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In this edition:
RRCA Announces 2011 Roads Scholar Class
Kauai Marathon Again Offers $15,000 Speed Challenge
Snowbasin Resort to Host XTERRA Triathlon and Trail Running Championships
RunDisney Corks Wine and Dine Half Marathon Registration
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Decatur-Dekalb YMCA 4-Miler, Atlanta, GA, July 16
ZOOMA Colorado Springs Half-Marathon & 10K, CO, July 16
Spillway Classic Trail Run, New Orleans, LA, July 17
Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, CA, July 17
Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage, Blaine, WA, July 22
La Sportiva Vail Half Marathon, Vail, CO, July 24
Quad-City Times Bix 7, Davenport, IA, July 30
Challenge Cancer 5K, St. Paul, MN, July 30
Burning River 100 Mile, Cleveland, OH, July 30-31
USA 100 Mile Trail Championships
San Francisco Marathon, CA, July 31
TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, ME, Aug 6
Atlanta's Finest 5K, GA, August 6
Salinas Valley Half Marathon, Salinas, CA, August 6
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half-Marathon, RI, August 7
Step Up for Cancer, Denver, CO, August 7
La Sportiva 10K @ 10,000 Feet & 5K, Vail, CO, August 7
RRCA Announces 2011 Roads Scholar Class
McCandless, Duwell, Williams, Armstrong Peyton, Mack and Hogan receive training grants
ARLINGTON, Va. - (July 8, 2011) - Since 1996, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has awarded grants totaling over $360,000 through the Roads Scholar® program. The goal of the program is to assist American post-collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class road running athletes. The grants ($5000 per athlete) awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to help support their goals of becoming world class distance runners. Deena Kastor (nee Drossin), the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, was a 1997 grant recipient.
The RRCA introduces and congratulates the 2011-12 Class of Roads Scholars.
Tyler McCandless (Boulder, CO)
McCandless graduated from Northampton High School where he was a District 11 Champion and record holder in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:13.01, as well as a PIAA State Medalist in cross country and track and field. After graduating, McCandless ran one year for the University of Maryland before transferring to Penn State University. At Penn State, he flourished under Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, steadily progressing to a 29:15 personal best 10,000 meter and an All-American performance in that event in the spring of 2010.
McCandless quickly showed promise as a professional road racer with a 46:04 at the Utica Boilermaker 15K, claiming top American honors. He was also the top American finisher at the Buffalo Subaru Chase 4-Miler, and he won the San Francisco Half-Marathon and set a course record with a time of 1:05:02. In his debut marathon, McCandless finished 6th at the 2010 California International Marathon in 2:17:22.
In 2011, he ran 1:05:38 at the USA Half-Marathon Championships and 45:17 at the USA 15K Championships. He also won and broke the course record in Denver, Colorado at the 2011 RRCA Colorado State Championships 10 mile in a time of 52:08 at 5,280ft elevation. He finished 8th overall and top American at the 2011 Indianapolis Mini-Marathon with a time of 1:05:09 and followed that with a 2:17:09 marathon personal best at Grandma's Marathon to finish 11th overall. McCandless, 24, is coached by Brad Hudson and is sponsored by Mizuno and Honey Milk.
"It is a great honor to be chosen as a 2011 RRCA Roads Scholar, and I am very proud to follow in the footsteps of many great athletes who have been previously awarded this prestigious scholarship. I am very thankful to the RRCA and all of the donors who make this award possible. I'm very fortunate to have an amazing support system of family and friends that make professional running not only possible, but a dream come true." - Tyler McCandless
Megan Duwell (Flagstaff, AZ)
Duwell is a 2005 graduate of West Bend West High School in West Bend, Wisconsin, where she was class valedictorian and won Wisconsin Division I state titles in the 800 meters as a sophomore and junior. She ran for the University of Minnesota where she graduated from the Carlson School of Management in May 2010. Duwell finished her running career at the University of Minnesota as a three-time All-American and a two-time Individual Big Ten Conference champion. She steadily progressed and improved throughout her collegiate career, leaving the University of Minnesota as a school record holder in four events.
