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Wire 5, January 23, 2003 In this edition of the Running USA wire: 1) Fleet
Empire State Building Run-Up February 4 Team USA
California sponsored by Nike Copyright
© 2003 Running USA UPCOMING EVENTS: Mercedes
Marathon, Birmingham, AL, February 9 ********************************************* USA CHAMPIONSHIP DATE CHANGE The San Diego 24 Hour Run, a USA MUT Championship, has been rescheduled for November 8 (was November 15). # # # TOP TWO TO THE TOP RETURNING NEW YORK - Defending champion Kerstin Harbich of Germany and last year's runner-up, Cindy Moll of Indianapolis, are expected back to lead the women's field at the 26th running of the Fleet Empire State Building Run-Up on Tuesday, February 4, it was announced by New York Road Runners officials. Harbich was an unexpected easy winner last year, surprising Moll, the 1998, 2000, and 2001 champion, with a winning time of 12:46. Moll finished a distant second in 13:25. Moll returns to attempt not only to reclaim her crown, but also to become the event's first four-time women's champion. An invited international field of approximately 150 men and women is again expected to step up to the unique challenge of racing up 86 floors (1,576 steps) from the ground floor to the Observation Deck of the famous Manhattan landmark. At present, it is uncertain whether Paul Crake, the four-time defending men's champion and course record holder (9:37), will return to defend his title. # # # Birmingham,
Alabama's Scott Strand to Race the Course He Designed for USA BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - (Jan. 23, 2003) - Scott Strand of Birmingham, Ala. is what most runners would call a true fan of sport. He's not in it for the win. He's in it for the run. "As I've gotten older, I've discovered I just want to run faster," said Strand. "Winning a race, to make a team, that's a bonus. I just concentrate on running faster, because that is the one thing I can control." That attitude is why he was selected to design the Birmingham course that helped land the city both the 2003 USA Men's Marathon Championship (Feb. 8) and the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon (Feb. 7). The 34-year old Strand will race in both; he qualified for the Olympic Team Trials when he finished his first marathon at 2:21:16 in the 2001 New York City Marathon. "USA Track & Field (USATF) wanted a fast course," said Strand who last Sunday won the ep 13.1 miler (1:05:13) in Houston. "In Birmingham that's a challenge because it is hilly, unless you are creative. So we got creative. After review by USATF, who requested we try to make it even faster, I worked on the layout some more and finally got the right combination." The result
is a criterium or closed loop system course. The three-loop course is
designed to allow spectators to watch the runners several times from
one viewing location. On Saturday, Feb. 8, America's best marathoners
will test drive the course at the national championship. Strand
is used to laying out races. He arranges runs of all distances in Birmingham,
where he manages and co-owns a running specialty store. He also laid
out courses when he coached in college, but this is his first multi-loop
design. This also will be the first time a criterium course has been
used in a men's marathon national championship or Olympic Trials road
race in the "Criterium
courses are not new to the running world, however," said Dr. Dave
Martin, marathon historian. "In 1963 the Atlanta marathon route
involved 10 laps around North Fulton Golf Course for its inaugural edition.
And in New York City, the forerunner of the now-famous run through all
five boroughs was the Cherry Tree Marathon involving several laps around
Central Park. At the The spectators had an advantage, listening to race announcements on pocket radios, and watching the action on strategically-placed jumbotron viewing screens, warned them of the runners drawing closer. "It was like a carnival of running," said Martin. "And the same thing could happen in Birmingham. The criterium concept makes a marathon race incredibly viewer-friendly." Designing
a spectator-friendly course was a goal for Strand, as he knows first-hand
what it is like for a runner to be cheered by fans. The Birmingham resident
captured his first national championship when he ran 29:01 in the USA
Men's 10K Championship at the Delchamps Senior Bowl Charity Run in Mobile,
Ala. on Nov. 4, 2000. One year to the day later, Strand qualified for
Although Strand has run the criterium course a few times, he says his knowledge of the course isn't what will give him an advantage in either the national championship or Olympic Trials race. "Whoever is in the best shape will do the best," said Strand. "What's important to me is being able to run in my hometown, to have people cheering for me. That's an advantage to me." The 2003 Mercedes Marathon weekend is hosted by Birmingham Marathon, Inc., a non-profit charitable organization with the mission to provide premier events open to athletes of all running abilities. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) and Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. are title sponsors of the 2003 Mercedes Marathon Weekend. For more information about the Mercedes Marathon and the USA Men's Marathon Championship races and courses, visit: www.mercedesmarathon.com USATF
is the national governing body for track & field, long-distance
running, and race walking. Information is available on the USATF website
is at http://www.usatf.org/ 2002
TWIN CITIES MARATHON POSTER RECOGNIZED BY RUNNER'S WORLD MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - (January 23, 2003) - The 2002 Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) poster was one of two winners selected in the 2002 Runner's World Poster & T-shirt contest. The poster was illustrated by local artist Tom Foty, with design by Group Design and printing by Daily Printing. Foty started the TCM poster project with two different drawings, which were submitted to TCM for final selection. He then spent hours painting an original image, which was then digitized and printed as the race poster, note cards and other promotional items. The 2000 TCM poster was also painted by Foty and he hopes to paint another TCM poster in the future. "I'm
thrilled about the Runner's World recognition," says Tom Foty,
artist of the 2002 TCM poster, "It was an honor to do the poster
and be apart of such a beautiful race. It was fun to do." The 2002 TCM posters are still available for purchase at the TCM office or online at www.twincitiesmarathon.org. The 2003 TCM poster will be unveiled at the annual TCM Poster Unveiling and Silent Auction event in June. The 2003
TCM weekend is October 3-5. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness
includes a 5K fun run/walk, children's fun runs, pasta dinner, two-day
health and fitness expo and a 10-mile race in addition to the marathon.
Major corporate sponsors for the marathon are Cub Foods and Seagate
Technology. The major media sponsors are KARE 11 and Cities 97. Twin
Cities
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