Run for Education brings in $125,000 for district programs

Sunday's Run for Education to benefit a pair of key school initiatives was called a success, with $125,000 raised in corporate sponsorships and donations and perhaps more as a final tally of money raised by race registration will not be available until later this week, according to race organizers.
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Members of the public were shuttled on seven buses from the RC Willey parking lot to Damonte Ranch High School where the races were held. Students from many Washoe County schools were bussed in from their campuses and hundreds of parents and teachers and between 250 to 300 volunteers were on hand for the event, race director Eric Lerude said Monday.

Through the Education Alliance of Washoe County, the funds will benefit the Washoe County School District's Kids in Motion Program, which promotes and provides health and fitness programs at elementary schools where there are no formal fitness programs, and the Passport Program, which assists K-12 students who need additional assistance to help them meet educational goals.

"This event is vital to those programs, there's no doubt about it," said Lerude, who has directed the 5-year-old event the past two years. "This event has become very popular in this community, and it's obviously for a good cause."

The Kids in Motion program provides money to participating schools in the form of grants to help purchase fitness equipment, such as basketballs, soccer balls and jump ropes, fund field days, support running teams or provide formal physical education instruction.

The Passport Program helps fund tutoring, summer school and has helped nearly 2,000 students in the last four years.

Lerude said company sponsorships and other contributions this year raised about $125,000 for the two programs. Last year, the sponsor donations and registrations totaled approximately $188,000.

"We are still totaling the runner registration entry dollars," Lerude said "That number as of (Monday) is $30,000, but we are not finished processing checks. We'll have that part figured out within days."

Source: rgj.com (BY MICHAEL MARTINEZ • October 21, 2009)

At 75, George Hirsch Will Run New York City Once More

George Hirsch, a founder and publisher of running magazines, told his wife that he was retiring from marathons two years ago.

Old habits die hard.

George Hirsch is 75. He is the founding publisher of New York magazine, he ran for Congress in 1986, and he has a personal-best marathon time of 2 hours 38 minutes (Boston, 1979). A founder and publisher of running magazines, Hirsch helped Fred Lebow plan the first five-borough New York City Marathon, in 1976, and is now chairman of the New York Road Runners, the race’s organizer. He has run more than 30 marathons over four decades.

On Nov. 1, Hirsch plans to be at the starting line of the New York City Marathon on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. His friends are hoping for the best. Some of them also worry.

“The last few times George has raced marathons, he literally came out looking like a welterweight boxer who had been T.K.O.’d in the eighth round,” said Amby Burfoot, a longtime editor at Runner’s World.

At the Chicago Marathon in 2003, Hirsch, then 69, collapsed 50 yards from the finish and fell on his face. He lost part of two front teeth. At the Mesa Falls Marathon in Idaho in 2007, Hirsch, then 73, fell on his face again. His sunglasses smashed and he was left with a black eye.

Two months later, Hirsch was on pace to run a 3:27 marathon in Albany when he lost his balance running downhill after the 20th mile. He was bleeding, but he picked himself up and took off again. His back soon seized up. Two police officers on bicycles escorted him the rest of the way. He refused their requeststo go to a hospital.

Bart Yasso, who has run more than 1,000 races, described Hirsch as the “most mentally tough runner I have ever met.” But in Albany, Hirsch’s wife, Shay, watched her bloodied husband shuffle into the finishers’ gate and decided they should talk.

“I said, ‘This has got to be it, George,’ ” she said. “ ‘You’ve run your marathons. You’ve put it out there and you know what you can do, but this is not good.’ ”

Hirsch is not the only septuagenarian who has found it difficult to give up marathoning. Ed Whitlock, a Canadian athlete, was 73 when he ran a 2:54 marathon; this month, at 78, he ran a 1:37 half-marathon. Last year, 174 finishers of the New York City Marathon were 70 or older, and 15 were in their 80s.

Hirsch, razor thin with a warm smile, had always longed to be good at some athletic endeavor. “I had no natural gifts,” he said.

Growing up in New Rochelle, N.Y., he set up a high-jump pit in his parents’ backyard and spent hours trying to clear the bar, even though “there isn’t a single high-jump gene in there,” Shay Hirsch said. In his 30s, he took up distance running — a sport in which “you can improve a lot just on persistence,” Hirsch said.

His grit served him as well in life as in running. Hirsch built The Runner and Runner’s World into popular magazines that conveyed his enthusiasm and broadened the sport’s appeal. Then, in 1988, Hirsch was working at an exposition for the New Jersey Waterfront Marathon when he met Shay Scrivner, then 40, a brunette with kind eyes.