Duwell, 24, is currently a member of Team USA Arizona, adidas-McMillan Elite located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Since joining Team USA Arizona, Duwell has achieved several top ten finishes including the USA 10K Championship (7th), the USA Cross Country Championship (9th) and the Manchester Road Race (10th). She was a member of the winning team at the Club Cross Championship with fellow adidas-McMillan Elite runners. Her 9th place individual finish at the USA Cross Championships in San Diego to earn a spot to race at the NACAC Cross Country Meet in Trinidad in February 2011. Duwell won silver in the women's 6K to lead Team USA women to the team gold medal.
"I couldn't be more honored to be a recipient of the 2011-12 Roads Scholar grant. This grant will enable me to follow my dreams on adidas-McMillan Elite and Team USA Arizona. It is grants such as these that make it possible for developing professional runners to fully focus on achieving their running goals as a career- thanks for making that happen." - Megan Duwell
Lex Williams (Hanover, NH)
Williams started running at a young age through the Hershey Track and Field program, progressed through the Ann Arbor Track Club, and ran for his middle school and high school cross country and track teams in Dexter, MI. As a freshman at Dexter High School, his cross country team made the first ever appearance as a team at the Division 2 State Championship and placed sixth. In his senior year in track, Williams won the state meet in the 2 mile, was runner-up in the mile, and was elected "Mr. Michigan Track and Field" for the state of Michigan. Also as a senior he placed third at the Nike Indoor Nationals in the mile and placed 4th at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 2 mile in 8:56.
Williams attended the University of Michigan where he trained under the guidance of coach Ron Warhurst. While there he became a Big-Ten Champion, All-American, Academic All-American and team captain. His collegiate personal bests included 3:42.38 for 1500m, 4:01.72 for the mile, 7:55.59 for 3000m, 13:47.57 for 5000m and 28:34.28 for 10,000m. At Michigan Williams met his current coach, Tim Broe, who was a volunteer assistant for the team. Williams now trains with Broe at In The Arena based in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Williams, 24, made his professional road racing debut at the USA 8K Championships in Carmel, Indiana, placing 8th overall. He followed that up a week later with a 7th place finish at the Steamboat Classic in Peoria, Illinois.
"I am very grateful for my selection to the 2011 class of RRCA Roads Scholars. This prestigious grant is extremely helpful in supporting young post-collegiate runners like myself and will help immensely while at the beginning of my professional career. I am truly humbled to have been selected as a recipient, look forward to representing the RRCA, and spreading the word about the opportunity you have bestowed upon me as I continue to chase my dream." - Lex Williams
Meghan Armstrong Peyton (Richfield, MN)
Armstrong Peyton went to high school in Tualatin, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, where she was a six-time State champion in the 1500m and 3000m. She also competed in track and cross country at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Armstrong was a four-time All American and was the 2008 Big Ten Champion in both the indoor 3000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. She also holds the Iowa school record in the 1500 meters of 4:17.41 and was a two-time All American in the mile with a best of 4:40.59. Additional collegiate achievements include a best of 33:28.00 in the 10,000 meters and a sixth place finish in the 10,000 at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
After graduating in the spring of 2008, Meghan was selected to be a member of the NACAC Track & Field Under-23 Team, which competed in Mexico. At NACAC, she finished first in the 10,000. She joined Team USA Minnesota in September 2008. In 2009, Meghan competed at the USA Half Marathon Championships, the USA Cross Country Championships, and the USA 15K Championships. Her outdoor track season included personal bests of 15:41.09 in the 5000m and 33:26.75 in the 10,000.
At the 2010 USA Half-Marathon Championships, Meghan finished 11th with a personal best of 1:13:56, and she won the ING Miami Half Marathon. During the year she placed 4th in the USA 5K and 10 Mile Championships and was a member of the Chiba Ekiden team. In 2011, Armstrong Peyton, 25, was 5th in the USA 15K Championships.
"I want to extend a most heart-felt thank you to the RRCA. To know that there are people and groups like the RRCA out there to support me and other athletes like myself is truly amazing. This grant will help me to continue to strive to reach my dream of being one of our nation's best athletes. This support will also allow me to give back to the running community by being my best every time I toe the line, which will in turn, I hope, allow our entire sport to advance...helping us all become stronger and faster." - Meghan Armstrong Peyton
Bobby Mack (Raleigh, NC)
Mack, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, currently lives and trains in Raleigh. He attended North Carolina State University where he ran cross country and track for Coach Rollie Geiger's Wolfpack. An all ACC and All-American Cross Country runner, Mack set the pace for the Wolfpack leading the team to an ACC title in 2004. After a couple seasons of injuries Mack returned to top form and led the team to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2008.
