FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. To Celebrate National Running Day
INDIANAPOLIS - Everyone across the U.S. is invited to participate in the
first-ever National Running Day on Wednesday, June 3, where running will be
celebrated as a healthy, easy and accessible form of exercise. National
Running Day is an initiative that promotes the benefits of running as part
of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today's most
pressing health issues.
Through a grassroots effort, the foremost road racing and track and field
organizations from major U.S. cities--including New York, Chicago, Boston,
Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Eugene
and San Diego-in addition to national running organizations USA Track &
Field and Running USA, are encouraging Americans of all ages and fitness
levels to get out and run by hosting a variety of National Running day
activities, including professional athlete appearances, free running
events, group runs and clinics.
From a 16-hour run/walk challenge in Creswell, Ore., that begins at 4:30
a.m., to a 1,000-kid Mighty Milers Fun Run/Walk at Icahn Stadium in New
York City, to a post-work Family Night event (complete with Texas BBQ) in
San Antonio, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a
healthy and active lifestyle. Additionally, nearly 5,000 people have
already committed to individually participating via the "Will You Run
National Running Day?" Facebook page.
Interested parties may post their events and search for events at
www.runningday.org (click on Participate to create an event and view
listings). If there isn't an event scheduled in a specific area, all
runners are invited to create their own. No event is too big or too small
to be recognized as a National Running Day initiative.
Highlights of National Running Day around the USA:
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue will issue Atlanta Track Club (ATC) executive
director Tracey Russell a proclamation declaring June 3 National Running
Day in Georgia. Additionally, the ATC will host at least seven group runs
of various distances throughout the day in metro Atlanta.
* The Chicago Area Runners Association will host a post-work event along
Lake Michigan.
* Houston Mayor Bill White will officially proclaim June 3 Houston Running
Day at a City Council meeting on June 2.
* In Indianapolis, a representative of Governor Mitch Daniels will present
USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan with a proclamation at an event at the
Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis track with IUPUI's day
campers and children from all over the city. Local Olympians Bob Kennedy
and Joann Grissom will also participate in the event, which is free and
open to the public.
* The Little Rock Marathon is hosting a free early-morning National Running
Day Fun Run/Walk, followed by continental breakfast.
* Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Mayor RT Rybak of Minneapolis and
Chris Coleman of St. Paul will sign state and city proclamations announcing
June 3 as Minnesota Running Day in conjunction with National Running Day. A
series of six evening group runs around the city will feature appearances
from Team USA Minnesota runners.
* In New York City, Olympians Deena Kastor and Lornah Kiplagat will host
the Mighty Milers Fun Run/Walk, an event at Icahn Stadium with
approximately 1,000 kids from Manhattan and the Bronx. Additionally, the
New York Road Runners will host group runs in all five boroughs and runners
stations in Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Kastor
and Kiplagat will lead the Central Park group run on Wednesday evening.
* In Eugene, Ore.-otherwise known as "Track Town USA"- The Oregon Track
Club will hold an evening National Running Day community run. Local
Olympians will join in the event, which is free and open to the public.
* The Marine Corps Marathon will host a one-mile run on the National Mall,
starting and finishing at the Lincoln Memorial. Runners will include local
elected officials like Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, area running
club presidents and running store representatives, Marines, local
journalists, and other race directors.
* The Boston Athletic Association and USA Track & Field - New England have
invited runners and non-runners alike to have the opportunity to run at
6-minute per mile pace with running icon and four-time Boston Marathon
champion Bill Rodgers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's
outdoor track facility in Cambridge, Mass.
For more information on National Running Day, visit: www.runningday.org.
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