| 02/01/2012 01:03 AM |
| Record-breaking Red Nose Run |
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Kicking off Alabama’s RRCA State Championships was the Red Nose Run 10 Mile Championship on January 7, 2012. The event was held in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood, AL. A record number of participants signed up for the three events; 1,717 in all for the 10 Mile, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. Warm temperatures for January and drizzle rain that subsided about 10 minutes before the start of the 8th Annual Red Nose Run 10 Mile did not dampen the turnout for the Alabama 10 Mile State Championship. There were 773 registered and 705 finishers in Alabama’s first RRCA Championship of 2012. There were four new Alabama State 10 Mile Records broken: The 10 Mile RRCA State Championship winners are: Thanks, to Championship Racing and Trish Portuese, Race Director, for producing an outstanding and successful event, which, along with Red Nose Run 5K, benefits Ronald McDonald Charities of Alabama. |
| 01/25/2012 11:45 PM |
| Register for Human Kinetics webinar, “XI Commandments of Marathoning” |
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Richard Benyo, author of Timeless Running Wisdom, and Human Kinetics will present “XI Commandments of Marathoning” on Friday, Feb. 24th at 12:00 PM (Central Standard Time) In the days of the First Running Boom, newbies were eager to learn the Rules of the Road when it came to running and especially marathoning. There was no Internet in those days, so new runners learned at the smelly feet of veteran runners. Where to line up at the start of a race; how much mileage per week is most effective; what to eat the night before a big race, etc. Today runners are so overloaded with information in all phases of their existence, that it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to running and racing. In this presentation we will review 11 blind alleys down which no marathoner should run. Primarily keyed to new marathoners. Title: XI Commandments of Marathoning Space is limited. About the Presenter |
| 01/25/2012 10:02 PM |
| Enjoy Video Segments from the Outstanding Runner Friendly Community Press Conference |
Lynchburg Mayor Speaks About Winning the 2011 Outstanding RFC AwardJean Knaack Outlines What Makes a Runner Friendly CommunityBill Gray Introduces Ricky Flynn - 2012 Olympic Trials - Marathon Finisher |
| 01/23/2012 11:23 PM |
| RRCA Announces 2011 Outstanding Runner Friendly Community |
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Lynchburg has shown that it meets, and exceeds, the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, civic backing, and local business support for the sport of running. Their infrastructure fosters physical activity in a safe environment; a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport; and they create and maintain positive relationships between the running community and local government. View the ABC News coverage “Lynchburg is a shining example of the positive benefits running can bring to a community when everyone is on the same page,” said RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack. “While we are proud of all of Lynchburg has been home to the Lynchburg Road Runners Club (LRRC) and the “Virginia 10-Miler” since 1974. “The Festival of Races” offers a youth one mile fun run, a four mile race, and a four mile walk, in addition to the 10-Miler. The LRRC offers several informational clinics and seminars related to running and wellness. These clinics and seminars resulted from partnering with YMCA of Central Virginia, Centra Health, The Orthopedic Center of Central Virginia, and Pilates to Breathe. Lynchburg has two fantastic park systems: Blackwater Creek Natural Area and Peaks View Park. The city currently supports eight miles of paved trails and 15 miles of natural trails for running, walking, biking, roller blading, etc. Residents even use these trails to commute from residential areas to the downtown business and government area. In October 2010, the Mayor’s Youth Council created the first ever “Lighten Up Lynchburg Walk for Childhood Obesity” event. The youth running initiatives aim to engage the youth of the city and include the Lynchburg Road Runners Summer Track Series, Peaks View Pacers running club, and YMCA Achieve youth running program. Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Joan Foster, Mayor; Jonathan Perrotto, President of Lynchburg Road Runners Club; Elena Edwards, COO of Genworth Financial; Catherine Mosley, External Communications & PR, AREVA; Susan Brandt, Communications/Marketing, Centra Health; and R. Sackett Wood, President & CEO, Moore & Giles. Learn more about the program, including detailed information about Lynchburg and all of the 2011 Runner Friendly Communities at http://www.rrca.org/programs/runner-friendly-community/official/. About RRCA: The mission of the RRCA is to promote the development and growth of running clubs and running events throughout the country and to support the common interests of runners of all abilities during all stages in life. Through the RRCA, we provide a national infrastructure for the development of adult and youth running clubs and events that have boomed into a robust sporting activity. For more information contact William Dyson, program coordinator, at . |