Mack has continued working with the NC State team as a volunteer coach. He launched his professional running career by making the World Cross Country Team and representing the USA in Poland at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships.
The 2011 season saw him drop his 10K time to 28:11 and earn his first national road title at the USA 8K Championships in Carmel, Indiana. Other top national finishes include top American and 5th overall in the 2011 Cooper River Bridge run in Charleston, South Carolina along with a 7th place finish at the USA 10K Road National Championships at the 2010 Peachtree Road Race 10K. Mack, 26, currently races and works for a local running shop The Athlete's Foot Cameron Village in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"It is very motivating to receive the Roads Scholar grant. As I continue to train and compete at the highest level possible, I want to thank the Road Runners Club of America along with their donors for helping me pursue my goals and staying active in my local running community." - Bobby Mack
Megan Hogan (Minneapolis, MN)
Hogan was a high school and college basketball star who left the basketball team at Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass., to transfer to George Washington University after her sophomore year. It was at GW that she launched a collegiate running career even though the school did not offer women's track.
During her final year of collegiate eligibility in 2010, Megan posted 32:34 in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational, finished 6th in the 10,000 at the USA Outdoor Championships, was the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Conference Champion for the second year in a row, and finished 8th overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. While at GW, Megan received the Atlantic 10 women's Cross Country Performer of the Year Award as well as the Atlantic 10 Student Athlete of the Year Award. Her coach named her one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of GW athletics. She was also a two-time All-American in cross country.
Megan, 23, made her professional road racing debut at the 2011 USA 15K Championships in March and finished third. On the track, she posted a 40-second PR in the 5000m at the Mt. SAC Relays for a time of 15:29.12. She joined Team USA Minnesota in 2011. She ran a personal best 5K of 15:29 and came in 5th in the Freihofer's Run for Women.
"I am very excited and honored to have received the Road Scholars grant, and I look forward to successful performances in upcoming road races." - Megan Hogan
The RRCA Roads Scholar® selection Committee for 2011 included Carl Sniffen (Chair), Mike Morgan (former Roads Scholar recipient), Joan Benoit Samuelson (Olympic gold medalist), Don Kardong (Olympian)(Stanford 1971), Phil Stewart, Bee McLeod, Brent Ayer and Jean Knaack.
For more information, go to: www.rrca.org
Kauai Marathon Again Offers $15,000 Speed Challenge
Wardian to defend title at third edition - set for Sunday, September 4, 2011; event adds Marathon "ReLei"; running ambassadors Dean Karnazes, Bart Yasso again to host the festivities in Hawaii
For the second year, the $15,000 Speed Challenge will be offered at the Kauai Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, September 4, 2011 in Poipu, Kauai. Male and female runners who complete the marathon in under 2 hours, 30 minutes for men and 2:45:00 for women will split the prize money. Last year's winner Michael Wardian missed the Speed Challenge bonus by 52 seconds and will return this year to defend his title, as well as run for the $15,000. Other notable runners for the 2011 event expected include the inaugural Kauai Marathon winner JT Service, 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Tyler McCandless and two Kenyan athletes David Tuwei and James Boitt.
Named the race of the month by Runner's World magazine in 2010, the Kauai Marathon is known for its challenging course, spectacular scenery and amazing Kauai hospitality plus renowned hosts ultra superstar Dean Karnazes and running ambassador Bart Yasso. Both will be available at the event's Expo at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, as well as at the Fun Run and Expert Panel Discussion on Saturday, September 3.
Yasso states, "The most rewarding part of The Kauai Marathon is that when you finish, you are still on the beautiful Garden Isle."
Although there is talk about the challenges of the hills, humidity and heat, 2010 race champion Wardian says, "Some sections of the course that I am looking forward to are the torch light start, running through the tunnel of trees and up the climbs in the later half of the race so that I can enjoy the return to the start with breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains along the way."
The full, half and new relay marathon USATF / AIMS certified courses begin in Poipu and run the first 11 miles together. The courses travel up through the 100-year-old Tree Tunnel, which offers spectacular views of Kauai's breathtaking mountains. After runners make their way down Highway 50 and Omao Road, the half-marathon course enters Kukui'ula Resort where spectacular ocean views highlight the last few miles. The full marathon heads out to the neighborhoods of Lawai and Kalaheo before heading down a gradual decent back into Poipu.
