.runnersworld.com

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XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Returns to Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii
Max King to defend world title; $10,000 prize purse for December 6 off-road half-marathon on Oahu

The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is an off-road, half-marathon distance "Xduro" scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2009 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The event will also host two shorter distance trail runs, free kids races, an adventure walk for charity, great food and stunning scenery.

At last year's inaugural event, more than 800 runners from 32 states and eight countries participated in the 5K, 10K and 21K events. The main 13.1 mile event will dish out $10,000 in prize money ($2000, $1000, $750, $500, $300, $250 and $200) and will attract big name runners such as defending champion Max King and triathlete Heather Fuhr.

The spectacular Kualoa Ranch, on the northeastern side of Oahu less than an hour from Honolulu, will once again host this ultimate Hawaiian experience for the international field of trail runners.

The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch reaches from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea and the terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces. The epic nature of Kualoa Ranch has inspired television shows and Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Tears of the Sun, 50 First Dates and LOST.

The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is held in conjunction with the 2009 XTERRA Trail Run Series, a collection of adventurous, off-road trail runs of various distances spanning the globe from Malibu to Japan.

While it is NOT necessary to qualify for the 2009 XTERRA Trail Run World event, runners who complete one of the half-marathon distance XTERRA Xduro events throughout the season in less than 3 hours will receive special recognition on race day.

In addition, XTERRA will donate a portion of every paid entry in the 5K, 10K and 21K events to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Hawaii Chapter to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Learn more at XTERRAtrailrun.com or call toll-free to 877-XTERRA-1.

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Marine Corps Marathon Announces 2009 Healthy School Award Winners
Record participation in tenth year of Healthy Kids Fun Run spurred by local schools

QUANTICO, Va. - (November 16, 2009) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) has announced the recipients of the annual Healthy School Award, presented to the three schools with the most student participants in the Healthy Kids Fun Run. The one-mile run held in the Pentagon North Parking lot on October 24 hosted a record 2,691 runners between the ages 6-13 from 353 different schools.

Two schools from Fairfax County, Lynbrook Elementary and Eagle View Elementary, are repeat winners. Lynbrook, this year's overall leader in participation with 290 student runners, topped their winning total from last year by 34. For the Springfield, VA school, the win marks the eighth consecutive year they have earned this honor. Eagle View Elementary in Fairfax, VA had 182 participants in a fourth-straight winning effort. First-time winner George Mason Elementary School from Alexandria City Public Schools had the third largest participation with 170 students. Six schools brought more than 100 student runners.

"As the Healthy Kids Fun Run grows every year, so do the positive feelings about young people being active and healthy," said Rick Nealis, Marine Corps Marathon race director. "Students, parents, teachers, principals and PTA members from all the schools have demonstrated in a real way a commitment to physical fitness."

The award is presented annually by the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and its partner, Washington FAMILY Magazine to promote health and fitness. Washington FAMILY Magazine will make a donation to each of the school's physical education department. The award will be presented to the three winning schools during assemblies this winter featuring exciting activities and special guests including Miles and Molly, the MCM Mascots, and the National Children's Museum's "Museum without Walls" program.

Vote "Best Marathon for Families," the Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Ranked as the fifth largest marathon in the United States and top 10 in the world, "The People's Marathon" boasts a course featuring the iconic landmarks of Washington, DC and Arlington, Virginia. Visit: www.marinemarathon.com

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@... | www.RunningUSA.org

In this Edition

Wire 93, November 12, 2009 (click)

• "Texas Showdown" Highlights Second Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio
• Los Angeles Marathon Unveils Stadium to Sea Course for 2010
• Ragnar Relay Returns to Florida
• Atlanta to Host Dow Live Earth Run

Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry in America.

Copyright © 2000-09 Running USA, Inc.

• SunTrust Richmond Marathon, Richmond, VA, November 14
• Catalina Island Eco-Marathon, Avalon, CA, November 14
• 13.1 Marathon Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 15
• Celebration Health Founder's Day 5K / 10K, Celebration, FL, Nov 15
• A Run Though History 5K, New Orleans, LA, November 15
• Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon, San Antonio, TX, November 15
• Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, Monterey, CA, November 15
• Ragnar Relay Florida, Clearwater-Daytona Beach, FL, Nov 20-21
• Cape Henry 10 Miler, Virginia Beach, VA, November 21
• Crossroads 12K & Turkey Trot 5K, Quantico, VA, Nov 21
• Philadelphia Marathon, Philadelphia, PA, November 22
• Inaugural The Women's Half Marathon & 5K, St. Petersburg, FL, Nov 22
• Williams Route 66 Marathon, Tulsa, OK, November 22
• Hanji Aoki Cup Int'l Chiba Ekiden Relay, Chiba, JPN, November 23
• Running USA 2010, Carlsbad, CA, Jan 31-Feb 2
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"Texas Showdown" Highlights Second Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio
International elite field to lead largest marathon and half-marathon in Texas

SAN ANTONIO - (November 11, 2009) - More than 31,000 entrants from all 50 states and 23 countries will descend on south Texas to run the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, November 15. The second edition features elite men's and women's fields vying for a prize purse that will award $17,500 to the race champions. Interspersed with the international field at the start line will be some of the fastest runners in Texas, who will be competing in a statewide battle for a "Texas-only" prize purse in both the full and half-marathon.

