Monday, October 24, 2011

Running USA wire 87, October 23, 2011

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In this edition:
Ferguson, Hill Win Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Event Steals the Show in Brooklyn
Mayor's High Five Award Nominations Open for 2011 Philadelphia Marathon
Publix Georgia Marathon Awarded 2012 RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

Runnona 5K, Lake Nona, FL, October 29
Miles for Megan 5K, Cockeysville, MD, October 29
Healthy Kids Fun Run, Arlington, VA, October 29
Blue Moon Wicked 10K, Virginia Beach, VA, October 29
Traci Zeller Designs Race for Fetal Hope, Kannapolis, NC, Oct 29
Toronto Women's 8K & 5K, Toronto, CAN, October 29
Halloween Fearless 5K, St. Paul, MN, October 29
5th Ski Run Road Challenge 12 & 3 Milers, Ruidoso, NM, Oct 29
Healdsburg Wine Country Half-Marathon, Healdsburg, CA, Oct 29
Scarecrow Classic 5K, Ellicott City, MD, October 30
Marine Corps Marathon & MCM10K, Arlington, VA, Oct 30
Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5 Mile, NY, NY, October 30
Hairy Gorilla Half & Squirrelly Six Mile, Albany, NY, Oct 30
Atlanta Marathon & Relay, GA, October 30
Halloween Hustle, Denver, CO, October 30
Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles 1/2 Marathon, CA, October 30
Competitor Arizona 5K & 10K, Phoenix, AZ, October 30
Running USA 2012: The Industry Conference, Houston, TX, Jan 15-17
"Passing the Torch: Running Toward the Future"





Ferguson, Hill Win Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon

Boit, Dunne half-marathon champions; near perfect fall running weather, record field of 21,250 highlights inaugural Rock 'n' Roll event; more than $1.2 million raised for local charity Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK); Sugar Ray headlines finish line concert

By Dan Cruz, Competitor Group



ST. LOUIS - (October 23, 2011) - For the thousands of spectators lining the downtown course of the inaugural Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½ Marathon benefiting TASK, Sunday morning's race meant party. For the first time in the city's history, a running event was transformed into an entertainment extravaganza.

More than 40 local bands played on 26 stages, curbside crowds waved personalized signs, local high school cheerleading squads chanted and relatives applauded their athletes who started a 26.2 or 13.1-mile voyage just after sunrise.



"Today was awesome," said Kirkwood-resident Amy Landes, who finished in second place in the women's marathon. "It was such a great course with lots of crowd support, running through neat little neighborhoods. The weather was absolutely perfect, I wasn't sure how much I'd be into the Rock 'n' Roll atmosphere, but it's amazing how the bands can pick you up when you're out there."



Running in ideal, mid-60 degree temperatures, Cory Ferguson of Indianapolis, Ind. and Stephanie Hill of Pevely, Mo. took home marathon victories. Ferguson, 30, running his third career marathon, broke the tape in 2 hours, 29 minutes and 22 seconds to win his first marathon.



"It was a great race, with a challenging course. At mile 14, I was dragging a little and if it wasn't for those bands and cheerleaders encouraging me along the route, I'm not sure if I would have finished," said Ferguson. "Winning this marathon is the greatest accomplishment of my running career."



Hill, 28, crossed the finish line in 2:58:15. Her time was more than seven minutes ahead of runner-up Landes, who clocked 3:05:51.



Former University of Arkansas All-American Josphat Boit of Kenya, 27, won the half-marathon in 1:08:28, while 28-year-old Amanda Dunne of Columbia, Mo. won the women's race in 1:20:09.



Conditions on the scenic St. Louis course were ideal for marathon running on a partly cloudy day with almost no wind. A record number of 21,250 people registered for the event, attracting entrants from all 50 states and 25 countries. The band Sugar Ray rocked the finish line concert.



Through the race, Solutia raised $1.2 million for Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK), a nonprofit organization that provides accessible sports for St. Louis children with special needs.



The second Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½ Marathon is set for Sunday, October 21, 2012.