Upon completion of the event, all finishers are lei greeted with a commemorative medallion. From 8:00am to 1:30pm, the Kauai Marathon and Sheraton Kauai Resort host the party and awards ceremony. Live local entertainment, ice-cold beer and plenty of food are provided for the runners. This year's after party is at Kalapaki Joe's in Poipu, which will include live music and amazing drink specials.
Race organizers anticipate the third edition to exceed expectations due to the to-date number of entrants, as well as the incredible support from national and local corporate sponsorships. Ultima will be providing the electrolyte replenishment drinks at all aid stations, while Kauai companies Holo Holo Boat Charters, Kauai Coffee and the County of Kauai have generously partnered with the event.
To register for this world class event or to learn more, visit www.thekauaimarathon.com. On-line registration closes on August 30, 2011 at 11:59 Pacific Standard Time.
Snowbasin Resort to Host XTERRA Triathlon and Trail Running Championships
A weekend for warriors in Ogden, Utah September 24-25, 2011
This September Ogden, Utah transforms into XTERRA Title Town USA as Snowbasin Resort hosts not one, but two national championship races.
The XTERRA National Championship of triathlon is set for Saturday, Sept. 24 and the National Championship of trail running is Sunday, Sept. 25.
While hundreds of the best triathletes and trail runners across the U.S. will be headed to Northern Utah to chase titles, everyone can join in the experience as well with races open to one-and-all.
On Saturday, XTERRA hosts two open XTERRA Utah off-road triathlons; a long-course featuring a 1.5K swim, 30K mountain bike and 10K trail run (same as invite-only USA Championship course) and a short course comprised of a 750m swim, 19K mountain bike and 5K trail run.
Then on Sunday XTERRA has 5K and 10K fun runs in addition to the championship half-marathon. All three events start and finish right at Snowbasin Resort and are open to the public. The 21K National Championship offers $5000 in prize money shared by the top 5 men and women.
A true family friendly affair, XTERRA also hosts free kids bike and running races, a Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon to support the Challenged Athletes Foundation, triathlon and trail running clinics, and an interactive expo area in downtown Ogden on Friday, Sept. 23.
The vibe will get lively in the evenings too with three nights of gatherings in downtown Ogden complete with highlight videos, great food and live music. In addition, the annual Harvest Moon Festival on Historic 25th Street is running simultaneously and promises to delight young and old alike.
To see what Utah XTERRA racing is all about and also highlights from last year's National Championship trail run, go to: www.xterra.tv
The XTERRA America Tour finale is just three months away so sign-up now, train hard and join in this adrenaline-packed XTERRA experience. See for yourself what the buzz is all about when the XTERRA National Championships come to the Beehive State.
Registration and more information is available at: www.xterrautah.com
RunDisney Corks Wine and Dine Half Marathon Registration
Registration still open for Half Marathon Relay at Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (July 7, 2011) - RunDisney has announced registration for the 2011 Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort has reached capacity. Following the success of the 2010 inaugural event the 13.1 mile run on Oct. 1, 2011 sold out in less than five months. More than 12,000 participants are expected to experience the ultimate Runners Night Out. Runners not able to register for the half-marathon can still participate in this exciting event by registering for the relay option, where teams of two split the course into 4.8 mile and 8.3 mile sections.
The Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon combines the spectacular Epcot International Food and Wine Festival with the magic of a runDisney event. This unique nighttime race starts at 10:00pm at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and takes runners through Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. After finishing the race runners will enjoy a special Finish Line party where they can sample food, wine and beer from around the world, and enjoy live entertainment around Epcot's World Showcase until 3:00am. Several attractions like Soarin', Test Track, Mission: SPACE and The Seas with Nemo and Friends will also remain open until the early Sunday morning hours. Additional Finish Line Party tickets for family and friends can be purchased at www.rundisney.com.
Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, features events for the entire family. A Health and Fitness Expo takes place at Jostens Center at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, the Disney Halloween 5K takes runners and walkers through Disney's Animal Kingdom on Oct. 1 and Disney Kids' Races take place at the sports complex on Oct. 1.
For more information on the 2011 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend or to register for the relay, 5K and kids' races, go to: www.rundisney.com
Contact Information
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232
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