"Building on the success of last year's Texas Showdown, we have over twice as many elite Texas runners coming to San Antonio this year," said Matt Turnbull, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the event. "Last year proved what a flat course San Antonio offers and we should see some terrific competition at this year's race."

Leading the women's field is returning "Texas Showdown" champion for the half-marathon Melisa Christian of Dallas. Christian owns a personal best of 2 hours, 42 minutes, 7 seconds from her ninth place finish at the 2007 ING New York City Marathon, which qualified her for the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston. She recently won the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon on November 1 in 1:18:11.

"I really liked the (San Antonio) course," said Christian, who will compete in Sunday's half-marathon. "It was well laid out, and with all the participants, it was impressive how well the event was organized. My training has been going great and you never know what can happen on race day. I'm hoping we have perfect weather like last year."

The professional women's field features veteran runners who have performed well at past Rock 'n' Roll Marathons. Russia's Tatiana Pushkareva, 24, finished fourth in San Antonio last year with a PR (personal record) of 2:34:55 and won the 2009 Country Music Marathon in Nashville. Countrywoman Svetlana Ponomorenko, 40, won the 2008 Country Music Marathon. She returns to Texas as a Masters runner after winning Dallas Marathon in 2006 with a PR of 2:29:55.

Expected to join them in the lead pack is 2008 Olympian Dorota Gruca of Poland. Gruca, who trains in New Mexico, finished 30th at the Beijing Olympic Marathon in 2:33:32. She owns a marathon PR of 2:27:46 when she finished 13th at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Kenya's Evelyne Lagat has a personal marathon best of 2:42:14 from a 7th place finish at the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon. The sister of U.S. distance great Bernard Lagat, she finished 6th at the 2009 ING Philadelphia Distance Run on September 20 in 1:12:25.

In the men's race, American Kyle O'Brien returns to San Antonio to run the marathon after finishing 4th in last year's half-marathon. O'Brien runs with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Rochester Hills, Mich. and owns a marathon PR of 2:15:13 set in Chicago 2007. A 10-time Ohio Valley Conference champion in track and cross country, O'Brien represented Team USA in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

His competition includes runners familiar to the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. Leading the strong international field, will be New Zealand Olympian Mike Aish. Aish won the 2008 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, to go with his 12 NCAA Division II titles at Western State College in Colorado. Looking for his second Rock 'n' Roll Marathon victory in 2009 will be Kenyan Peter Omae, who won the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon last June.

Fellow Kenyans expected to challenge Omae, include Joseph Mutinda, Noah Talam, Sammy Kiplagat and Laban Moiben. Talam showed third at the Country Music Marathon in April and is hoping to better his PR of 2:14:54 set at that race. Muntinda, 31, finished third in the LALA Marathon in Mexico earlier this year running a PR of 2:13:19 on the way. Kiplagat won the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon in 1:05:53 earlier this month, while Moiben, the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon champion, recently won the Vulcan 10K in Birmingham AL, and has a 2:13:50 marathon PR from 2008.

Up-and-coming Ethiopian Amare Mulu rounds out the favorites in the men's field. Mulu won the 2008 Ljubljana Marathon in Slovenia with a time of 2:14:41. At only 22-years-old, Mulu will be contesting his third marathon of 2009 in San Antonio. He finished 8th in Turin, Italy in April, before placing 5th in September at the Warsaw Marathon in Poland.

Leading the half-marathon field is U.S. 50K record holder Josh Cox. Cox, who set the 50K mark in January at the 2009 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, is approaching the 13.1-mile race as a tune-up for the California International Marathon, to be held in Sacramento on December 6.

"I'm always hoping to win," Cox recently told Competitor Magazine. "I'd also like to run a PR. I don't want to totally go to the wall, but I really want to run a fast time, because the faster I can run in San Antonio, the easier the first half will feel at Cal International. If I can run 1:02, 1:03 in San Antonio, coming through the half in 1:05, 1:06 in Sacramento will feel really pedestrian."