Hirsch asked her to dinner that night, but she refused. He was so taken with her, however, that he showed up at the starting line the next day — for a race that he never intended to run. He surveyed the crowd but still had not found her when the gun went off.

“I waited for every person to cross the starting line,” Hirsch said. “And then I started to jog. I kept looking left and right, and looking and running and jogging and looking, and at five miles, there she was up ahead of me. I came up next to her and said, ‘Hi, how are you?’ She said, ‘What are you doing here?’ And I said, ‘Looking for you.’ ”

They ran the remaining 21 miles together and shared their life stories, including their failed first marriages, and wed the next year.

Hirsch loves his wife more than running, so when she suggested after the Albany race that it was time to stop doing marathons, he agreed. He even seemed relieved. He e-mailed his close friends, including the four-time Boston and New York City winner Bill Rodgers and the Olympic champions Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit Samuelson.

“I’m retiring from marathoning,” he wrote. “Yes, this time for good. I really do mean it.”

Mary Wittenberg, the president and chief executive of New York Road Runners, remembered receiving that message. “I never accepted or believed that resignation,” she said.

In early August, Hirsch went for a long run and made it 17 miles. He began to see some significance in numbers. It was the year of his 20th wedding anniversary and the 40th running of the New York City Marathon, which he last ran in 1994. As he took longer runs, Shay asked, “Are you training for anything in particular?” He kept saying no.

In September, though, Hirsch told her that he wanted to run one last marathon in New York. She agreed.

Hirsch intended to run only part of the Chicago Marathon this month as his final long training run. He told friends he would go no farther than 20 miles. At Mile 20, he felt good and decided to jog in the last six miles. He finished in 3:58 without injury.

Hirsch’s friends have mobilized to help him through the finish line in New York. Germán Silva, the 1994 and ’95 winner, will run the early miles with Hirsch. Rodgers, who is fighting plantar fasciitis, will run the last few miles with him.

Shorter, the 1972 Olympic champion, said he received a cortisone shot in his damaged left hip so he could join Hirsch and Rodgers. But he realized last week that he would not be healthy enough.

“George is whipping Frank and me,” said Rodgers, who has been friends with Hirsch since 1976. “We’re 15 years younger than him. We’re struggling a little.”

Shay Hirsch will be waiting at the finish. Her husband is running for a charity that benefits research into multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that she is battling. When she was recovering from a stem-cell transplant three years ago, he rarely left her bedside for months.

“He is very tenacious,” she said. “He doesn’t give up on people, either.”

Source: nytimes

New Balance slides into snowboarding (Introducing 686 Times New Balance)

New Balance Athletic Shoe is jumping into action sports with the launch of a snowboarding line.

The Boston company known primarily for its running shoes has partnered with California snowboarding brand 686 on the “686 Times New Balance” collection of snowboard boots, sneakers, jackets and T-shirts.

SHOE-IN: The 580 Times New Balance Snowboard Boot sells for about $300.

New Balance will debut the collection locally tomorrow night at the Concepts sneaker store in Cambridge’s Harvard Square.

The partnership with 686, a company owned and operated by snowboard riders, allows New Balance to “add freshness” to one of its classic sneakers and introduce it to a new sport, according to product manager Jen Lynch.

The collection’s footwear includes two adaptations of New Balance’s 580 trail-running sneaker introduced in the mid-1990s.

The 580 Times New Balance Snowboard Boot, which retails for $300, incorporates New Balance’s patented Rollbar stability and Abzorb cushioning technology and other features typical of snowboarding boots.

“The outcome is that you get this really high-tech boot that fits and feels like a sneaker,” Lynch said.

New Balance also has customized a 580 sneaker for the collection using leather and yarn-dyed plaid panels. It will retail for $100.

Concepts will carry the 686 Times New Balance boots and sneakers, both of which come in black and white.

The collection’s outerwear is available at Eastern Boarder in Nashua, N.H., and North of the Boarder in Salem, N.H.

Source: Donna Goodison

Detroit Marathon Deaths: Three Deaths Not Normal

Three men collapsed and died on Sunday October 18 while running the half marathon portion of the 2009 Detroit Marathon. The three deaths occurred within 16 minutes of each other, a stunning rarity for marathon running. At ages 26, 36 and 65, all three men were reported to be in excellent health and properly trained to tackle the long distance.

