Running USA 2013’s Big Night: Hall of Champions Dinner & Auction

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – (February 20, 2013) – One of the Running USA 2013 conference highlights for attendees will be the Monday, February 25 evening Hall of Champions Dinner & Auction presented by Competitor Group at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, Georgia.

The banquet will present the induction of the tenth class of Running USA's Hall of Champions that recognizes individuals who have made important and noteworthy contributions to the sport of running. Last year's honoree was running legend and 1984 Olympic Marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson.

In addition, at the 10th Industry Conference dinner, Running USA will announce the 4th Allan Steinfeld Development Award winner. The annual $25,000 grant from the live and silent auction proceeds goes to a top U.S. training group. Established U.S. distance training centers were invited to apply for the 2013 grant, and from four finalists (American Distance Project, New Jersey-New York Track Club, Team USA Minnesota or ZAP Fitness), Running USA will announce and fete the winning team.

"Our Hall of Champions Dinner & Auction is certainly one of the highlights of our annual conference. The energy in the room with the induction ceremony, the Allan Steinfeld Development Award presentation and live auction is electric and inspiring," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

At Running USA 2010, the inaugural development award was announced and named after Allan Steinfeld, a long-time leader in the sport, who jump-started the U.S. distance running resurgence when as head of the New York Road Runners he allocated $20,000 seed money ($1 per U.S. entry at the 2000 New York City Marathon) for the development program Team USA Distance Running launched in November 2000 that produced top training groups such as Team Running USA (two Olympic medals in 2004 and major marathon wins) and inspired others to be established.

In February 2010, Team USA Minnesota was selected as the inaugural award winner; in February 2011, Team USA Arizona, the second recipient of the award, and in January 2012, Mammoth Track Club, the third recipient.

AUCTION ITEMS
At the Hall of Champions Dinner live auction, there will be great items to bid on including a Bart Yasso weekend / keynote speaker, Walt Disney World Florida package with airfare, Running USA 2014 conference package, Summit County Colorado condo with airfare, Race in a Box and two 2014 PGA National tournament tickets and more. In addition, during the conference, there will be a silent auction with many more outstanding items.

RUNNING USA 2013 SPECIAL EVENTS

• Inaugural Tech Tent and ice cream social presented by ChronoTrack
• Opening reception presented by Leslie Jordan, Inc.
• Women's Trailblazer Luncheon presented by The Active Network
• Running USA Hall of Champions Dinner & Auction presented by Competitor Group
• 4th Allan Steinfeld Development Award
• Reception presented by MarathonFoto
• Youth Awards Luncheon presented by Ashworth Awards
• Conference expo
• Morning runs with DMSE Sports
• 2014 site announcement and reception

The conference rate is $699 for Running USA members / $899 non-members – so register today. On-site rate will be $749 members / $949 non-members. Conference registration also includes daily meals during the conference and admission to the Hall of Champions Awards Dinner.

On-line registration, hotel, travel, news and other information for Running USA 2013 is available at: www.runningusa.org/running-usa-conference

About Running USA
Running USA advances, serves, promotes and celebrates the sport of running as a clearinghouse and resource center and though its popular annual conference, website, Running USA wire, Running USA Industry E-News, National Runner Survey, annual marathon, half-marathon and State of the Sport reports, and by providing athlete support via the Allan Steinfeld Development Award.

Running USA's more than 330 members include events with 2-plus million finishers and prize money exceeding $5.7 million, race services companies, running-related media companies and organizations and the athletic industry.

In March 2009, the non-profit industry organization marked a decade of achievement to build and promote the sport.

For more information, visit: RunningUSA.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 966-7747 or ryan@runningusa.org

Source: Running USA Date: February 20, 2013