Team Run Eugene

Bronwyn Crossman 3rd place at L.A. Half Marathon

2013 has seen a fast start for TRE led by athletes Craig Leon, Bronwyn Crossman and Shadrack Biwott. All three runners started off the year competing on the roads and opened the door for an exciting spring that will see the return to the track for Ian Cronin and Jordyn Smith, as well as the debut of TRE’s Helen Rarick and newest member Diego Mercado.

Leon led the way with a win and course record of 2:16:48 at the Mississippi Blues Marathon (Jackson, MS) on January 5th. This was the first race back for Leon after the October 7th, 2012 running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. For a complete report on his race, check out Leon’s blog at www.craigleonrunning.com. Next up for Leon is the Great Aloha Run 8.15 mile (Honolulu, HI) on February 18th. The Great Aloha Run will be the first in Leon’s build up to the April 15th running of the John Hancock Boston Marathon.

TRE athletes Bronwyn Crossman and Shadrack Biwott  both competed  on January 13 th in the Allstate L.A. Half-Marathon (Los Angeles, CA) and Aramco Houston Half- Marathon (Houston, TX) respectively. Both were racing for TRE for the first time.

Crossman, competing in her first competitive half-marathon, finished 3rd overall in the women’s division of the Allstate L.A. Half-Marathon in a time of 1:17:40. Complete results can be found here. For Crossman this race served as a lead up to the February 17th running of the Birch Bay Marathon (Birch Bay, WA). Birch Bay will be Crossman’s first marathon.

Biwott (marathonguide.com)  had a busy month, beginning with the Aramco Houston Half Marathon where he was up against a strong national and international field finishing as the top American and 4th overall in 1:02:23. He followed up Houston by competing in the Bermuda International Race Weekend.  Biwott raced in the men’s elite mile finishing 4th in 4:11. 72 and the men’s 10k winning in a time of 29:19. Complete results of the elite mile and 1ok can be found at here at Runnerspace.com. Up next for Biwott is the US 15k Championships at the Gate River Run (Jacksonville, FL) which he’ll run with teammate, Craig Leon.

For up to date results and news check back here and follow the TRE Facebook and Twitter pages.

Upcoming Events:

Feb. 10: Truffle Shuffle, Eugene, OR – Jordyn Smith
Feb. 17: Birch Bay Marathon, Birch Bay, WA – Bronwyn Crossman
Feb. 18: Great Aloha Run, Honolulu, HI  - Craig Leon
Mar. 1: UW Final Qualifier, Seattle, WA – 1mile – Jordyn Smith
Mar. 9: Gate River Run, Jacksonville, FL – 15k – Craig Leon, Shadrack Biwott
Apr. 15: Boston Marathon, Boston, MA – Craig Leon
Apr. 28 : Eugene Half Marathon, Eugene, OR – Diego Mercado, Helen Rarick

Craig Leon runs to record win in Jackson, MS

TRE athletes Craig Leon and Shadrack Biwott will both be in action early this month. Leon will start off 2013 for TRE at the Mississippi Blues Marathon this Saturday (Jan 5) in Jackson, MS while Biwott will head to Houston, Tx for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon on January 13.

This will be the first race in a TRE jersey for Biwott (marathonguide.com), who owns a half-marathon PR of 1:01:40. Most recently, he finished third at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Half Marathon in 1: 06:51 on November 11, 2012.

For Leon (Mizuno), this will be his first marathon since setting a PR at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October in a time of 2:15:38. Recently Leon competed locally in the Eugene Holiday Half Marathon winning in a time of 1:08: 41 in preparation for this Saturday’s race.

For up to date results on both races for Leon and Biwott,  check back here after the race as well as the TRE Facebook and Twitter pages

About the Mississippi Blues Marathon

Come to the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon and you can expect to have a good time. Challenge yourself with the 26.2-mile marathon or the 13.1-mile half-marathon. You can even create a team of five runners and tackle the course as a relay team. Four of you take on five-mile legs with the final runner going the 6.2 miles to the end. Wheelchair competitors are welcome to take part in this challenging course!

With room for professional marathoners and first-time racers, the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon gives you an opportunity to run the Marathon, Half-Marathon, Relay or Kids’ 1-Mile ‘Marathon.’

It’s not just about the running either. The event is also a huge street party filled with enthusiastic supporters encouraging their friends and family to complete the races. You can watch professional runners tackle the course in about 2 hours, 30 minutes and you can watch the inspiring determination of the racers who finish the course near its 7-hour time limit.

About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.

Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half-marathon, 5K and kids’ fun run. In 2011, more than 30,000 runners participated in four race weekend events organized by 7,500 volunteers, creating Houston’s largest single-day sporting event. In addition to hosting numerous world-renowned road races, including the USA Men’s and Women’s Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and 2007, respectively, and the 1992 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, HMC will host the 2012 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic Team Trials – Marathon on January 14, 2012.

For more information, visit houstonmarathon.com or call 713.957.3453.

Eugene energy bar company pledges $5K to elite running group

It’s athletes helping athletes. Team Run Eugene, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing middle and long-distance runners for national and international competition, is the recipient of a $5,000 sponsorship from Eugene-based gluten and dairy free energy bar company Picky Bars.

This is the first financial sponsorship for Picky Bars, which was founded in 2010 by professional runners Lauren Fleshman and Stephanie Rothstein, and professional triathlete Jesse Thomas.

