Thursday, April 21, 2011

JUST RUN! Just Kids 3K, Pacific Grove, CA, April 30

Running USA wire 32, April 21, 2011
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In this edition:
Grandma's Marathon, Twin Cities In Motion Offer $10,000 Bonus for Marathon Sweep
Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Announced by runDisney
13.1® Marathon Series to Award Prize Money
MYLAPS Timing Company Establishes Donation Effort for Japan's Recovery

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join Running USA and have your organization's event featured here.

Easter Sunday - Rise 'n' Shine 5K, St. Paul, MN, April 24
The American Odyssey Relay, Gettysburg, PA, April 29
Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon, Louisville, KY, Apr 30
Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, Nashville, TN, Apr 30
Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Apr 30
Get in Gear 10K, Minneapolis, MN, April 30
JUST RUN! Just Kids 3K, Pacific Grove, CA, April 30
Eugene 5K & Kids Run, Eugene, OR, April 30
Blue Cross Broad Street Run, Philadelphia, PA, May 1
Flying Pig Marathon, Cincinnati, OH, May 1
5th Eugene Marathon, Eugene, OR, May 1
Big Sur International Marathon, Carmel, CA, May 1
I-Drive 5K, Orlando, FL, May 7
Wisconsin Marathon, Kenosha, WI, May 7
XTERRA Malibu Creek Xduro, Malibu, CA, May 7
Santa Barbara Wine Country Half, Santa Ynez, CA, May 7
5th Mother's Day 5K, St. Paul, MN, May 8
Kirkland Half Marathon & 5K, Kirkland, WA, May 8

Grandma's Marathon, Twin Cities In Motion Offer $10,000 Bonus for Marathon Sweep

Only two marathoners - Andrew Musuva, Buzunesh Deba - have done the Minnesota Double in the same calendar year



DULUTH / ST. PAUL, Minn. - (April 20, 2011) - Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. and Twin Cities In Motion have announced an incentive bonus for any runner winning both of Minnesota's largest marathons in 2011. A $10,000 bonus will be awarded to anyone capturing the Open division titles at this year's Grandma's Marathon (June 18) and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (October 2).



"We are excited to partner with Twin Cities In Motion to offer this doubleheader bonus. Not only will it provide an element of added excitement to both events, but we feel this type of monetary reward is an appropriate way to recognize someone achieving this unique accomplishment," said Grandma's Marathon Executive Director Scott Keenan.

"We are proud to support the sport of running with this incentive. Together, we have 65 years of race experience and we continue to find new and innovative ways to reward professional runners," said Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman.



Historically, only one male and one female have earned Grandma's Marathon and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon sweep victories in the same calendar year.

Kenya's Andrew Musuva claimed both titles in 1999 when he won June's Grandma's Marathon in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 21 seconds and completed the sweep at October's Twin Cities Marathon in 2:14:41.



Last year, Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba became the only female to accomplish the feat with winning times of 2:31:35 and 2:27:23, respectively.



Both races are celebrating milestone events this year - June 18 will be Grandma's Marathon's 35th running and October 2 marks the 30th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a Duluth, Minn.-based non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the annual running of Grandma's Marathon and its supporting events, including the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, William A. Irvin 5K, Whipper Snapper Races for Kids and Essentia Health Fitness and Health Expo.



The organization also administers the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), which assists with the promotion and development of youth athletics in a five-county region in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The YAF has contributed more than $425,000 to area youth athletic programs with the help of annual fundraising efforts including the Fitger's 5K and Park Point 5-Miler. For more information, go to: www.grandmasmarathon.com



Twin Cities In Motion, (formerly Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.) is the non-profit organization that organizes running events throughout the year, including the Valentine's Day TC 5K, 100% Irish For A Day TC 5K & TC 10 Mile, Medtronic TC 1 Mile, Twins Territory TC 4K, Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon, the TC 5K, TC 10K & Medtronic TC Family Events, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, Medtronic TC 10 Mile, all related events and Medtronic TC Kids Marathon program, as a community service for the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Visit www.tcmevents.org for more information.


Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Announced by runDisney

January 2012 event weekend at Disneyland Resort to celebrate women runners amid fairy wings and pixie dust; fifth runDisney event - and second showcasing women's health, fitness and active lifestyles; registration now open



ANAHEIM, Calif. - (April 19, 2011) - Building on the near-instant success of its Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort, runDisney is staging a second women-specific race - the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend - in early 2012 at Disneyland Resort, giving women and girls nationwide another opportunity to celebrate health, fitness and active lifestyles. After weeks of anticipation fueled by a series of clues from Disney, the Tinker Bell event was officially revealed Tuesday at a news conference at Disneyland Resort attended by celebrities and Anaheim city officials.



The Tinker Bell Half Marathon, hosted by the City of Anaheim and Disneyland Resort, will take runners on a 13.1-mile trek through the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks and pass by several City of Anaheim landmarks. The course will be filled with music, entertainment, Disney characters, runners in colorful Tinker Bell costumes and, of course, pixie dust, and will finish at Disneyland. Runners will receive a new Tinker Bell "wings'' medal.



"We're proud to be the home of the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend," said Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait. "It is events like this that give a city heart and character. I'm happy to welcome the thousands of runners and their friends and families to Anaheim."



As with the four current runDisney signature events, the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, Jan. 27-29, 2012, will feature a variety of activities, including the Neverland Family Fun Run 5K. There will also be a health and fitness expo featuring the latest running merchandise, products, apparel and guest speakers - all tailored for women - creating a weekend of camaraderie and wellness, plus a pinch of Tinker Bell's trademark sassiness and sense of adventure.



