Running USA wire 70, August 22, 2012

Running USA wire 70, August 22, 2012
Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry in America.


Partners: Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Competitor Group, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and MarathonFoto help make this wire possible.




In this edition:
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon Sets 2012 Prize Money
ING New York City Marathon 2012 Launches College Charity Program
Six More Celebrities Added to 20th Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
2012 GO! for a Cause Charity Program Raises More Than $366,000 for Local Non-Profits

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join Running USA today and have your event listed here, as well as on www.RunningUSA.org

Toronto Women's 5K / 10K, Toronto, CAN, August 25
Gender Defender 5K, Quantico, VA, August 25
Patrick Henry Half-Marathon, Ashland, VA, August 25
Continental Divide Trail Race, Laurel Springs, NC, August 25
USA 10K Trail Championships
Crim Festival of Races, Flint, MI, August 25
Challenge Arthritis 5K, St. Paul, MN, August 25
Seattle Marathon 10K, Seattle, WA, August 25
Emerald City Half & Quarter Marathon, Dublin, OH, Aug 26
XTERRA Snow Mountain Ranch 20K, Granby, CO, August 26
La Sportiva 10K @10,000 Feet & 5K, Vail, CO, August 26
Eugene Women's Half Marathon, Eugene, OR, August 26
NFL Back to Football Run 4 Mile, New York, NY, August 30
Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach 1/2 Marathon, VA, September 2
Oregon Wine Country Half-Marathon, Carlton, OR, Sept 2
Kauai Marathon, Kauai, HI, September 2
35th Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race, CT, September 3
USA 20K Championships
American Discovery Trail Marathon, Colorado Springs, CO, Sept 3
Inaugural Ragnar Relay Colorado, Aspen, CO, September 7








Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon Sets 2012 Prize Money
Unique American incentives once again to support U.S. emerging athletes


ALEXANDRIA, Va. - (August 18, 2012) - Officials at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon have announced its prize money structure, which includes attractive, unique incentives for emerging American runners and a total prize purse of $15,050 plus bonuses.



Top overall male / female prize for the Sunday, October 7 race will be $1500, with the top American male and female earning $1200. Double dipping will be allowed.



In addition to American-only prize money, any U.S. runner who placed in the top 10 in any event at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials - including the marathon - and who earns prize money at the 2012 Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon will have that prize money doubled. For example, if the winning American placed in the top 10 at the Trials, the cash reward would be $2400.



"We are totally committed to our American athletes and to helping them to be competitive on the world scene," event founder and director Steve Nearman stated.



"Last year, we offered bonuses to runners who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and we are proud that four gentlemen earned tickets to those trials in Houston last January. One runner Ricky Flynn was 12th in those Trials and another runner Bobby Mack went on to win the USA Cross Country Championships a month later."



An additional $1000 bonus is being offered to any male or female who sets a new course record. The male record is 1:02:37 and female record is 1:12:44.



2012 WWBH Prize Purse = $15,050 plus incentives


Note: Any American who finished in the top 10 of any of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials events (including marathon) and earns prize money at the 2012 Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon will earn double the prize money below.



Overall male / female: $1500, $750, $500, $250, $175 and $100
American-only male / female: $1200, $700, $400, $250 and $150
Masters male / female: $200, $150 and $100

Potomac Valley Association / USATF Championship - VISA Cards
Open male / female: $300, $200 and $100
Masters male / female: $250, $150 and $100

New course record bonus $1000 - Men's CR (1:02:37) and Women's CR (1:12:44)



In addition, distinctive age group plaques to top three places in 26 age-specific categories.



For more information on the 2012 Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon, see: www.wilsonbridgehalf.com



About the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
This 13.1-mile USATF-sanctioned footrace begins at historic Mount Vernon and ends in the modern resort of National Harbor. Now in its third year, the race serves as the Road Runners Club of America Virginia State Championship, the Potomac Valley Association / USATF Championship and the NIB Visually Impaired National Half Marathon Championship. Six national / local charities benefit from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon.






ING New York City Marathon 2012 Launches College Charity Program

A record 300 charities, who look to raise $35 million, will be represented by nearly 10,000 runners for the 43rd running of the world's flagship footrace on Sunday, November 4


NEW YORK - (August 22, 2012) - Two top-grade local college running programs, at Columbia University and Manhattan College, will be participating in the inaugural ING New York City Marathon College Charity Program, in which participants raise funds to benefit the track & field / cross country programs at these schools, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.



This new program, combined with an already impressive roster of gold, silver, bronze and community charity partners, makes a striking total of more than 300 charities, approximately 225 of them New York City-based.



Each school received five entries to the Marathon, and the funds raised will benefit their running programs in ways such as increasing the number of track & field / cross country scholarships they can offer. The entries are available to anyone who is interested in running on behalf of one of these college running programs, and each school is expected to raise nearly $10,000 for its programs. In its initial year, the program will be local, but there is a plan to grow it incrementally over the next few years, ultimately making it a nationwide program with 10 or more schools across the country applying to be part of it.

"We are thrilled to be joining in a partnership with NYRR and the running community of New York City," said Willy Wood, director of cross country and track & field at Columbia University. "There has been an increasingly greater desire for us to connect our running programs with the City of New York, and I believe this to be a great first step."



"The Manhattan College cross country and track and field program is excited about this opportunity to work with NYRR and one of the greatest sporting events in the world," said Dan Mecca, head coach of cross country and track and field at Manhattan College. "This will not only help our program financially, but it is a great experience to be associated with such an outstanding event such as the ING New York City Marathon."



