Running USA wire 61, July 22, 2012

Running USA wire 61, July 22, 2012
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In this edition:
London Bound Sanchez, Jarzynska Win XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon
Inaugural Ragnar OIWC Challenge presented by ASICS Set for August 4
Alison Sweeney Enters 20th Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Daddy & Tot Trot at 2012 Eugene Women's Half

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Burning River 100 Mile, Willoughby Hills, OH, July 28
USA 100 Mile Trail Championships
Challenge Cancer 5K, St. Paul, MN, July 28
Quad-City Times Bix 7, Davenport, IA, July 28
Paint Mines 6K Trail Race, Calhan, CO, July 28
Destination Health Race, Denver, CO, July 28
San Francisco Marathon, San Francisco, CA, July 29
Olympic Games, London, GBR, Aug 3-12
Track & Field Competition
15th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, ME, Aug 4
Atlanta's Finest 5K, Atlanta, GA, August 4
Woodstock 5K, Anniston, AL, August 4
Salinas Valley Half-Marathon, Salinas, CA, August 4
Step Up for Cancer, Denver, CO, August 5
Central Coast Cancer Challenge 10K, San Luis Obispo, CA, Aug 5
Great Kilted Run 5K, Seattle, WA, August 5
New Balance Falmouth Mile, Falmouth, MA, August 11
August 5K, Atlanta, GA, August 11
Challenge Addiction 5K, St. Paul, MN, August 11
Colorado Springs Panerathon, Denver, CO, August 11
40th New Balance Falmouth Road Race, Falmouth, MA, Aug 12
Fifteen's 5K, Minneapolis, MN, August 12
Inaugural GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh, PA, Aug 17




London Bound Sanchez, Jarzynska Win XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon

4th edition welcomes 20,000 entrants; headliner Cobra Starship rocks for celebrity participants including television personalities Kate Gosselin and Dr. Andy Baldwin, Super Bowl champion Roger Craig and NASCAR driver Nelson Piquet Jr.

By Dan Cruz, Competitor Group



CHICAGO - (July 22, 2012) - With the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony just five days away, it was only fitting that two London-bound athletes emerged victorious on the streets of downtown Chicago Sunday morning at the 4th XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago ½ Marathon. First across the finish line adjacent to Buckingham Fountain was 24-year-old Daniel Vargas Sanchez from Mexico, who covered the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 18 seconds, while Karolina Jarzynska, 30, who will run for Poland in the Olympic Marathon, won the women's race in 1:13:04.



"This was my first time in Chicago and running was a great way to see the city. The course is perfect, it's very flat and fast," said Jarzynska, who pulled away from Kenyan Pauline Thitu at three miles and ran uncontested to the finish line. "This is my final test before the Olympic Marathon in two weeks and I'm excited to begin my final preparations. It will be my first time competing at the Olympic Games."



The pace of the men's race was set early by Sanchez's Olympic teammate Carlos Cordero Gómez, along with Kenyans Edward Tabut and Geofrey Terer. They led a pack of seven runners through two miles in 9:45, hitting the 5K split in 15:17. The lead pack stayed together through 10K in 30:44, but as the course turned down Michigan Ave. along Grant Park, Sanchez gradually took control and by mile eight he had victory comfortably in hand finishing with a new event record.



"The race was difficult, my goal was to run 3:05 per kilometer and the morning humidity affected me a little bit. But I ran with the rock 'n' roll rhythm and I'm very pleased with my time," said Sanchez, who will arrive in London on August 1, which is 11 days before the men's Olympic Marathon. "I have three weeks until the race on August 12, my training has gone very well. I expect to be the top runner from Mexico and hope to run under 2:10."



The event attracted more than 20,000 entrants to downtown Chicago, including NASCAR driver Nelson Piquet Jr., who won his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race last month. Piquet drove 225 miles on Saturday night in the American Ethanol 225 Truck Race at Chicagoland and then completed his first half-marathon on Sunday morning in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 44 seconds.



"The spectators cheering along the route were amazing," said Piquet, a 26-year-old Brazilian who had previously completed in a few triathlons. "The 13.1-mile distance was tough after the race last night. I didn't get much sleep so I just tried to give it the best I could."



Other notable runners included television personality Dr. Andy Baldwin (1:38:22), who joined Natalie Davila (older sister of U.S. Olympic Marathoner Desiree Davila) and more than 350 participants completing the "Rock 'n' Mud Challenge" at both Saturday's Columbia Muddy Buddy Chicago and the XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon. Sunday's event also featured a 'mini-marathon' distance of just over three miles, and featured reality television personality Kate Gosselin and former NFL player Roger Craig, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers.



The event concluded with a post-race finish line concert headlined by "Good Girls Gone Bad" band Cobra Starship in Grant Park.