Deaths during distance events are not the norm; Dr. William Roberts of the University of Minnesota says that people are more likely to be struck by lightning golfing! In fact, only 1 in 200,000 people die on average during exercise, and the fitter you are, the lesser the chance. The deaths this weekend seem to be related to freak cardiac arrest as all men had no problematic medical history and must have had some unknown and untreated heart problem. The 65 year old man reportedly collapsed around the 11 or 12 mile mark, hitting his head on the pavement and succumbing to the suffered blow. The 26 and 36 year old runners died at the hospital after collapsing, but autopsies are scheduled to uncover more detailed information.

This weekend's Detroit Marathon had ideal long distance running weather and the air quality in the city was not at any sort of elevated level. The three deaths seem more disturbing as in recent weeks other marathon-related deaths have occurred: two people died at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Jose, CA and a Boston man died at the Baltimore Marathon.

These deaths should not deter runners from racing hard, long distances. When training for a marathon, make sure to build up your total mileage tolerance and ensure your body is ready to cover the distance. About 50 to 70 miles a week is adequate for more serious recreational runners, and including speed work and core training is a beneficial way to prepare your bones for the beating.

Proper nutrition and especially adequate hydration is essential for completing a marathon successfully. The color of your urine post-run will let you know your hydration levels: the darker the urine, the more you need to drink. You can also weigh yourself before and after you run to see how much water weight you lost. Try not to overhydrate, but make sure to replace the lost liquids with water and electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade. Pre-race, don't drink or do anything that could promote dehydration: consume excess caffeine, alcohol or soak in a hot tub. Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods during training and take a multi-vitamin and vitamin D plus calcium supplement to ensure bone health.

A great way to build up your heat tolerance is to do some of your runs-- especially faster tempo runs-- on a treadmill. Treadmills are a great way to teach your body how to handle the heat and cool down with natural sweat regulation. Most importantly, do not ignore any warning signs--heartburn, chest tightness, arm tightness-- no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Three die at the 2009 Detroit Marathon

Source: Examiner.com

New Balance Maintains Significant Domestic Footwear Production

BOSTON—New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. is unique in the footwear industry.

Shoe businesses began downsizing in the U.S. more than a decade ago. New Balance expanded.

Its competitors fled from the U.S. in search of cheaper manufacturing offshore. New Balance continued to build its base in America.

Why? “We made our first pair of running shoes in 1938 and have never wavered in our commitment to domestic manufacturing,” said Rob DeMartini, CEO of the Boston-based manufacturer.

“Our New Bal- ance associates have pro¼ven that high-quality athletic foot¼wear can be produced com¼pet¼i¼tively in A¼merica.”

The company, which also produces athletic ac- cessories and apparel, prides itself on being the only domestic manufacturer of athletic foot-wear in the U.S.

About a quarter of the firm’s athletic footwear production is made or assembled each year at its plants in Boston; Lawrence, Mass.; and Norway, Norridgewock and Skowhegan, Maine, a company spokeswoman said.

New Balance also operates a manufacturing facility in Flimby, England. It does have supplier/partners in China and Vietnam that make products for the company, she said, but the firm’s manufacturing base has always been in the U.S.

Building U.S. presence

Despite the poor economy, Boston-headquartered New Ba-lance continues to build its base in America, where it has about 2,600 employees.

The firm’s most recent expansion came in September 2008 when it opened a 3,000-sq.-ft. facility, called Sports Research Lab, at its Lawrence manufacturing complex.

The laboratory’s goal is to design and develop new products and innovations “through the study of athletes, biomechanics and sport,” according to Edith Harmon, vice president of advanced products for New Balance.

It houses state-of-the-art biomechanics equipment, office space, a 120-foot running track, a 30-foot by 30-foot court, a smash lab and a variety of equipment used for testing.

The 103-year-old firm has consistently gained ground in the marketplace because it follows the same principles it was founded upon: superior customer service, a commitment to domestic manufacturing and leadership in technological innovation, the company said. It also prides itself in the lean manufacturing techniques it uses to keep prices down.

Much of the credit for the success of New Balance’s five-plant U.S. operation goes to the company’s employees, who are committed to their work and the products the company manufactures, DeMartini said.

New Balance recently came out with an online documentary as part of an awareness campaign that highlights the craftsmanship of its domestic manufacturing work force.

“During this tough economic time, we are proud to showcase the powerful unity of our American work force and their local community,” DeMartini said. “This documentary highlights Skowhegan as our first Maine factory, but tells the success story of all New Balance manufacturing facilities and associates.”

It can be viewed on the firm’s Web site at www.newbalance.com/USA.

