RUNNING USA – Allan Steinfeld Development Award Applications Now Available – $25,000 training group grant deadline is September 30, 2011; winning team to be feted at Running USA 2012 on January 15 in Houston

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – (August 31, 2011) – Running USA, the national industry non-profit organization, has announced that applications are now available for its annual Allan Steinfeld Development Award. The $25,000 training group grant will be presented at Running USA 2012: The Industry Conference during the Hall of Champions Dinner and Live Auction on Sunday, January 15 at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, Texas.

"Like past years, we expect the top U.S. training groups to apply for this development award, and because all of them are worthy and deserving, we will face another difficult decision in selecting a winner. The Allan Steinfeld Development Award continues our decade-plus efforts to support outstanding American distance talent," 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.

In February 2010, Team USA Minnesota was selected as the inaugural award winner, and in February 2011, Team USA Arizona was the second recipient of the award.

Established U.S. distance training groups are invited to apply for 2012 funding, and at its annual conference, Running USA will award $25,000 from its live and silent auction proceeds to one training group who will be represented and feted at the Hall of Champions dinner.

Applications for the third Allan Steinfeld Development Award are available now, and the deadline for submission is Friday, September 30, 2011. For an application or more information, contact award coordinator Bill Roe at: bill.roe@runningusa.org

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, Running USA wire, Running USA E-News, website, annual marathon, half-marathon and State of the Sport reports, National Runner Survey and youth fitness portal RunningRocks.com and by supporting athlete development.

Running USA's more than 300 members includes events with 2-plus million finishers, 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) 696-6232 or ryan@runningusa.org

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