Running USA wire 80, September 26, 2012

Running USA wire 80, September 26, 2012
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In this edition:
Four Olympians, Defending Champions to Battle for Equalizer Bonus
Brooks Sports Crowns Nation's Most Inspiring High School Running Coach
Healthy Kids Fun Run Race Capacity Expands in 2012
Portland Marathon Kids' Fun Run & Sports Festival Helps Fight Childhood Obesity

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Lake Tahoe Marathon Weekend, Lake Tahoe, CA, September 28-30
Inaugural Tower of Terror 10 Mile, Orlando, FL, September 29
10th Akron Marathon, Akron, OH, September 29
University High School Spirit Run, Carmel, IN, September 29
Catalina Island Conservancy Half-Marathon, Avalon, CA, September 29
35th Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K, PA, Sept 30
Cartersville 10K, Cartersville, GA, October 6
XTERRA Marathon of Trail Races, Colorado Springs, CO, October 6
Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend, Minneapolis, MN, Oct 6-7
USA 10 Mile Championships & USA Masters Marathon Championships
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half-Marathon, National Harbor, MD, Oct 7
35th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, IL, October 7
World Marathon Major
Pikes Peak Road Ascent, Cascade, CO, October 7
Tyler Rose Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5K, Tyler, TX, October 7
Long Beach ICB Marathon, Long Beach, CA, October 7
Portland Marathon & Half-Marathon, Portland, OR, October 7
Rock 'n' Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon, San Jose, CA, October 7
Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women, Boston, MA, October 8
USA Women's 10K Championship / USARC Finale


Four Olympians, Defending Champions to Battle for Equalizer Bonus

Event record holders Abdirahman, Goucher return to Medtronic TC 10 Mile: USA Championship


MINNEAPOLIS - (September 25, 2012) - Four U.S. Olympians fresh off their efforts at this summer's London Games will race for USA Men's and Women's 10 Mile Championships on Sunday, October 7 at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, held in conjunction with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.



Duluth native Kara Goucher, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile women's record holder, will be joined by fellow Olympians Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, the 2011 Medtronic TC 10 Mile women's champion, Julie Culley, last year's Medtronic TC 10 Mile women's runner-up and Abdi Abdirahman, a two-time Medtronic TC 10 Mile champion and the men's course record holder.



The Olympians won't just be competing for titles among their own gender. Again this year, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile will feature a $10,000 Equalizer Bonus for the first USA Champion - male or female - to cross the State Capitol grounds finish line. Last year, men's champion Mo Trafeh, who returns this year, caught Cherobon-Bawcom in the final mile of the race. Cherobon-Bawcom and the rest of the women's field started with a seven-minute head-start.



"We're elated that four athletes who represented the USA in London are coming to the Twin Cities to compete for USA titles with us," Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman said. "They, Mo Trafeh and the rest of the field are going to produce an exciting race and some well-earned national titles."



Goucher, who grew up in Duluth and currently resides in Portland, Ore., finished 11th in the Olympic Marathon in London, running 2:26:07. The 2007 World Track & Field Championships bronze medalist at 10,000 meters won the Medtronic TC 10 Mile in 2008, setting the course record of 53 minutes, 16 seconds in the process.



Cherobon-Bawcom, a Rome, Ga. resident, finished 12th in the women's 10,000 meters at the London Games, running a personal best 31:12.68. The Kenyan-born, naturalized U.S. citizen won last year's USA Women's 10 Mile title in her first visit to the event, clocking 54:15 on the challenging route from downtown Minneapolis to St. Paul.



Culley, of New Brunswick, N.J., finished 14th in the final of the women's 5000 meters in London in 15:28.22. Culley qualified for the Olympics by winning the Olympic Trials 5000m in Eugene, Ore. in 15:13.77. Last year at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, Culley clocked 54:28 as the women's runner-up.



Abdirahman, who has represented the United States in four straight Olympic Games, was unable to finish the Olympic Marathon this summer due to a knee injury. The Tucson, Ariz. resident, returns to the Medtronic TC 10 Mile seeking his third USA 10 Mile title at the event and his fifth overall. Last year, the Somali-born American finished sixth in 47:00. He ran 46:35 when he set the event record in 2009.



Twin Cities In Motion will announce the complete professional athlete field for the USA Men's and Women's 10 Mile Championships during the first week of October.