Locally, Daniel Jess of San Antonio is expected to contend for the top prize in the "Texas Showdown" for the men's marathon. Jess finished 4th in the men's race at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon in August with a time of 1:10:33.

"Rock 'n' Roll Chicago was great, my goal was to run under 1:11:00," said Jess, who ran track and cross country at Indiana University. "I've slowed my training down from 120 miles and have had a couple 100 mile weeks over the latter half of October. My goal is to break 2:25, and eventually 2:19 to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials."

The winning time for last year's showdown marathon was 2:26:28. Jess recently returned to running and triathlon after recovering from a cornea transplant a couple of years ago. His sub-1:11 half-marathon qualified him for the top 100 at October's Chicago Marathon, but the cold weather forced him to drop out after 18 miles.

"I felt I was in really good shape for Chicago and was on pace for 15 miles, but I could never get warm," he said, referring to the chilly start line temperature of 33 degrees. "I knew San Antonio was coming up and so I decided to look at it as an 18 mile tempo run. I'm looking forward to challenging for the Texas Showdown prize."

The "Texas Showdown" is open to all Texas runners and features a guaranteed purse of $11,500 for Texas athletes. The top male and female from Texas will receive $2000 for the marathon and $1000 for the half-marathon. In addition, a $350 time bonus will be awarded to any Texas participant who runs the marathon under 2:31 male / 2:56 female or the half-marathon under 1:08:30 male / 1:17 female, but does not win any prize money. To qualify for the Showdown's prize purse, runners must have been a permanent resident in the state of Texas as of November 15, 2008.

The professional field will be introduced at the event press conference on Friday, November 13 at 11:30am on the 4th floor of the Alamodome. Limited race registration will be available at the event's two-day Health & Fitness Expo, which begins Friday at 11:00am in the Alamodome. A wheelchair race will be the first competition of Sunday's marathon, which begins at 7:25 m on Broadway adjacent to Lion's Field. The marathon and half-marathon runners will start at 7:30am. Live bands and cheerleaders entertain participants along every mile of the scenic course that winds more than 26 miles past the historic Alamo, Mission San José and other San Antonio landmarks before ending at the Alamodome.

The event will conclude with an evening headliner concert featuring Los Lonely Boys and Grand Funk Railroad at the Alamodome. All participants receive a free concert ticket with their race entry. For more information, visit http://san-antonio.competitor.com or call (800) 311-1255.

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Los Angeles Marathon Unveils Stadium to Sea Course for 2010
Dodger Stadium, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive among famous LA landmarks; new route for 25th edition expected to be fast

LOS ANGELES - (November 9, 2009) - Los Angeles Marathon officials have unveiled the detailed 2010 route that, for the first time, takes runners from Los Angeles downtown area all the way to the scenic coastline. The new Stadium to the Sea course, starting at Dodger Stadium, will wind its way through Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica on the way to a picturesque finish in front of the Pacific Ocean.

Along the way, runners will pass signature sites, including El Pueblo de Los Angeles (the city's birthplace), Los Angeles City Hall, the Capitol Records Building, the Kodak Theater (home of the Oscars®), the Sunset Strip, historic Route 66, Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier.

The course, which trends downhill and loses roughly 400 feet start to finish, is expected to be among the fastest courses in LA Marathon history.

"We are thrilled to see such a great response to the Stadium to the Sea route," said LA Marathon President Russ Pillar. "We designed this iconic course with runners in mind, and expect it will quickly make the Los Angeles Marathon a 'must run' among the world's major marathons. We encourage runners to register early to get under the cap and ensure they're part of this very special event."

Already, runners are signing up at unprecedented levels, and organizers intend to cap the number of participants at 25,000. Even before the course announcement, registration was running more than 75 percent ahead of the 2007 pace, the Marathon's biggest year to-date with more than 24,000 participants. As course details circulate, organizers anticipate another wave of sign-ups. Marathon officials encourage runners who have not yet signed up to do so online at: www.lamarathon.com

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa saluted marathon organizers and the neighboring cities for collaborating on the new route. "Since taking over the marathon, Frank McCourt and his team have led a successful effort to deliver a route that highlights what makes Los Angeles the premier city in the world. With the collaboration of our friends in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and the Veterans' Administration, we are truly excited to host an event that showcases the best Los Angeles has to offer."

Race organizers worked hard to find a runner-friendly route that would be unique among the world's leading marathons. It is also a route that ties together the four cities and many communities along the way. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are anticipated for this grand event - the 25th running of the Los Angeles Marathon.