| 01/18/2012 08:00 PM |
| RRCA National Race Shirt Contest - Prove You Had the Best Shirt in 2011 |
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**The race shirt must have the RRCA logo on it to be considered for judging** All entries should be mailed to the RRCA National Office at 1501 Lee Hwy, Ste 140, Arlington, VA, 22209 by February 15, 2012. Please include the name of the event, event date, location, host club, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number with the shirt. The 2012 RRCA Convention attendees will vote on the finalists to select the 2011 RRCA National Race Shirt Winner, and the winning shirt will be announced at the 2012 RRCA National Running Awards Banquet. The contest is sponsored by Sport Science, and the winning event will receive a prize pack from our sponsor. |
| 01/14/2012 03:57 AM |
| Keflezighi and Flanagan Win at Olympic Trials Marathon |
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From USA Track & Field
Keflezighi’s performance (Mammoth Lakes, Calif) came only 69 days after his last marathon, where he also ran a then personal best time of 2:09:13 to place sixth at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon. The 2009 ING New York City Marathon winner and 2004 Olympic silver medalist became the first man to win both the U.S. Olympic Trials and the New York City Marathon in his career. At nearly 37 years old, he is the oldest man to win the Olympic Marathon Trials. Defending Olympic Trials champion Ryan Hall (Flagstaff, Ariz) led much of the race en route to securing his second Olympic berth. Hall set a torrid pace early, with a projected finish of 2:06 that held up through the half-marathon mark. Wind and leg fatigue slowed Hall’s pace, as he shook his arms out regularly, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from again making the Olympic marathon team as finished second in 2:09:30. Abdi Abdirahman (Tucson, Ariz.) turned heads in the lead pack. Entering the Trials with the 14th-fastest qualifying time, Abdi hadn’t run under 2:14 since setting his personal best of 2:08:56 in 2006. Soldiering through a year and a half of injury, Abdirahman finished third in 2:09:42 to clock his fastest marathon since 2006 and make his fourth Olympic Team at age 34. Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.), the top American marathoner at the 2008 Olympics, knelt at the finish with his head in his hands as he was 4th in 2:09:55. Ritzenhein had fallen off from Keflezighi, Hall and Abdirahman at approximately the 18-mile mark, and at one point lost sight of the leaders, but he rallied to finish only eight seconds behind Abdirahman. Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) led the chase pack through much of the race and held his position as other men fell off the back of the pack to place fifth in 2:11:06. Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) bettered the women’s Olympic Trials Marathon record by two minutes and forty-seven seconds in her Olympic Trials marathon debut - just the second marathon of her career. Flanagan was in the lead pack throughout the race, but did not step forward as the clear leader until the 21st mile once the lead group of three was clearly set. Flanagan exchanged the lead with Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) several times before surging ahead at mile 24 to run away with the lead. Her winning time was a personal best by nearly 3 minutes. Davila on Saturday added the word Olympian to her growing resume. Davila led portions of the race from five miles on before dueling with Flanagan in miles 22 through 24. Once Flanagan took the lead for good, Davila held on to finish in 2:25:55, only 18 seconds back. The 2007 World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000 meters, Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) claimed her first spot on the Olympic Marathon squad by finishing third in 2:26:06 After not competing in 2010 due to maternity, this is Goucher’s second marathon in nine months after her 2:24:26 showing at the 2011 Boston Marathon. Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) appeared to be the last runner dropped by the top three as she fell back around 16 miles, but moments later she charged ahead to take the lead. However, by mile 20 she could no longer hold her position and fell back for good to finish in fourth in 2:27:17. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom finished fifth in 2:29:45, a nearly eight minute PR. RRCA Road Scholar SpotlightCongratulations to the following RRCA Road Scholar grant recipients that finished the Olympic Trials - Marathon. In the men’s race, Brett Gotcher (2008 Scholar) finished 5th followed by James Carney (2005 Scholar) in 9th place. Mike Morgan (2005 Scholar) finished 17th followed by Patrick Smyth (2010 Scholar) in 22nd place, Stephan Shay (2010 Scholar) in 34th place, Tyler McCandless (2011 Scholar) in 50th place, Clint Verron (2001 Scholar) in 67th place, and Trent Briney (2005 Scholar). In the women’s race, Deena Kastor (1997 Scholar) finished in 6th place followed by Michelle Frey (2007 Scholar) in 22nd place.