However, the firm’s focus on building a strong U.S. base hasn’t prevented New Balance from growing globally during the last decade. The privately held company, which had global sales of about $1.64 billion in 2008, has expanded its international footprint regularly during that span, the spokeswoman said, with about 4,000 employees now operating in more than 120 countries.

It has wholly owned subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, the United King- dom, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Brazil and South Africa, making it one of the largest athletic footwear and apparel businesses in the world.

Humble beginnings

That’s quite a leap from the tiny business that William J. Riley, a 33-year-old English immigrant, launched in 1906 as New Balance Arch Co. It initially produced arch supports and prescription footwear for customers with problem feet. After operating out of his home for three years, Riley opened his first office as the firm slowly grew.

New Balance, with annual sales in the $20,000 range at the time, incorporated in 1931 and rented space at a door factory in Cambridge, Mass. But in the midst of the Great Depression, sales plummeted almost 75 percent.

In need of capital, Riley’s top salesman, Arthur Hall, became his partner, and the business survived as other footwear makers toppled. Riley designed and made the first New Balance running shoe in 1938, and by 1941 the company was designing and manufacturing custom sports shoes for running, baseball, basketball, tennis and boxing.

Riley and Hill sold the business in 1953 to Hill’s daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Paul Kidd, who brought new ideas and more energy to the firm.

They changed its name to New Balance Orthopedic Laboratory in 1956 and introduced the Trackster, the world’s first performance running shoe made in multiple widths, in 1960.

In 1970, the company became New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., with annual sales of $100,000.

During the Boston Marathon in 1972, New Balance’s current owner, Jim Davis, purchased the business from the Kidds. Under his leadership, the firm expanded throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, both at home and abroad.

Davis and his wife Anne played key roles in turning the company into a billion-dollar operation with a long global reach during the last 37 years.

Expansions included: a manufacturing facility in Ireland; the production sites in Maine and Massachusetts; relocating the factory in Ireland to a bigger plant in England; and numerous acquisitions in the last decade.

By 2000, the company reached the $1 billion sales mark and has continued to grow since then.

Through it all, New Balance has never strayed from its roots with good reason, DeMartini said. “Our associates have passion and pride in their craftsmanship, and their dedication to their work is why we are able to withstand economic challenges and remain strong.”

source: By Mike McNulty Rubber & Plastics News Staff

New Balance News: Thousands Take To The Streets in New Balance Half Marathon

Source: thisischeshire.co.uk (8:06am Monday 5th October 2009)

Thousand of runners took to the streets of Warrington on Sunday morning for the first New Balance English Half Marathon.

From elite runners to charity fundraisers, around 2,000 people took part in the race which started at Victoria Park in Latchford and finished there some 13 miles later.

Mark Ward, New Balance’s UK & Ireland Country Manager, said, “It is an honour to be associated with the first ever English Half Marathon and New Balance is proud to be a part of the Warrington community.

"We would like to thank all the residents for their support and all the volunteers and runners that have made this event so wonderful.”

The half marathon was part of a weekend of activity at Victoria Park, which began on the Saturday with a family fun day.

The day began with a wheelchair race and then children from schools and families were invited to take part in a fun run and 3k challenge.

Men's race winner Julius Kimeu from Kenya

To the amusement of the crowd, mascots from sports clubs and charities were then invited on to the track for a highly comical 400m race! The event has helped raise money for a variety of charities including the Warrington Wolves Foundation, which a number of players running, St. Rocco’s Hospice, Opening Doors, Warrington Grassroots, the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace, Newlove Warrington and the Relationship Centre.

Siouxland Lewis and Clark Marathon

The Siouxland Lewis and Clark Marathon is a USATF Certified Course. The marathon begins near the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Nebraska, weaving around the beautiful riverfront, over Veteran's Memorial Bridge into Sioux City, Iowa. The race then winds throughout Sioux City, ending on Historic 4th Street. This year's marathon will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009.

Photo courtesy of Sioux City Journal

For more information, please visit http://www.siouxlandmarathon.com/.

New Balance News: Local Businesses Could See Boost from Marathon

Posted: Oct 15, 2009 12:07 PM Source: KPTH.com

Siouxland runners are lacing up for another big race. The Siouxland Lewis and Clark Marathon is this Saturday and organizers are hoping for a record crowd. Scheels, New Balance, and The Sports Authority have all helped draw entries for this year's event.

They hope more runners will keep the Siouxland economy running strong.

Marathon organizers are encouraging local restaurants to serve pasta to race participants the night before the event in place of the annual pasta dinner, as another way to boost local business.

