Running USA 2007 Conference Recap
Record attendance, auction record, Hall of Champions inductees

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By Ryan Lamppa
Posted Friday, 9 February, 2007

A record number of over 300 attendees enjoyed and experienced the Running USA 2007 Conference on February 5-8 in beautiful La Jolla, California. The annual industry conference, powered by The Active Network and Gen-A Media & Marketing, featured a variety of keynote speakers and breakout sessions which covered diverse topics from sponsorship strategies to trends in product technology to company building to improving race operations to organizing kids runs and more.

"This year's conference was a testament to why we love this sport: committed sponsors, enthusiastic attendees, inspirational and informative speakers and generous auction bidders," said Basil Honikman, Running USA Executive Director.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
At the Tuesday evening banquet presented by Gen-A Media & Marketing, the fourth class of the Running USA Hall of Champions was honored and acknowledged for their contribution, impact and dedication to the sport:

• Judy and Dennis Ikenberry (Rialto, CA), Race Central, timing
• Alan Jones (Endwell, NY), RunTime Software, technology and application
• Tom Raynor (Carrboro, NC), Fleet Feet, retail industry
• Bart Yasso (Emmaus, PA), Runner's World, race promotion

In addition, at the conference silent and banquet auctions, over $50,000 was raised for Team Running USA and youth programs.

Also on Tuesday, at the luncheon, Carol Lasseter-Rice, Running Times Magazine publisher, was presented the Her Sports + Fitness Women's Trailblazer Award. Anne Audain - Olympian, record breaker, race founder and pioneer - was the luncheon speaker.

New this year was the ING Run for Something Better Youth Running and Fitness Programs Workshop where the country's best kids running programs shared their successes and ideas. In conjunction with the youth program workshop, the following inaugural conference awards were presented at the Wednesday night dinner:

Running USA Youth Programs Contributor of the Year
Mike Dove, Just Run, Monterey County, California
Susan Love, Just Run

Youth Runner Program of the Decade
New York Road Runners Foundation

Youth Runner Best New Program of the Year
Colorado Kids Marathon Milers

For 2007, Running USA plans to concentrate on: increasing membership, growing the sport, the retail industry, producing regional race workshops and its business plan and 2008 conference.

About Running USA
Running USA, founded in 1999, is a tax-exempt, non-profit association devoted to improving the status of road racing and long distance running in the United States through education, research, communications, collective marketing, promotions and services to runners and events. Running USA, through its annual conference and other communication channels, provides the community "meeting place" for major road race, media and athletic industry personnel.

Its event members represent over 500 U.S. races including many of the leading ones with over 2 million participants and millions of spectators and over $3 million in prize money. For more information on Running USA, its objectives, 200 plus members and annual conference, visit RunningUSA.org or call Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232.

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