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| 01/11/2012 01:08 AM |
| RRCA Roads Scholars Entered in the Olympic Trials Marathon on Saturday |
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Arlington, VA - The RRCA would like to wish the following RRCA Roads Scholars the best of luck at the Olympic Trials - Marathon on Saturday: Stephan Shay, Patrick Smyth, Josh Moen, James Carney, Brett Gotcher, Jeffrey Eggleston, Matthew Gabrielson, Tyler McCandless, Clint Verron, Mike Morgan, Trent Briney, Meghan Peyton, Stephanie Rothstein, Deena Kastor, Michelle Frey, Devon Crosby-Helms, and Lucinda Smith. WATCH: Saturday, January 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m. EST on NBC Visit the Olympic Trials Marathon website for all details and follow the weekend events on the RRCA’s Facebook page. |
| 01/10/2012 01:16 AM |
| “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime TV Welcomes RRCA and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation |
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Make sure to tune in to BrandStar Entertainment’s special ‘My Health’ edition of The Balancing Act on January, 16th at 7:00am (ET/PT) as they air on Lifetime Television. Eat right, stay active and maintain a healthy weight, it sounds like a simple concept, but maybe we need a little help taking it from idea to reality. Joining BrandStar Entertainment’s popular morning show, The Balancing Act on Lifetime, is Lisa Gable from the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Jean Knaack from the Road Runners Club of America. Make sure to tune in to BrandStar Entertainment’s special ‘My Health’ edition of The Balancing Act on January, 16th at 7:00am (ET/PT) as they air on Lifetime Television. In the ‘My Health’ series on The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV, Lisa and Jean will talk about some programs and concepts that work towards getting and staying—healthy. They’ll also educate The Balancing Act Lifetime viewers about physical activity for the whole family and the importance of staying fit to keep the weight off. “We’re excited to join up with The Road Runners Club of America. They have a couple of initiatives that we like partnering on, like Energy Balance 101 and Together Counts™,” Lisa says. “We welcome this opportunity to appear on The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV to help educate viewers on our joint efforts, and common goals,” Lisa adds. “The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is working hard to teach kids how to maintain a healthy weight. We believe that fit kids grow up to become fit young adults.” Make sure to join BrandStar Entertainment’s The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV to see how much fun running and living an active lifestyle really can be. Tune in January, 16th at 7:00am (ET/PT) to learn more. About “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime Television About BrandStar Entertainment |
| 01/04/2012 08:30 PM |
| Human Kinetics Invites RRCA Members and Coaches to Join the Free Webinar by Pete Pfitzinger |
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What: Free webinar by Pete Pfitzinger Pete Pfitzinger, a two-time Olympic marathoner, exercise physiologist, coach and co-author of Advanced Marathoning, provides insights on how to develop your marathon training program to reach your potential. In this free webinar, Pete provides details on the right balance of training to optimize your marathon performance, including long runs, tempo runs, marathon pace runs, VO2 max training, speed training and recovery runs. The session will wrap up with a discussion of how to taper your marathon training over the last few weeks so you are fit and fresh for a personal best. This webinar will be useful for any marathoner who wants to improve their performance. It is also a good opportunity to earn one hour of continuing education for RRCA Certified Coaches. About the presenter: Pete Pfitzinger ran in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic marathons, both times finishing as the top American. With a personal best of 2:11:43, Pete is a two-time winner of the San Francisco Marathon and placed third in the 1987 New York City Marathon. He was ranked the top American marathoner in 1984 by Track & Field News, and he is a member of the Road Runners Club of America’s Hall of Fame. Pete now works with High Performance Sport New Zealand (http://hpsnz.org.nz/) and was a triathlon coach with the New Zealand Olympic Team in Beijing. Pete is the co-author of Advanced Marathoning-2nd Edition and Road Racing for Serious Runners and a contributor to Run Strong. He was a senior writer for Running Times from 1997 to 2007, in which his popular column, “The Pfitzinger Lab Report,” appeared. |
| 12/18/2011 11:10 PM |
| RRCA Thanks Our 2011 Program Donors as of December 16, 2011 |
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Kids Run the Nation Fund 2011 Donors as of December 16, 2011 Alaska Salmon Runs Road Scholar Fund Donors as of December 16, 2011 Alaska Salmon Runs Annual Program Fund Donors as of December 16, 2011 Alaska Salmon Runs |