ARMY TEN-MILER 2012 SELLS OUT IN RECORD TIME
Washington, DC – Another record-breaking milestone! The 2012 Army Ten-Miler (ATM) filled its 30,000 runner field in a record time. ATM officials said the 28th annual race shattered all previous race registration records for both the priority and general registrations. The race will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21 in Washington, DC at the Pentagon.
Priority registration, presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, opened May 1 for all U.S. service members and runners who have participated in seven or more ATM races. Approximately one-third of the total 30,000 race entries were reserved for priority registration on a first-come-first-serve basis. This year, priority registration sold out in less than 19 hours, exceeding last year’s record of three days.
The remaining two-thirds of the race entries became available to the general public on a first-come-first-serve basis May 15, which sold out in less than nine hours.
“The race continues to gain in popularity and sells out in record time year after year,” said Jim Vandak, race director. “We are genuinely grateful to all of our loyal runners for supporting the Army’s race. They are the true spirit of the sport.”
Southern women 1-2 in 25K championship
Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, 33, of Rome, GA, won the River Bank Run 25K in Grand Rapids, MI, Saturday, May 12, in the fastest time ever run by an American woman. The event was the USA 25K Championship. She finished in 1:24:37, breaking the USATF record set in 1986 by Joan Benoit-Samuelson. Finishing second was Lindsey Scherf of Fayetteville, NC, an assistant coach at Duke University, who finished in 1:25:13.
It was Cherobon-Bawcom's first-ever 25K, thus she laughingly said she set a PR. She had stomach cramps from mile four to eight but was able to hang on and said she felt great at 10 miles and pushed to the finish. She broke away from Scherf at about 14 miles.
Race official Greg Meyer, who was the elite runner coordinator, said the second-place run by Scherf "pushed Janet to the record." >
Cherobon-Bawcom's victory was profitable -- she received a total of $12,000. Of that, $7,000 was for being the American winner while $5,000 was for being the open winner. Add that to the previous week's second place 12K winnings at the Bloomsday race in Spokane, WA, of $9,500.
She described the weather conditions in Michigan as perfect, if a little humid.
RRCA’s Race Director Code of Ethics is very significant
By Bruce Morrison, Publisher
At the annual meeting of the Road Runners Club of America in Memphis, TN, the RRCA adopted a code of ethics for race directors. These ethics need to be applied to race promoters and organizers as well.
Organizations need to know who they are working with and check references on race promoters and organizers. Over the years Running Journal has received few serious complaints but there have been some significant issues. We’ve been burned a few times by race organizers who did not pay for advertising – that’s part of business and we recognize that – but when a community, perhaps even a charity race, and local sponsors have been burned, that’s another matter.
Announcing Two Great USATF Southeast Region Championships…
By Marlene Atwood, USATF Southeast Representative
As the Southeast Region Representative for USA Track & Field (USATF), I am very excited about our organization and the many opportunities it has to offer athletes today.
USATF is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF offers one of the most comprehensive championships programs of any sport governing body in the United States. Thousands of athletes representing a wide range of ages and abilities compete annually in Association, Regional and National Championship events.
The USATF Southeast Region (encompassing the Associations of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) is an active region offering opportunities to compete in association meets, as well as hosting regional and national meets. We’re active, we’re innovative and together we are growing the sport!
James, Sutton Win St. Jude Country Music Marathon
Sheryl Crow, Grammy award-winning artist, breaks 2 hours running first 13.1-mile race; Kiplagat, Thompson take ½ marathon; Rodney Atkins headlines evening concert; more than 30,000 runners at 13th edition
By Dan Cruz, Competitor Group
Running USA wire
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow joined more than 30,000 runners at the 2012 St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan. The first ambassador of the St. Jude Music Gives program, Crow ran the Nashville half-marathon in support of the New Hope Academy, finishing the 13.1-mile race in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 14 seconds.
Max Siegel named CEO of USA Track & Field
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Track & Field’s board of directors has selected Max Siegel to serve as CEO, President and Chair Stephanie Hightower announced Monday.
The board voted unanimously to hire Siegel after two CEO searches that took place over the course of 16 months. He will become the fourth CEO in the organization’s history when he assumes his duties on May 1 as part of a two-year contract. Chief Operating Officer Mike McNees had served as interim CEO since September, 2010.
“The search for our next CEO was a process that we believe will fundamentally change USA Track & Field,” Hightower said. “It forced our board to put into focus what our greatest needs and priorities are. And in the end, it brought us an executive in Max Siegel who blends a knowledge of our sport and its political considerations with an impressive record of success in the broader sports and entertainment markets.”
Melbourne Music Marathon Awarded USA Masters Championship by USATF
Event to host 40-plus national half-marathon championship through 2015
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The State Farm Melbourne Music Marathon Weekend has announced that USA Track & Field, the national governing body for track and field, long distance running and race walking in the United States, has awarded the event a three-year extension as host of its annual USA Masters Championship Half Marathon.
Melbourne's ½ Marathon has served as the USA Masters Championship (40 and over) since 2009 and will continue to do so through 2015.
"It has been an honor and a privilege for our race and community to host a national title race, and we couldn't be more excited to continue doing so for the next few years," said Melbourne Music Marathon Weekend race founder Mitch Varnes. "Our partnership with USATF has been a mutually advantageous one, and we are very pleased by this announcement."
Korir, Cherop sweat out wins in the 2012 Boston Marathon
by Jon Gugala
The biggest character in 2012 Boston Marathon was not in the star-studded lineups in the men and women's races, but the starting and finishing temps. With a beginning of 77 degrees and an end at 84, gone were the favorable conditions of last year that saw the top two fastest men's marathons ever. University of Louisville alumnus Wesley Korir and 2011 Boston third-place finisher Sharon Cherop, both of Kenya, were the men's and women's champions.
Entering the race, it was Geoffrey Mutai, the 2011 Boston and New York City marathons winner and owner of the fastest time ever at the distance (2:03:02), that was the man kept squarely in the sights of his competitors. And he would instigate the break of a lead pack going into the Newton Hills at 17 miles, winnowing the group down to seven.
Faster, Flatter Course Approved for Lady Speed Stick® Women's Half Marathon Nashville
NASHVILLE, TENN - The Lady Speed Stick® Women's Half Marathon presented by Publix to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America announced the City of Nashville's approval for a faster, flatter course for its third annual event on September 22, 2012.
According to Dawna Stone, founder of the Lady Speed Stick® Women's Half Marathon Series, "Nashville is a hilly town and we wanted to make some tweaks to our course to create an even better race-day experience for both our first-time participants and our experienced runners. Our new course eliminates the two largest hills and adds some great additional scenery and landmarks. I know our women runners will love it!"
Examining the Louisville Marathon
By Tracy Harris
The number of marathons in the U.S. has risen nearly 70 percent in the past decade. Yet, some big cities still don't have big marathons. Louisville is one of those. Sure, it's not a major metropolitan area, but with a population of 1.3 million in the city limits and large bedroom communities outside the city, it holds its own.
The city has a big half marathon in April — the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon — with some 13,000 runners last year. The marathon held concurrently with the mini, though, only drew 2,000.
It's an oddity. Race directors have tried to encourage more marathons, although perhaps half-heartedly. For a race half the distance, runners still pay almost the same registration fee.
Still, race organizers must put time and effort into the full — certifying the course (it changed last year), finding volunteers, paying for police at intersections.