In 2011, the official charity program was made up of more than 200 charities that raised a record $34 million for many different causes. Also of significance is NYRR's third-year fundraising partner, CrowdRise, the leading crowd-sourced fundraising platform that uses the most fun and engaging game theory, tools and technology to help people who care raise money for their favorite nonprofit organizations.



"We are ecstatic to introduce our college running program this year," said Wittenberg. "We raise millions of dollars a year for hundreds of charities; we are thrilled to now begin raising greater awareness and funds for our local college running programs."



Noteworthy new charities this year include the Arthur Ashe Foundation, a nonprofit that works to share the late tennis champion's tremendous story and legacy as a source of education and inspiration for individuals; and the Mobile Kitchen Classroom, a nonprofit founded by actor-filmmaker Adrian Grenier that seeks to provide high school students in New York City with the opportunity to engage in experiential lessons around food, health, and sustainability.



Benefits for the various levels range from guaranteed entries and training programs to VIP race-weekend benefits. More information and a list of current 2012 charity partners are available at: www.ingnycmarathon.org/charities



About the ING New York City Marathon
NYRR's premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners racing four laps of Central Park. Now, more than 47,000 participants from all over the globe flock to New York City every November for an adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators and a TV audience of 330 million.





Six More Celebrities Added to 20th Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Hollywood personalities are latest celebrities to join star-packed marathon weekend; The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney and ESPN radio personality Colin Cowherd already in the field; uniquely-designed commemorative race medal for every finisher


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (Aug. 16, 2012) - Several additional celebrities are joining in the fun of the 20th anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna. Comedian and "The Price Is Right" host Drew Carey, actor Gilles Marini (Sex in the City: The Movie, Switched at Birth and Dancing with the Stars), Access Hollywood co-host Kit Hoover, reality TV stars Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca (Survivor, The Amazing Race and Everyday Health) and actor Sean Astin (The Goonies, The Lord of the Rings and Rudy) are participating in the historic runDisney race weekend, Jan. 10-13.



Zohn, Morasca, Marini and Hoover are running the 13.1-mile half-marathon at Disney, while Carey and Astin are taking on the 26.2-mile marathon. They join celebrities Alison Sweeney (The Biggest Loser) and Colin Cowherd (ESPN radio personality) who already signed up for the half-marathon.



For many of these celebrities, competing in a runDisney event will be a familiar experience. This will be the second runDisney race for Carey, who ran in the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon. Likewise, Zohn and Morasca both ran in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon earlier this year and the Princess Half Marathon last year. And Astin ran in the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort earlier this year. This will be the first runDisney event for Hoover, an avid runner, and Cowherd and Marini, who are both first-time half marathon runners.



In all, nearly 50,000 runners are expected to compete in various events throughout the weekend with the 26.2-mile marathon field comprised of roughly 55 percent women - the first time ever that women have outnumbered men in the Disney Marathon field.

The celebrity participants are just some of the new features of the Disney Marathon. Among the other new features are:



A specially-designed 20th anniversary Mickey Mouse commemorative finisher's medal with two spinning elements and engraved with two famous quotes from Walt Disney himself
Enhanced entertainment at Mile 20 to celebrate the 20th anniversary
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 1972 Olympian Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.



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



About runDisney
runDisney is a series of events providing runners unique opportunities to run various distances through Disney theme parks. Race participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation. The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler in September and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November. Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day Weekend. More than 100,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit rundisney.com and follow us on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @DisneySports.



2012 GO! for a Cause Charity Program Raises More Than $366,000 for Local Non-Profits
Popular program to be expanded to 30 charities for 2013 GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend



ST. LOUIS - (August 22, 2012) - GO! St. Louis, a local non-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, has announced that the GO! for a Cause charity program helped 20 area charities raise $366,700 for their causes as part of the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend.



The program debuted in 2010, and continues to expand to include new charities and opportunities for official partners to increase fundraising and visibility for their cause. The 2013 program will expand to accommodate 30 charities. Since the program's inception, more than $861,000 has been raised for a variety of local charities.



GO! for a Cause encourages other non-profit organizations to recruit stakeholders to participate in the annual GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, while raising donations for a charity. GO! St. Louis partners with charities by providing them the tools to implement the program, while promoting their participation through social media and traditional marketing.



Organizations included in the 2012 program included: GO! St. Louis Team for Kids, American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program, Angels' Arms, Cancer Support Community, College Bound, Cultural Leadership, Epworth Children & Family Services, Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, The Mission Continues, Living Well Foundation, Gateway to Hope, Team Living Water, Lift for Life Gym, Jewish Community Center, Kids Rock Cancer, Promo Fund, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Leukemia & Lymphoma's Team in Training, Habitat for Humanity and Girls on the Run.



In addition to the GO! for a Cause program, the 2012 Neighborhood Cheer Zones promotion, which encourages area neighborhood associations to support participants along the marathon course was expanded to include more associations. Official neighborhood associations received $1000 for participating, while the top voted neighborhood is awarded an additional $1000 for association projects. The Soulard Restoration Group, and the fun pajama-wearing theme, received the top award in 2012, which marked the second consecutive year they have captured the award. More than $6000 was donated to five area associations for use in neighborhood projects and improvements.



GO! St. Louis, a local non-profit organization, encourages individuals and families in the St. Louis region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. The organization accomplishes this through community collaborations, school based programming and the creation of new and unique fitness events.



For more information on GO! St. Louis, visit: www.gostlouis.org







Contact Information


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




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