New Balance 1063 Review

Source: takbo.ph Written by ManokanRunner

I was given a pair of NB 1063 for review. The New Balance 1063 caught my attention this year when it was awarded as the Best Update by Runner's World Magazine. I have used New Balance before and the new updates made me curious on why the shoe received this distinction.

Here is what Runner's World had to say:

"The wide fit and firm feel that characterized New Balance shoes are things of the past, as this update makes abundantly clear. As with the 769, the 1063 is built around a new last that has less volume in the forefoot and is snug through the arch."

The NB1063 has the common features from my other New Balance Shoes: the N-Lock lacing, Abzorb cushioning, Ndurance rubber outsole and the Stability Web.

NLOCK Lacing System gives a custom fit.

For the improved features, NB1063 has updated the Abzorb cushioning system for a more cushioned and comfortable ride. This is one of the shoe that features the latest PL-1 last of New Balance. In simple terms, the last is how the shoe's upper is attached to its midsole. With the PL-1, New Balance promises reduce toe box volume and better anatomical heel fit. Finally, it has the Cocona Phantom Liner inside the shoe that wicks away moisture and reduce odor. And I though the Cocona is only for their running shirts and shorts.

After 20K

I immediately took these shoes for a run. So far, I had a total of 20K mileage on the shoe after using it 3 times. Here is my review.

Pros

• Very soft feel. As they described it, the New Balance 1063 provided a soft ride. The pads inside the shoes are really comfortable and the shoe cushioning made my runs smooth and easy.
• Great Fit. The N-Lock system keeps the foot in place for long runs. The wide fit at the toes was just right. Not too roomy as the previous ones.
• High Visibility. Reflective materials are all over. Great shoe for running at night or very early in the morning.
• Pogi points. This is one of the good looking shoes out there. When I first saw the pictures in the magazine, it was like love at first sight for me. Very interesting design and form. They come in red, yellow and blue colors.

NB Absorb technology gives you that smooth ride for your runs.

Cons

• Heavy. They say that the 1063 is lighter and less bulky but after using the latest lightweight shoes from other brands, I can tell that this one is pretty heavy and it was noticable. Even heavier than my previous NB trainers.
• Hard plastic. I really wonder why it is only New Balance that is fond of putting a plastic or rubber material at the tongue. Twice, I got chafing on my foot since this material keeps on rubbing on my skin. That is why I don't put the laces up to the last hole when I use my NBs.

This material on the tongue of NB shoes gets me into trouble.

Summary
Overall, these trainers will be good for my very long runs. It will remain as a trainer and I doubt if I would wear them on a race especially if I am aiming for a PR. But its cushioning feels great and will be good for a full marathon. They make me feel protected if I plan to run the whole 42K.

The New Balance 1063 is recommended for normal to high-arched runners. Heavy runners will also benefit from the shoe's cushioning. I think they are great when training for long distance races like a 21K or a 42K.

Where to buy
New Balance 1063 is available in New Balance outlets and in most sports shops and running stores.

Price: 5,795 Php

New Balance 1063

Forest Grove runners perform well at New Balance Invite

Forest Grove’s cross country teams were in mid-season form last Saturday, running to a pair of Top 10 finishes at the New Balance Festival of Champions.

The Forest Grove boys finished seventh in the large school division, netting 124 points under the meet’s convoluted scoring system. The Lady Vikings finished ninth among large schools, picking up 195 points.

Josh Johnson gave the Viking boys a huge boost by winning Flight 1 — the event was broken into four different races with each team’s No. 1 and 2 runners in Flight 5, No. 3 and 4 in Flight 4, No. 5 and 6 in Flight 3 and No. 7-12 in Flight 1.

Johnson won the Flight 1 race with a lifetime best of 17:12.7 and teammate Tyler Shipley finished 11th in 18:08.6. That gave the Vikings a big point boost from the bottom of their lineup and the veterans did the rest. Forest Grove got four Top 25 performances from their top six runners, including a 14th-place finish in Flight 5 by Nick Robbins (16:48.6) and an 11th-place finish by James Myers (17:17.5) in Flight 4.

Forest Grove’s girls got their best finishes from their top two runners. Eredi Pintor finished ninth (20:14.7) in Flight 5 and Laura Matzke was 18th (20:35.8). Tiffany Blackmun also impressed with a lifetime best of 22:22.2, good for 18th in Flight 3.

Sources: Zack Palmer The Forest Grove News-Times, Sep 23, 2009, Updated Sep 23, 2009