Inaugural Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon
St. Louis, MO, Sunday, October 23, 2011



MEN
1) Cory Ferguson, 30, Indianapolis, IN, 2:29:22, $1000
2) Arturs Bareikis, 25, Oak Forest, IL, 2:29:24, $500
3) Eric Wallor, 28, Palatine, IL, 2:29:41



WOMEN
1) Stephanie Hill, 28, Pevely, MO, 2:58:15, $1000
2) Amy Landes, 39, Kirkwood, MO, 3:05:51, $500
3) Lauren Perlmutter, 21, St. Louis, MO, 3:08:43, $250



Inaugural Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis ½ Marathon

MEN
1) Josphat Boit, 27, Kenya, 1:08:28, $1000
2) Benson Chesang, 29, Kenya, 1:08:51, $500
3) Matthew Lawder, 22, Manchester, MO, 1:10:07, $250



WOMEN
1) Amanda Dunne, 28, Columbia, MO, 1:20:09, $1000
2) Jessica Koster, 23, St. Louis, MO, 1:21:46, $500
3) Juli Koenegstein, 24, Stillwater, OK, 1:22:09, $250



Full results, photos and more at: www.runrocknroll.competitor.com






Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Event Steals the Show in Brooklyn

Locals sweep finish in men's and women's 10K races through scenic Prospect Park; Postelles headline finish line festival in the Neathermead; New York's Rock 'n' Roll debut attracts nearly 6,000 runners

By Amana Miyamae, Competitor Group



BROOKLYN, N.Y. - (October 22, 2011) - Declared the "the coolest city on the planet" by GQ Magazine, the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll New York 10K kicked off in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Saturday morning to the jams of local DJs and tremendous crowd support lining the two-loop course. The Bronx's Ketema Nigusse of Ethiopia took first place in the men's race, charging through the finish line in 29 minutes, 2 seconds, while countrywoman Bekelech Bedada of New York City triumphed in the women's race, crossing the finish line in 34:08.



"It was a beautiful, picture-perfect day to go for a run in one of New York's most iconic parks," said Bouker Pool, Senior Vice-President of Competitor Group, which owns and operates the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. "We are truly grateful for the support and the partnerships that we've been able to form with the local community to organize our first event in the city, specifically the Prospect Park Alliance and Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz for welcoming Rock 'n' Roll into the tri-state area."



The lead men's pack stayed together after the gun, with a group of six runners keeping the 4:40 pace steady through the first loop of the course. After wrapping around the park once and passing by the start line at the Grecian Shelter, the eventual first, second and third place winners broke from the pack and charged up a slight hill at mile 4. Shortly after the four-mile mark, Nigusee dropped his two countrymen Abiyot Worku and Derese Deniboba and he kept the lead through the finish line in just over 29 minutes, while Worku was runner-up in 29:11.



"As a member of the West Side Runners, I'm not new to 10Ks and have won several," said Nigusse, 27, who ran his best 10k time of the year. "But the course was beautiful and I liked the music a lot. I'm happy to bring in a win here today."



The women's champion Bedada, 21, ran in front of the other women from the gun, and her only close competitor in the event was Alemtsehay Misganaw, who took second place. Bedada came through the finish with a time of 34:08, with Misganaw finishing seventeen seconds later in 34:25.



"I've won other races (most recently the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon) so this isn't my first time on the podium," said Bedada. "I liked the course and I loved the music, it kind of felt like I was dancing as I ran."



More than 200 charity runners participated in the inaugural event and collectively raised more than $70,000 for various charitable organizations. Of note at the event was Team ASPCA and the Silver Shield Foundation, which provides educational funding for children and spouses of fallen New York City police and firefighters.



Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll New York 10K
New York, NY, Saturday, October 22, 2011



MEN
1) Ketema Nigusse (ETH), 29:02, $1000
2) Abiyot Worku (ETH), 29:11
3) Derese Deniboba (ETH), 29:26
4) Christian Hesch (USA / CA), 29:50 (Cuesta College; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA)



WOMEN
1) Bekelech Bedada (ETH), 34:08, $1000
2) Alemtsehay Misganaw (ETH), 34:25
3) Serkalem Abrha (ETH), 34:46



Complete results, photos and more at: www.runrocknroll.competitor.com






Mayor's High Five Award Nominations Open for 2011 Philadelphia Marathon

Mayor Michael A. Nutter to honor outstanding competitor who crosses the starting line for second annual award


PHILADELPHIA - (October 21, 2011) - Philadelphia Marathon participants have become accustomed to seeing Mayor Michael A. Nutter at the race starting line, high-fiving enthusiastic runners as they set out on the 26.2-mile course. This year, the second Mayor's High Five Award will recognize a participant whose journey to the start line at the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 20, is as much a victory as it is to cross the finish.



"The High Five Award will add to the race excitement by honoring the training and hard work it takes for participants to get to the competition," said Mayor Nutter. "That might mean overcoming obstacles, making plans and setting goals, competing for a loved one, raising money for charity, or some other accomplishment. In the nominating process, we are looking forward to hearing participants' compelling and courageous stories that motivated them to join the race."



