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ARMY TEN-MILER 2012 SELLS OUT IN RECORD TIME

RJeditor — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:51:58 -0500

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

RJeditor — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:03:10 -0500

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

RJeditor — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:11:14 -0500

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.

Winning is Personal

RJeditor — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:48:12 -0500

By Richard Ferguson, Ph.D.
Running is the most primeval of all physical activities. Pre-historic man ran simply to survive through hunting and gathering, as well as fleeing from predators. For early man success through running simply meant living to see the sun rise on another day.

Today, success is certainly defined in a much different way. Unfortunately, in the sports world success is too often associated with winning and to most laymen, winning means finishing first. But do you really have to finish first to be a successful runner? I would say most certainly not.
Success is far too often associated with some particular outcome, such as a championship, trophy, or medal. For some, success may mean having great wealth, fame, or a position of power. All of these definitions of success are really external in their nature. By external I mean these things are what others, or society usually expect. Too often we have to look to other people to let us know if we are a success.

James, Sutton Win St. Jude Country Music Marathon

RJeditor — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:53:28 -0500

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.

Announcing Two Great USATF Southeast Region Championships…

RJeditor — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:48:14 -0500

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!

"5 Mile The Yellow Brick Road" Walk/Run

RJeditor — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:44:06 -0500

July 14, Roxboro, NC - "5 Mile The Yellow Brick Road" Walk/Run, 7:30am. Info: Mary Marcia Brown (302)650-8101, thestudiofitness@yahoo.com, www.5miletheyellowbrickroad.vpweb.com

Critters on the Trail

RJeditor — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:50:26 -0500

By Teri Saylor

Even if you have never ever been chased by a moose at an 8,000-foot altitude, it is probably not hard to understand why Carolyn Quarterman, of Cary, NC, was ready to channel her inner monkey as she frantically searched for a tree to climb on a sunny summer day last year when she encountered a mama moose on a trail in Centennial, WY.

“I was out on an eight-mile, scenic run on a dirt road,” Quarterman said. “Normally you would see deer and other animals, but nothing dangerous in the summer.”

But she knew a family of moose lived in the area and she knew the mother had recently given birth to twins, though no one had seen her in awhile.

On this day, the mama moose, on the lookout for intruders, spied Quarterman, and began trotting along behind her.

An article posted on the Animal Planet website advises humans to run to avoid getting trampled.

Max Siegel named CEO of USA Track & Field

RJeditor — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:35:07 -0500

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.”

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll St. Pete Half Marathon Generates $7.8 Million Economic Impact

RJeditor — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:53:49 -0500

Economic impact study reveals February half-marathon provided boost for tourism economy

Running USA wire
The inaugural Rock 'n' Roll St. Pete Half Marathon, which was held Feb. 12 at St. Petersburg, FL, produced $7.8 million in total economic impact, including more than $3.8 million in direct visitor spending, according to a study conducted by the San Diego State University Sports MBA program. The event was the second largest debut half-marathon in the United States this year according to Running USA.

"The positive feedback we have received from participants has been tremendous, exceeding our expectations for an inaugural event," said Dana Allen, Senior Vice President of Competitor Group, organizer of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. "Our goal as an organization was to establish a world class event and market St. Pete as a destination for runners. We know there is a great potential to expand far beyond the thousands of runners that descended upon St. Pete in February and we look forward to growing this great event in 2013."