4th XSport Fitness Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon
Chicago, IL, Sunday, July 22, 2012



MEN
1) Daniel Vargas Sanchez, 24, Mexico, 1:04:18*, $1000
2) Edward Tabut, 29, Kenya, 1:05:34, $500
3) Geofrey Terer, 34, Kenya, 1:05:39, $250
*event record (previous record, 1:06:19, Patrick Rizzo (USA / CO), 2010)



WOMEN
1) Karolina Jarzynska, 30, Poland, 1:13:04, $1,000
2) Pauline Thitu, 22, Kenya, 1:14:52, $500
3) Dani Fischer, 23, USA / WI, 1:19:35, $250



For complete results and more, go to: www.competitor.com



Inaugural Ragnar OIWC Challenge presented by ASICS Set for August 4

Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition (OIWC), Ragnar Relay Series and ASICS partner for outdoor retailer race to provide a networking and fundraising addition to 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market


SALT LAKE CITY - (July 19, 2012) - Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition (OIWC) has announced that it has joined forces with Ragnar Events, LLC, producers of the Ragnar Relay Series, to host a 4-mile team relay through the streets of Salt Lake City during Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The inaugural Ragnar OIWC Challenge presented by ASICS will take place on Saturday, August 4, from 6:00am - 8:30am. Proceeds will support OIWC's programs focused on providing advocacy, education and resources for women in the outdoor, bike and snowsports industries.



"We are excited to have a brand of ASICS stature join us as the Presenting Sponsor of the inaugural Ragnar OIWC Challenge" said Dave Klewan, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Ragnar Events, LLC. "We couldn't think of a better partner to work alongside at this year's Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in raising awareness for the OIWC's and Ragnar's efforts."



Participants are invited to register online by August 1 at www.oiwc.org/events or at the ASICS booth on day 1 and 2 of the show. Registration is $15 for OIWC members or $20 for non-members with each participant also receiving a limited edition event technical performance shirt courtesy of ASICS. Teams of three (3) participate together (either signed up as a team or as individuals matched by Ragnar for networking purposes) alternating the route one at a time. The course will include the feel of a modified Ragnar event and pass through some of the most scenic parts of downtown Salt Lake City including the Salt Palace, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, Utah State Capitol Building, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Temple Square and City Creek Canyon.



All participants will be staged at the Ragnar "base camp" prior to / following their turn on the route to create a sense of community and camaraderie as well as networking opportunities. ASICS will be on-site throughout the entire event conducting trials of their newest shoe lines for all participants.



To learn more about the event, contact Hillary Harding at hharding@oiwc.org or visit www.oiwc.org/events to register now.




Alison Sweeney Enters 20th Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Biggest Loser host is first celebrity to be a part of milestone weekend that features new commemorative medal, new course twists, new post-race party and enhanced entertainment; additional celebrities expected to enter in the coming weeks


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (July 16, 2012) - The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney headlines a list of celebrities who will be a part of the 20th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna.



Sweeney, an aspiring author (she has two books coming out in the next couple of years) and well-known for her role on Days of Our Lives in addition to The Biggest Loser, is entered in the Disney half-marathon during the Disney Marathon Weekend, Jan. 10-13, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.



Sweeney is an avid runner who has competed in various marathons and half-marathons around the country, however the Disney half-marathon will be her first runDisney event. Sweeney is expected to attend the race along with her husband and two children.



"With all of the cool new elements that will be part of this special 20th anniversary Disney marathon weekend, this seemed like the race to run in 2013,'' said Sweeney. "We're going to make it a family trip so my husband and kids can share in this fun experience.''



Sweeney is expected to be among several celebrities and international running stars who participate in the historic Disney Marathon Weekend that will offer several new features:



Enhanced entertainment at Mile 20 to celebrate the 20th anniversary
A specially-designed 20th anniversary Mickey Mouse medal
New course routes through the Walt Disney World Speedway and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
A new post-race party at Downtown Disney
The Disney Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna will again feature Kids' Races throughout the weekend, including the Mickey Mile, as well as a Family Fun Run 5K on Friday, the Half Marathon on Saturday and the Marathon on Sunday. There is also Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge which involves running the half marathon and the full marathon - a total of 39.3 miles. The Health and Fitness Expo runs throughout the weekend at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and features the latest in running technology and fashion, as well as renowned running experts such as Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.



Runners can register for the race and get more information at: www.rundisney.com






Daddy & Tot Trot at 2012 Eugene Women's Half

Inaugural 1K perfect distance for the family


EUGENE, Ore. - (July 22, 2012) - The 3rd Eugene Women's Half Marathon will offer a Daddy & Tot Trot for the first year to get the whole family involved in the Sunday, August 26 event. The 1K course will have the same start and finish lines as the half-marathon, starts at 8:10am and is open to runners ages four-and-up.



"We are really excited to add the Daddy & Tot Trot to the year's events," said Event Coordinator and two-time Olympian Nicole Teter. "It's a great opportunity to get the rest of the family involved."



The runners will enjoy the same refreshments and goodies as the half-marathoners at the finish line. Every participant will receive an age appropriate glass (pint for the adults and milk for the kids).



Registration is available now at www.eugenewomenshalf.com for only $10, and race day registration is offered only for the Daddy & Tot Trot.



For more information, visit www.eugenewomenshalf.com or email info@eugenemarathon.com







Contact Information


Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232




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