Nominations for the Mayor's High Five Award should be 500 words or less and submitted to HighFiveAward@gmail.com, now through 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, October 31, 2011. All nominations will be reviewed by the Mayor's High Five Award Committee. More information is available on the event website at www.philadelphiamarathon.com.

All candidates must be willing to make their story public in the media. Mayor Nutter will announce the recipient of the High Five Award at a news conference that kicks off Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, to be held Friday, November 18, 2011. The recipient will be featured in the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend Guide distributed to the participants and the media. The Mayor also will acknowledge the 2011 Mayor's High Five Award recipient at the Philadelphia Marathon starting line on the morning of Sunday, November 20. The Philadelphia Marathon begins at 7:00am at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.



Anyone can nominate a 2011 Philadelphia Marathon participant who is registered for the full marathon, and participants are permitted to nominate themselves.



"In the spirit of the High Five Award, we hope that five minutes before the start of the Philadelphia Marathon, participants will join us with raised hands, celebrating their accomplishments, too," Mayor Nutter said. "I'll be there at the starting line to cheer on the participants with high-fives of support."



The first-ever Mayor's High Five Award was given to runner Kathleen Wrigley, from Fargo, North Dakota, in 2010. Kathleen Wrigley, originally from Philadelphia and a mother of three, suffered from two brain aneurysms, the most recent in 2009. Kathleen underwent an invasive surgery that saved her life, but left her without half of her vision. Kathleen was legally blind and unable to do many of the simple tasks she once took for granted, relying on the help of others to drive to the grocery store and take her kids to school. Slowly, Kathleen worked to regain her independence and from the beginning, her goal was to be able to run again. Last year, with the help of a guide, she ran the Philadelphia Marathon to raise awareness about brain aneurysms and early detection, as well as in honor and memory of her brother Danny Boyle, a fallen Philadelphia police officer.



The City of Philadelphia, Running's Best Host City, will welcome 25,000 runners and more than 60,000 spectators at the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend. In addition to the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 20, Race Weekend features three other races - the Half Marathon also on Sunday, as well as the Rothman Institute 8K and the Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 19. Other activities to welcome runners, families, friends, spectators, businesses and residents include a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo; a free course map complete with retail discounts and promotions, and more than 20 spectator cheer zones. Runners pass many of Philadelphia's famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston Marathon qualifier.



Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and excitement by visiting www.philadelphiamarathon.com.





Publix Georgia Marathon Awarded 2012 RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship

Accolade marks fifth consecutive championship honor from national running organization


ATLANTA - (October 18, 2011) - The Publix Georgia Marathon's streak continues. US Road Sports, owners and operators of the race, have announced the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has awarded the event the 2012 Southern Region Marathon Championship. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Atlanta event has earned state or southern region championship honors. The race received RRCA Georgia Marathon Championship Race honors in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship honors in 2009.



The Publix Georgia Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at 7:00am EST at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.



"When assessing a race, we look at what a race should provide to runners competing for Southern Region Marathon Championship honors," said RRCA Georgia State Representative Mark Ward. "For the fifth consecutive year, the RRCA has deemed the Publix Georgia Marathon deserving of a championship title. Earning this award, while solidifying Publix as its title sponsor, speaks highly of the race and personnel involved."



"We are excited to receive this prestigious honor from the RRCA with the Publix Georgia Marathon being selected as the Southern Region Marathon Championship Race in 2012," said US Road Sports & Entertainment Group's CEO Greg Laird. "We are privileged to have the RRCA recognize our tireless efforts with this championship distinction, and we know the race would not receive this recognition without the dedication of the runners and volunteers who make the event a great experience for everyone involved."



The Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon have become an annual March tradition for distance runners since 2007. More than 18,000 runners participated in last year's events, and US Road Sports continues to offer participants many reasons to return in 2012. Participants will receive a customized running tech shirt, a finisher's medal and a Publix drawstring goodie bag.



The 26.2-mile and 13.1-mile courses will travel through metro Atlanta's most interesting and historic areas, including the Sweet Auburn district, Inman Park, Decatur, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland and Midtown areas. Along the way, runners will pass landmarks, including the King Historic Site, Carter Center, four college campuses and Piedmont Park.



Publix Georgia Marathon race weekend will also provide participants a chance to receive health and fitness tips and purchase running gear at the Publix Georgia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Friday-Saturday, March 16-17.



For more information, or to sign up, visit: georgiamarathon.com





Contact Information


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




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