"With 131 days to race day, it's not too late to start training," said LA Marathon Director of Training Rod Dixon. Dixon is a former New York City Marathon winner and 1972 Olympic medalist. "As a runner, this will be one of the most exciting courses in the world. There is still ample time to train and participate in the 2010 marathon, and the time to sign up is now. For both veteran runners and first-timers, this is the year to run the LA Marathon."

The Los Angeles Marathon inspires athletes and connects communities. With thousands of volunteers, tens of thousands of participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators along the route, the Los Angeles Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is one of the largest organized road races in the country. For more information including the new course map, visit: www.lamarathon.com

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Ragnar Relay Returns to Florida
"24-hour running party" for 201 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean

The Ragnar Relay Series presented by NordicTrack makes its grand return to Central Florida on November 20-21, 2009. After a wildly successful debut in Florida last year, Ragnar Relay is prepared to make this year's over 200-mile relay across the state bigger, bolder and better.

The Ragnar Relay Series has quite a reputation these days: In just five short years, the premiere long-distance relay series has grown to nearly twenty times its original size and continues grow and improve.

This year's Ragnar Relay Florida starts in Clearwater and leapfrogs down to Daytona Beach, where participants will cross the finish line 201 miles away from where they began.

It all started with an intense 175-mile relay race from Logan to Park City, Utah. The Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back began with only 22 teams and 260 participants in 2004. Last year, it drew 578 teams and this year on June 19 and 20, 733 teams competed. That's 8,796 runners - making it the second largest relay in the nation.

Why the impressive growth? "The word is out about the '24-hour running party,'" said race director Dan Hill. "Our participants are telling their friends about the vans they decorated and the costumes they wore and how they partied all night long. What that comes down to is teamwork, and for many, the very idea is irresistible."

Stretching the length of over seven marathons, the Ragnar Relay Florida traverses shoreline towns and horse country alike, taking participants from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Though the race is physically demanding, it allows for a wide range of participants, from serious athletes to casual recreational runners to walkers who enjoy the company of friends and the beauty of the outdoors.

Of course, it's a lot of ground to cover. Teams of 12 runners run each race day and night, competing for more than 24 straight hours. Each team member runs three legs that vary in length from three to eight miles per leg.

Former Novell software engineer Verdon Walker has run the race three times with the corporate team "2 Slow 2 Win 2 Dumb 2 Quit." Riding in vans with giant inflatable turtles on top, Walker and several other Novell teams are out to prove a point: "We've got runners from all ages and abilities, but this just brings everyone together," he said. "It doesn't matter what your abilities are. It's just a great team-building experience."

Of course, the race would not be nearly as successful without the efforts of the race's charity partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, which is raising money through onsite and online donations for the charity. Hundreds of race volunteers also work day and night to make the race a raging success.

The starting gun will fire at Howard County Park in Clearwater, FL on Friday, November 20. For more information, go to: www.ragnarrelay.com or the Ragnar Relay Series Facebook page.

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Atlanta to Host Dow Live Earth Run
April 2010 event - the largest global water initiative in history to help solve the world water crisis

ATLANTA - (November 10, 2009) - Live Earth has announced that Atlanta has been added to the list of cities hosting the largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water - to take place Sunday, April 18, 2010 - will consist of a series of 6K run / walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher will lend their names and their time in support of this important cause.

Atlanta's Dow Live Earth Run for Water event will take place in downtown Atlanta with the start / finish at the Water Village area located at Pemberton Place, adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. The 6K course will take participants through nearby neighborhoods.

"With the recent drought situation and the questionable future of Lake Lanier as a significant water source for the region, the water crisis is something that really hits home for millions of Atlantans," stated race director Tracey Russell. "The Atlanta Track Club is proud to be partnering with Live Earth in support of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water to help drive awareness of both the global and regional water crisis."

Water scarcity is an issue affecting countries, communities and families all over the world. One in eight people don't have access to safe, clean drinking water. Eighty-eight percent of diarrhea cases worldwide are linked to inadequate and unsafe water. These cases result in 1.5 million deaths each year, mostly among children under five. In these areas, women and children are forced to walk 6K (3.7 miles) each day to secure water that is likely unsuitable for drinking. The water crisis can be felt in metropolitan Atlanta as well, with the recent ruling from a federal judge that Lake Lanier was not constructed for water supply among the biggest and most imminent economic threats to the region.

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water run / walk registration is now open via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run. All participants will receive a free online ActiveTrainer plan to help them prepare for the event. Ten percent of all registration fees for Atlanta will go directly to Global Water Challenge, the NGO beneficiary of all funds raised in the United States.

Other international cities hosting the event include Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Minneapolis, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Săo Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm, Toronto and Washington, DC.

For more information, visit: http://liveearth.org

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@... | www.RunningUSA.org