RUNNING USA – Macias, Mullen Mash Course Records at Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon – By: Matt Dockstader – Nearly 2,000 runners „treated“ to ideal conditions at 3rd edition in northern California

HEALDSBURG, Calif. – (October 30, 2010) – Overcast skies kept temperatures ideal for the third running of the Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon produced by Destination Races on Halloween weekend. Mario Macias and Catherine Mullen took full advantage of the conditions and captured the winner's trophies with convincing victories on Saturday morning.

Macias, of Alamosa, Colorado, set a fast pace early and finished with a course record time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, 30 seconds, breaking Sergio Reyes' mark of 1:06:47 set last year, while Mullen, from Palo Alto, California, finished in 1:19:10, breaking Tiffany Marley's 2009 course record by over a minute. Each took home $900 in cash, a Ball Watch and a massive 9-liter bottle of wine from Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Macias, 29, winner of the 2008 Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon, ran a consistent 5:00 per mile pace from start-to-finish, defeating runner-up Justin Patananan of Palmdale, California (1:08:09) and James Withers of Santa Rosa (1:09:03).

"I went out with a fast start because I enjoy running alone", said Macias, a Mexican national. "The course was exceptionally beautiful. I couldn't help but look around and take in my surroundings as I ran."

Mullen, 25, was equally as impressive as she beat Dorte Dahl, 44, of Denmark by over five minutes. Caroline Mullen, Catherine's twin sister, finished third in 1:25:46.

"Running for the Win(e)" took home the team trophy and a case of wine with tour and tasting from Coppola Winery.

Nearly 2,000 runners from 40 different states completed the Halloween and wine harvest themed race held in one of the premiere wine producing regions in the world. Many runners ran in costume and enjoyed the various offerings on course, including the Zinfandel paired with fig jam served by Quivira Winery at mile 6. The lack of sun did not dampen the spirits of the participants who celebrated at the post-race Wine & Music Festival at the finish.

The top three finishers in each age division won bottles of wine at the awards ceremony while participants sampled wine, beer and food from local businesses. In the costume contest, a Forest Gump runner won the individual award and the Runaway Brides won the team award.

The Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon is produced by Destination Races of Sonoma, California. The Wine Country Half Marathon series consists of five events in 2011 starting with the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon in May, followed by inaugural Virginia event in June, the flagship Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon in July, the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon in September and the Healdsburg event on Halloween weekend. For more information, go to: www.destinationraces.com

3rd Healdsburg Wine Country Half-Marathon
Healdsburg, CA, Saturday, October 30, 2010

MEN
1) Mario Macias (MEX / CO), 1:05:30*, $900 cash, 9 Litre of wine & Ball Watch
2) Justin Patananan (CA), 1:08:09, $200 cash & magnum of wine
3) James Withers (CA), 1:09:03, $150 cash & magnum of wine
*course record (previous record, 1:06:47, Sergio Reyes (CA), 2009)

WOMEN
1) Catherine Mullen (CA), 1:19:10*, $900 cash, 9 Litre of wine & Ball Watch
2) Dorte Dahl, 44, Denmark, 1:24:12, $200 cash & magnum of wine
3) Caroline Mullen (CA), 1:25:46, $150 cash & magnum of wine
*course record (previous record, 1:20:13, Tiffany Marley (CA), 2009)

Complete results at: www.runhealdsburg.com

RUNNING USA