About Twin Cities In Motion (TCM)
Twin Cities In Motion (formerly Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.) is the non-profit organization that provides nationally recognized, high quality running events throughout the year, including the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. With a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through running, TCM and its charity partners contribute over $500,000 to related causes each year. For more information, visit www.tcmevents.org, www.facebook.com/TwinCitiesInMotion and follow us on Twitter @tcmarathon.



Brooks Sports Crowns Nation's Most Inspiring High School Running Coach

Wisconsin coach Paul Raley chosen for his lifelong dedication to the sport and his efforts to bring track back to his small community


BOTHELL, Wash. - (September 24, 2012) - Inspiring his athletes, school administration and his community to Run Happy with his own selfless commitment and passion for track makes Coach Paul Raley stand out from the pack. A willingness to volunteer personal time and pay out of pocket to restart the track and field program at the high school where his coaching career began over 30 years ago earned him the title of 2012 Brooks Inspiring Coach of the Year.



Leading running company Brooks Sports, Inc. has announced Coach Paul Raley from Benton High School in Benton, Wis., its 2012 most inspiring coach. In nominations from his runners, fellow coaches and community members, Raley was described as someone who "loves the sport and passes that love along to his athletes" and whose "dedication and commitment to his athletes serve as inspiration to all who know him."



"We created the Brooks Inspiring Coaches program to recognize the unsung heroes in our sport who hit the track and trails every day to make a lifelong impact in the lives of young runners," said Jim Weber, president and CEO of Brooks Sports, Inc. "Inspirational coaches teach lessons on the run that go well beyond the next race or even the next year. We believe it's important to reward these individuals for the impact their knowledge, time and guidance make in helping their teams achieve both athletic and personal greatness well beyond high school."



Coach Raley has inspired more than just his athletes on the track - his drive has united schools and communities. He single-handedly funded the Benton High School track program for more than four years, and that commitment is motivating the school district to fully fund the program in 2013. He also created a co-op track program with the neighboring Scales Mound High School in Illinois, giving it the long-awaited opportunity to have a track team for the first time. His daily efforts include searching out available practice locations - neither high school has a track - recruiting other volunteer coaches and increasing team participation to a third of the school's total enrollment.



"I am so touched and thankful to be named the 2012 Brooks Inspiring Coach of the Year," said Coach Raley after receiving his award to a standing ovation during a community pep rally at Benton High School. "It's rewarding to hear I've made such a positive impact on so many of my athletes. With all the amazing coaches across the U.S., I am humbled to receive this great honor."



As the 2012 Brooks Inspiring Coach of the Year, Coach Raley receives $12,500 in Brooks performance running gear and cash for his school. He also gets an invitation for two to attend the 2013 Brooks PR Invitational, a national track meet where the fastest high school runners compete against one another and chase their personal records.



Coach Raley reigns among an impressive group of 25 finalists who were announced in July. Other honorees include:



Pete Boudreaux, Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, LA)
Jerry Loveall, Velma-Alma High School (Velma, OK)
Mark Buesing, Libertyville High School (Libertyville, IL)
Kay Nekota, Vacaville High School (Vacaville, CA)
Mike Buslepp, Romeo High School (Romeo, MI)
John O'Malley, Carl Sandburg High School (Orland Park, IL)
Hernando Chavez, Taos High School (Taos, NM)
Israel Pose, Torrance High School (Torrance, CA)
Christian Cuthbert, Veritas School (Richmond, VA)
Joseph Prince, Sahuarita High School (Sahuarita, AZ)
Jeremy Darby, Landrum High School (Campobello, SC)
Wayne Roberts, Sandusky High School (Sandusky, MI)
David Davis, Mountain View High School (Stafford, VA)
Dan Scroggins, Lake City Community School (Lake City, CO)
Julie Fink, Runnels High School (Baton Rouge, LA)
Mark Shafer, Chardon High School (Chardon, OH)
Scott Griggs, Franklin High School (Seattle, WA)
Arthemon Sindayigaya, Abilene Christian High School (Abilene, TX)
Eric Heintz, Marist School (Atlanta, GA)
Ben Talsma, Crossroads Charter Academy (Big Rapids, MI)
Marcus Jackson, Sheffield High School (Memphis, TN)
Melissa Thomas, Manchester Valley High School (Manchester, MD)
Victoria Jones, Mill Springs Academy (Alpharetta, GA)
Connie Washnik, Park Ridge High School (Park Ridge, NJ)


Each of the Inspiring Coaches finalists will receive $5000 in Brooks performance running footwear, apparel, and accessories, $500 in cash for additional team expenses, and membership into the Brooks Inspire Daily (I.D.) program. For more information about 2012 Brooks Inspiring Coach of the Year Paul Raley and all of the top 25 Inspiring Coaches finalists, visit: www.brooksrunning.com/inspiringcoaches



About Brooks
Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 60 countries worldwide. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. The company's mission is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating innovative gear that keeps them running longer, farther and faster. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information, and follow frequent brand updates on Twitter (@brooksrunning) and Facebook (Brooks Sports).