"'Women runners' and 'half-marathons' are part of a growing and popular trend within the running world - and that's evident by the rapid success of our Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World,'' said Kathleen Duran, Disney Sports Endurance Manager. "This new Tinker Bell event at Disneyland embraces that trend and provides thousands of women another unique opportunity to spread their fairy wings and showcase women's fitness, health and an active lifestyle in a relaxed, fun and family vacation environment."



Megyn Price, star of the hit CBS sitcom "Rules of Engagement", attended the announcement along with Disney California Adventure and Guest Services Vice President Mary Niven and Mayor Tom Tait. Price was the first person to sign up to run the inaugural race.



"The idea of bringing my family to Disney and running a half-marathon with thousands of other women was really appealing for me," said Price. "Being active and healthy is important for women, so I think the whole weekend is going to be a fun and unique experience for me and my family."



With the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, Disneyland Resort will be hosting two of runDisney's five signature events. Disneyland currently hosts the Disneyland Half Marathon during Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 2-4 in 2011). In all, more than 10,000 runners are expected to participate in the inaugural Tinker Bell event, making it one of the nation's largest endurance races geared toward women.



Registration for the first-ever Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend is open. Registration is currently $120 for the half-marathon ($130 after June 12, 2011, and $140 after Sept. 11, 2011) and $50 for the 5K event. A portion of the registration fees will be donated to the Anaheim Community Foundation. Runners can register for the Tinker Bell event and any other runDisney race online at rundisney.com.



About runDisney
RunDisney is a series of half-marathon and marathon events that provide runners unique opportunities to run 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 at Walt Disney World Resort by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Lady Foot Locker in February and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in September. 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



13.1® Marathon Series to Award Prize Money

Nationwide series offers more than $53,000 in total prize money including Series championship in Miami on March 4, 2012



DALLAS - (April 19, 2011) - US Road Sports & Entertainment Group (USRS), owners and operators of the ING Miami Marathon, Publix Georgia Marathon, Chicago Half Marathon, New Jersey Marathon and the 13.1 Marathon® Series, has announced the awarding of prize money at the remaining stops of the 13.1 Marathon® Series in 2011 and the Los Angeles stop at the beginning of 2012.



Culminating with a purse of more than $29,000 at the 13.1® Miami Beach in 2012, USRS will award a total of $3500 per event to the top three runners at 13.1 events, as well as $29,200 in prize money for the Series championship to be held in Miami Beach on March 4, 2012.



At each 13.1® event, the prize money breakdown will offer a total prize money purse of $3500 distributed as $1750 per gender ($1000, $500 and $250).



The winners of each 13.1® event in 2011 and the 13.1® Los Angeles in 2012 will be invited to compete in the Series championship event - Miami Beach 2012 - and receive a complimentary registration. Other invitees will be determined by completion of a 2011 13.1® event with a qualifying time under 1:12 for the men or under 1:22 for the women. Additionally, if a runner has a qualifying time under 1:05 for the men and under 1:10 for the women in any non-13.1 Marathon® Series event, then they can qualify for the championship event and prize money in Miami Beach.



The Series championship - Miami Beach March 4, 2012 - offers total prize money of $29,200 distributed as $14,600 per gender ($13,100, $1000 and $500)



"We expect the 13.1 Marathon® Series to become the destination not only for the everyday runner, but also for the best half-marathoners in United States and the world," saids US Road Sports & Entertainment Group's CEO Greg Laird. "This money, combined with the bonus for breaking a World or U.S. record, solidifies this series as the preeminent destination for competitive half-marathon runners, and provides a true national series for them to participate."



The 2011 13.1 Marathon® Series spans the U.S., and began in Los Angeles in January along the shores of the Santa Monica Bay and the world famous Venice Beach area. 13.1 Marathon® Series has also visited Miami Beach with a now famous beach party and New York City in the shadow of the Unispere in Flushing Meadow Park.

Upcoming races include:


* 13.1® Chicago - June 4: starts and finishes at the Historic South Shore Cultural Center (SSCC) on Chicago's south side. The SSCC offers beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline.
* 13.1® Minneapolis - August 21: features a challenging and scenic point to point course highlighting downtown, the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Parkway and Lake Nokomis.
* 13.1® Atlanta - October 2: course to be determined.
* 13.1® Dallas - October 23: features a dramatic downtown start amongst the "all hat and all cattle" iconic Big D skyline.
* 13.1® Fort Lauderdale - November 13: offers an amazing sunrise on a scenic and friendly course. Start near Port Everglades and the Broward Convention Center.
* 13.1 Los Angeles - January 15, 2012: California Dreamin' on a Winters Day. Runners are treated to beautiful Southern California weather on a course that starts right along the Pacific Ocean on the Venice Boardwalk and then a very Flat and Fast course finishes up in the Winward Traffic Circle in Venice Beach.



The Dallas-based US Road Sports, conceptualized and launched the national series of half-marathons and 5Ks, which service some of the top running markets in the country. According to Running USA, the half-marathon has been the fastest growing distance in the U.S. since 2003. For more information, go to: 131marathon.com



MYLAPS Timing Company Establishes Donation Effort for Japan's Recovery

Help get Japan back in the race with transponder purchase



To contribute to the reconstruction of Japan after the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami, MYLAPS, the leader in research and development in sports timing, has started a fundraising effort by offering transponders that include a donation for Japan.



The donation will be charged by purchasing a transponder that will be tripled in price by MYLAPS with proceeds donated to the Japan fund.



This fund will be used to help MYLAPS customers such as organizations and race tracks in Japan that have suffered from the earthquake and tsunami. The fund will be used to replace damaged timing equipment and to get them back in the race.



For more information including the donation page, go to: www.mylaps.com/index.php/us_eng/Websites/corporate/ganbare_japan




Contact Information


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




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