Husband and Wife Win Seattle Marathon

(11-27-06) The Sunday after Thanksgiving each year, runners from across the country and from across the Northwest converge on Seattle to participate in its annual marathon and related events. This year was no different, other than the fact that local running icon, Uli Steidl, did what no other runner has done in the history of the event - running away with his eighth consecutive Seattle Marathon title.

34-year-old Steidl won the University of Washington Medical Center Seattle Marathon in 2:27:51, but was being chased by Bend, Oregon's Andy Martin, 31, a professional triathlete who finished a little more than a minute later clocking 2:29:08 for the 26.2-mile distance. Nick Merrill, who was seventh in 2005 with a 2:44:22, took third in 2:37:49.

On the women's side, Uli's wife Trisha Steidl made it a perfect day for the family, winning in 3:01:36. Christine Rehwald, 27, took second in 3:05:15 and Ann Armstrong rounded out the top three in 3:05:39.

Complete for the marathon and all other related events can be found at www.seattlemarathon.org

Washington Runner Wins 24-Hour Run Championship

(11-19-06) From Running USA wire #91-10-06, by Dan Brannen - With the highest overall finish (men / women combined) in national ultra championship history since Ann Trason won overall in 1989, Carolyn Smith of Milwaukee continued her 3-year steady rise to the top of American women's ultradistance racing at the National 24-Hour Run Championship in Grapevine, Texas this weekend. Smith bested former National 24-hour champ Rebecca Johnson of Lafayette, Colo. by nearly 5 miles in raising her personal best distance for the all-day / all-night race by over 13 miles. In doing so, she fell less than 1/2 mile short of taking the Men's silver medal and moved all the up to #4 on the all-time U.S. women's 24-Hour list.

On the men's side, Alex Swenson of Vashon, Washington continued a similar route to the top among American men, having taken the bronze medal in last year's national title race and then scored as #2 man for the U.S. team at this year's World 24-Hour. He's now a national champion, after running away from the field and winning by over 6 miles. Taking the men's silver medal for the second year in a row was the amazing 58-year old Roy Pirrung of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who won his first national 24-hour title 17 years ago with barely 5 more miles than he ran this weekend. Pirrung's singular tribute to the extended athletic capacity of "seniors" in ultradistance racing was reflected throughout the field. In this Open national championship race, the median age of the top 10 men was 45, of the top 10 women, 43.

The top 10 men and women also included one "household name" celebrity of each sex. With best-selling books, numerous national TV appearances, and major print media feature stories on their resumes, Pam Reed and Dean Karnazes each found time in their busy promotional schedules to drop in for a weekend of round-the-clock running. Unfortunately, Reed, one of America's most consistent long-range female ultrarunners over the past half-decade, had an off race but still finished in the top 10. Karnazes, having just completed his "50 marathons in 50 days" whirlwind tour of the U.S., then set out to run back home to California from New York, took a brief hiatus, flew into Dallas for the weekend, barely missed winning the men's individual bronze medal, and finally headed back to Virginia to complete his transcontinental run.

Guaranteed spots on the 2007 U.S. 24-Hour Run National team (to the World 24-Hour in Quebec, Canada, July 28-29) went to the top 3 men and women. Three additional team spots for each sex will be determined and announced shortly.

"Ultracentric" 24-Hour: National 24-Hour Run Championship
Grapevine, Texas, Nov. 18-19, 2006

MEN
1) Alex Swenson, 42, Vashon, WA, 146.40 miles ($1500*)
2) Roy Pirrung, 58, Sheboygan, WI, 139.68 miles ($1500*)
3) Philip McCarthy, 38, New York, NY, 138.72 miles ($1500*)
4) Dean Karnazes, 44, San Francisco, CA, 137.76 miles ($500*)
5) Scott Eppelman, 40, Coppell, TX, 135.36 miles ($500*)
6) Chuck Goetschel, 40, Trabuco Canyon, CA, 126.96 miles ($500*)
7) Akos Konya (HUN - guest), 32, Oceanside, CA, 126.24 miles
8) John Geesler, 47, Saint Johnsville, NY, 124.08 miles
9) Bill Lockton, 58, Santa Monica, CA, 123.84 miles
10) Rudy Afanador, 48, Medford, NY, 116.88 miles

WOMEN
1) Carolyn Smith, 41, Milwaukee, WI, 139.20 miles ($1500*)
2) Rebecca Johnson, 37, Lafayette, CO, 134.4 miles ($1500*)
3) Connie Gardner, 43, Medina, OH, 132.72 miles ($1500*)
4) Laura Nelson, 41, Woodstock, VA, 123.12 miles ($500*)
5) Debra Horn, 47, Beachwood, OH, 121.2 miles ($500*)
6) Stephanie Ehret, 43, Boulder, CO, 115.92 miles ($500*)
7) Bonnie Busch, 48, Bettendorf, IA, 105.12 miles
8) Pam Reed, 45, Tucson, AZ, 103.44 miles
9) Carilyn Johnson, 39, El Paso, TX, 102.95 miles
10) Dorit Attias, 44, Cerrillos, NM, 101.52 miles

*Pending selection to 2007 U.S. National 24-Hour Run team and participation in 2007 World 24-Hour (July 28-29, Quebec, Canada) as a member of that team.

Full results at: AmericanUltra.org

Celebrated Distance Runner Kelly Holmes to Speak in Eugene

(11-9-06) From Press Release - Celebrated middle-distance running champion Kelly Holmes will provide insight into her years of running and coaching at the Eugene Running Company on Monday, November 20 beginning at 7 p.m. The event is free to the public.

Kelly Holmes is a Double Olympic Champion in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Greece. Her gold medal performances in the 800m and 1,500m events made her an instant legend in the world of international athletics. During her brilliant career she was coached by Eugene’s own Margo Jennings.

Kelly was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England at Buckingham Palace and was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The day after she won her second Olympic Gold Medal, she was awarded the honor of carrying the British flag in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Kelly Holmes is one of the greatest middle distance runners in history. She has a bronze medal from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Australia, a gold medal from the World Athletics Final and countless medals from the World Championships, World Cup, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Early in her career she ran for the Tonbridge Athletics Club in her native Hildenborough England. In her second season of competition she won the English Schools 1,500m Championship. During an early break from Track & Field, she became the British Army Judo Champion. Kelly Holmes moved to Africa to train with Maria Mutola, the legendary Olympic Champion who lived in Eugene at the Peak of her career.

Kelly retired from competitive athletics in 2005 and now devotes herself to her passion of mentoring young women athletes.

For more information, please visit www.eugenerunningcompany.com.