Healthy Kids Fun Run Race Capacity Expands in 2012

3,600 children will participate in Guinness World Record attempt on race day


QUANTICO, Va. - (September 25, 2012) - A newly-expanded race field of 3,600 kids ages 5 to 12 will participate in the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Healthy Kids Fun Run presented by The Washington Post held on Saturday, October 27 in the Pentagon North Parking Lot in Arlington, VA. This year, the one-mile event also will give participants the opportunity to set two Guinness World Records.



National Geographic Kids and the MCM will coordinate the record-breaking efforts through the "Run for the Planet" initiative. Five thousand people worldwide are required to run 100 meters within a 24-hour period between noon on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 to set a new Guinness Record. All participants in the Kids Run will count toward this total as the time window closes coinciding with the event's final wave. Additionally, 12,500 pairs of shoes are required to break the record for most athletic shoes collected. A shoe drop location will be available at the Kids Run for shoes that will be recycled into athletic surfaces.



"Now in its thirteenth year, the Healthy Kids Fun Run has evolved from a one-mile run into a major showcase of health and fitness for kids," says Rick Nealis, MCM Director. "The run and surrounding programs and activities support the MCM mission of promoting physical fitness, especially among youth."



Limited space remains in the Healthy Kids Fun Run. Parents can register their children online at www.marinemarathon.com. Group registration has closed for 2012.



The Healthy Kids Fun Run is open from 9:00am until 2:00pm. Children will run in one of six waves beginning at 9:30am and concluding at 11:40am. Parents, families and runners are invited to Camp Miles, a free all-day activity area featuring interactive games and challenges focusing on fitness located in the finish area of the Kids Run featuring healthy snacks provided by Sodexo and activities provided by MCM partners FitArlington, National Geographic Kids, Fit and Healthy Schools, NOVA Healthy Kids Coalition, The National Children's Museum, Geico, Navy Federal Credit Union, Silver Diner and more.



About the MCM
Voted the "Best Marathon for Families" and the "Best Marathon in the Mid Atlantic", the Marine Corps Marathon honors the dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Runners from all walks of life participate in the largest marathon not to offer prize money, earning the name "The People's Marathon". The 37th MCM will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2012 in Arlington, VA.





Portland Marathon Kids' Fun Run & Sports Festival Helps Fight Childhood Obesity

Event to be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Lincoln High School


PORTLAND, Ore. - (September 24, 2012) - Today's youth are by far the most listless and sedentary generation ever recorded. Every analysis in Oregon documents that physical activity levels are lower in children than ever before with immediate impacts on academic performance and dire long-term consequences of heart disease, diabetes and chronic diseases.



The Portland Marathon is fighting back against childhood obesity and promoting health by offering an upbeat physical-fitness activity for local youth - the Portland Marathon Kids' Fun Run & Sports Festival.



The event is on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Lincoln High School Field from 9:00am to Noon and open to participants 2-12 years old. Proceeds from the event go to support the Portland Police Mounted Patrol, who will be at the event.



During the event, kids will run varying distances based on age along the track that will include obstacles, such as the tire climb provided by Les Schwab. Parents are welcome to run along with their children. Kids will receive a special bib and finisher's medal.

Alpenrose Dairy chocolate milk and Zico Coconut water will be available at the event. There will also be inflatable activities like bounce castles, a climbing wall, music by KINK FM, sports games and more.



Families can register at http://portlandmarathon.org/events_kids.php. For more information, contact Molly Bailey at (503) 234-3213 or molly@oregonsports.org



The Portland Marathon is a non-profit running and walking event that produces Portland's largest three-day "convention". The event has a positive $25M economic impact to the Portland area. Proceeds from the Portland Marathon go to help local schools, charities and non-profits. October 7, 2012 will mark the 41st Portland Marathon. The event features 85 entertainment groups at 53 locations along the course. The events of the Portland Marathon have over 12,000 registered participants and is produced with the help of over 4,500 volunteers. The Event has been called the "best-organized marathon in North America" and has received national attention for being one of the first eco-friendly, "green" marathons.







Contact Information


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




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