Running USA wire

Issue 34-04-14 April 30, 2014




Upcoming Events

Kokopelli Kids Trail Running Series, Colorado Springs, CO, May 2
Flying Pig Marathon Weekend, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 2-4
Expedition Everest Challenge, Lake Buena Vista, FL, May 3
XTERRA Big Pocono Trail Run, Tannersville, PA, May 3
The Players 5K with Donna, Ponte Vedra, FL, May 3
The Capital City Half Marathon, 5K, Columbus, OH, May 3
Wisconsin Marathon, Kenosha, WI, May 3
Greenland Trail Races, Larkspur, CO, May 3
Carefirst Frederick Running Festival, Frederick, MD, May 3-4
Western Pacific Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K, Fremont, CA, May 3
Flying Pirate Half Marathon, First Flight 5K, Outer Banks, NC, May 3-4
Heroes in Recovery 6K, Coconut Creek, FL, May 3
Open Baskets 5K, Eagen, MN, May 3
Lansing Marathon, Half-Marathon, Ekiden Relay, 5K, and 1.5K Kids Race, Lansing, MI, May 3-4
Blum Shapiro 5K, Cromwell, CT, May 3
Cinco de Miler Dallas, Dallas, TX, May 4
Cinco de Miler Chicago, Chicago, IL, May 4
Roller Coaster Race @ Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, MO, May 4
BMO Vancouver Marathon, Vancouver, BC, May 4
GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon & Half Marathon, Toronto, Ontario, May 4
Great Western Half Marathon, St. Charles, IL, May 4
Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh, PA, May 4
Blue Cross Broad Street Run, Philadelphia, PA, May 4
OC Marathon, Newport Beach, CA, May 4
Santa Monica Classic , Santa Monica, CA, May 4
Berkshire Hathaway Invest in Yourself 5K, Omaha, NE, May 4
Bucks County Ten Miler, Washington Crossing, PA, May 4
Divas Half Marathon and 5K - Branson, Brandon, MO, May 4
le Chocolat, Windsor, ON, May 4
Find the full Running USA events calendar here.


'Jim Ryun Festival of Miles' to Honor 50th Anniversary of Historic Sub-4 Minute Mile



SAN DIEGO, Calif. - On Thursday, June 5, 2014, one of the most significant athletic achievements of th
e last century will be celebrated at San Diego's historic Balboa Stadium: the 50th anniversary of Jim Ryun's extraordinary feat to become the first high school boy to run a sub-4 minute mile. A national coalition including representatives from the San Diego Track Club, Bring Back the Mile, Competitor Group, Inc. and Ryun himself announced plans for the Jim Ryun Festival of Miles, a summertime celebration in San Diego to honor the milestone achievement.



"It truly was a special day and a special race in the history of high school athletics," said Ryun. "I've been blessed to have such a supportive network of family and friends in the running community, and our goal is to plan an event that everyone in our sport will be proud of. This isn't just an event for me, but something that will showcase the greatest moments of high school running."



Ryun was the first high school runner to break the four-minute mile as a junior at Wichita East High School in Wichita, Kansas. On June 5, 1964, on a clay track in Compton, California, he ran 3:59.0 to break the barrier for the first time. Then as a senior, he ran 3:55.3-a mark that stood for 36 years. ESPN has rated him the number-one high school athlete of the century, beating out Tiger Woods and LeBron James. A three-time

Olympian (1964, 1968 and 1972) and silver medalist at the 1,500-meters, Ryun eventually was elected as a United States Congressman from Kansas.

Read the rest of the story on RunningUSA.org



DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Boasts Deep Elite Field, Record Prize Purse


PITTSBURGH - Two-time Marathon champion
James Kirwa and Pennsylvanian Clara Santucci lead a strong elite field for the 6th DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, set for Sunday, May 4, 2014. Runners will compete for an overall Marathon record prize purse of $47,000 plus an additional $26,000 available to Americans as part of Pittsburgh's inaugural American Development Program.



Two-time Marathon champion Kirwa, 30, returns to the race aiming for the triple crown his third consecutive title and a $2000 bonus for accomplishing the feat. The Kenyan will face tough competition from Ethiopians Gebo Burka, who won the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon in 2:10:37, and Negash Abebe Duki, who clocked an impressive 2:11:14 at the Kosice Peace Marathon. Pennsylvania-native Jed Christiansen, with a marathon personal record of 2:18:31, leads the American field.



Read the rest of the preview on RunningUSA.org


Elite Field Announced for U.S. Bank OC Marathon


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - The U.S. Bank OC Marathon's field of "elite" runners is poised to be its best-ever as several high-profile Olympic hopefuls have entered the 10th anniversary race. Earlier this year, race organizers launched the Cal-Edge Athlete Development Program, increasing the total prize purse to $27,000 with more than $10,000 designated for California athletes. Runners have the opportunity to earn additional bonuses if they meet the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials "A" or "B" qualifying standards. Detailed information is available at http://www.ocmarathon.com/ForRunners/Registration/EliteAthletes.aspx.


"The time was right to expand our support to California elite athletes, giving them an extra Edge as they pursue their dream of qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles and perhaps the Rio Olympics," said Gary Kutscher, Race Director of the U.S. Bank OC Marathon. "Our Cal-Edge Athlete Development program provides post-collegiate athletes from California much needed financial support as they chase their Olympic dreams and the athletes are responding."


Read the full story on RunningUSA.org




Past Champions Kogo, Mejdoub Headline UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon


PITTSBURGH - Defending champion Julius Kogo of Kenya and 2011 women's winner Malika Camacho Mejdoub of Morocco lead a deep elite field for the 6th UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, slated for Sunday, May 4, 2014. The sold-out half-marathon offers the largest prize purse in the race's history with an overall prize purse of $34,500 in addition to $14,500 available to Americans as part of Pittsburgh's inaugural American Development Program.


Kogo looks to beat his 2013 event record of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 32 seconds on the hilly and scenic course. He faces stiff competition from fellow Kenyan Reuben Limaa who clocked a swift 1:00:52 at the 2013 Lago Maggiore Half Marathon. Ian Burrell tops the American list after completing the 2014 Chevron Houston Marathon
in a personal record 2:13:26.


Read the rest of the story on RunningUSA.org




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2014 State of the Sport - Part I: Non-Traditional Running Events


SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (April 27, 2014) - In 2010, Running USA published its first annual Half-Marathon Report because of the impressive growth in the 13.1 mile distance in the United States, and now, because of the explosive growth in another sector of the sport, we present our Non-Traditional Running Events Special Report. In just five years, the number of estimated finishers in non-traditional events has grown from low six figures in 2009 to a staggering 4 million in 2013, a nearly hard-to-believe 40-fold increase. In addition, a handful of mass participation adventure series in 2009 has rapidly expanded to more than 35 non-traditional or themed running series that included mud, color, foam, electric, zombie and even ugly sweater runs by 2013.



Across the country, themed races and obstacle events have attracted a loyal audience of fitness-minded people who want to be active, but not necessarily competitive; many just want to have fun, enjoy the camaraderie of others and focus more on the social, team-building aspect rather than serious competition. This proliferation of themed races appeals to nearly everyone and offers a unique twist to the straight-laced classic road races of the First Running Boom by providing participants a less-competitive atmosphere where they can focus on fitness, fun and the experience that they can and do share with friends and family; in addition to possibly contributing to a charitable cause.



Read the rest of the report summary on RunningUSA.org









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