“Team Run Eugene is exactly the kind of post-collegiate club our running community needs,” said Fleshman. “With individual athlete sponsorships decreasing, we are losing a frightening amount of talent and depth. Team Run Eugene captures and develops talent, but they don’t stop at the track. Their presence in our community will be noticeable, and athletes will develop usable skills for life after sport. Picky Bars is a very small business, and giving during times like these is a challenge, but this idea is worth digging deep for.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Picky Bars team and their belief in the mission of TRE,” said Robert Wayner, Team Run Eugene executive director. “This sponsorship is key to furthering the development of our organization.”

In addition to fostering the talent of aspiring professional runners, Team Run Eugene promotes running in the local community as part of a healthy lifestyle through free community workout groups and volunteering with running programs at area schools.

TRE also boasts sponsorships from Garmin, ElliptiGO, Cooperative Performance & Rehabilitation, and Eugene Running Company.

About Team Run Eugene
Team Run Eugene is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing the support necessary for aspiring professional runners who otherwise would not have the opportunity to continue their training post-collegiately. TRE enhances the running and broader communities through fostering and supporting talent, and through the promotion of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.

About Picky Bars
“Real Food Balanced for Sport.” A gluten and dairy free energy bar, made of only real food, with balanced nutrient ratios for endurance and recovery. They were created by pro athletes—Lauren Fleshman, Stephanie Rothstein, and Jesse Thomas—as their own training snacks in Springfield, OR. Everyone thought they tasted amazing so they began to sell them. They have all the perfect ratios you’re looking for: 4:1 carbs to protein, and balanced marco nutrients for sustained energy, hunger control, and happy digestion. It’s freaking science, dude.

Ian Dobson, 2008 Olympian and former Oregon Track Club Elite member, will serve as coach for the elite running development group Team Run Eugene. He replaces Andy Downin who recently accepted a position with New Balance in Boston, Mass.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ian as the coach of Team Run Eugene and we’re incredibly grateful to Andy Downin for his work in helping to launch this group one year ago,” said TRE Executive Director Robert Wayner. “Ian’s professional running experience coupled with his involvement in the local running community make him an ideal fit with TRE’s mission.”

In addition to competing in the 5,000 meters in Beijing, Dobson was an NCAA National Champion and ten-time All-American while at Stanford University. Dobson still holds the Stanford school records in the 5000m (13:15.33) and steeplechase (8:32.09).

Dobson’s leadership experience extends beyond the track. He has worked at the University of Oregon’s LeaderShape Institute and with the university’s Competition Not Conflict program. In addition, he organizes and coaches a weekly community running group in Eugene.

“I’m delighted to be working with Team Run Eugene. This is the perfect opportunity to take the lessons I learned in my own running career and apply them to developing athletes and promoting running in Eugene,” Dobson said. “It’s an honor to work with these athletes. TRE has enormous potential and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Dobson graduated from Stanford University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He ran professionally for Adidas from 2005-09, and for Nike and the OTC Elite from 2010-12.

Last night, Team Run Eugene sponsor, Eugene Running Company hosted a send-off for Craig Leon before he leaves Eugene for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday. The event was part of the stores weekly Monday night community run and also served as a special Mizuno Night for patrons. Mizuno is the official corporate sponsor of Craig Leon.

Participants had a chance to test-run Mizuno running shoes, talk with a Mizuno representative and win great prizes. In addition to meeting with Craig Leon,  several other TRE athletes including Ian Cronin, Helen Rarick, and Jordyn Smith were on hand to support the stores event and participate in the run .

Prior to leaving on a three, five or seven mile run the runners were treated to a Q and A conducted by Eugene Running Company owner and TRE board member, Bob Coll. For the complete interview as well as an additional pre-Chicago video interview taken before the start of the nights event, see below.

The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be run this Sunday, October 7th at 7:30 AM (CST).  Leon will face a very competitive American and international field in an attempt to better his PR of 2:15:42. Results will be posted on the TRE Facebook and Twitter pages, and you can track Leon’s progress in real-time here.

For more information on the Eugene Running Company and their weekly runs and training groups, check out their Running Groups page on their website.

Q and A With Eugene Running Company Owner Bob Coll

Pre-Chicago Marathon Interview with Craig Leon (10/1/12)

In what will be his final tune-up race for this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Craig Leon is headed to Philadelphia, PA for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. Sunday’s race will be exactly 3 weeks out from the Chicago Marathon and should be a good test of Leon’s fitness prior to beginning his taper for October 7th.

Leon will face some of his Chicago Marathon competition in 2012 U.S. Olympian, Dathan Ritzhenhein. Ritzenhein, who finished 13th in the 10,000 meters at the London Olympics will also be using Philadelphia for his final pre-marathon race.

You can follow Leon’s progress toward Chicago and his results from this weekend at the Team Run Eugene Facebook and Twitter pages.

For Leon’s pre-race thoughts and to keep up with his thoughts heading toward the Chicago Marathon check out his blog at www.craigleonrunning.com.

About Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia

Proudly, and rightfully so, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon has become one of the world’s most prestigious road races. Known as the Philadelphia Distance Run for 32 years, the historic event enters its third year rebranded as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series on Sunday, September 16, 2012. The 2012 race will feature live bands and fanfare entertaining participants along each mile of the route course, the home of five World Records and three U.S. Marks and the current men’s and women’s U.S. all-comers’ records.

Event weekend kicks off Friday, September 14 with a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo at Philadelphia Convention Center, which is open to the public. The Expo, where all participants pick up their race number, will feature over 100 exhibitors with free samples, the latest in running apparel and a full schedule of interactive clinics. For more information, visit Competitor.com or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter.

Team Run Eugene athlete will be competing in the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 7th. This will be Leon’s first marathon since running the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials this past January.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced its full elite athlete field for the event’s 35th running on October 7. Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede tops a stacked roster of athletes hungry for a breakthrough performance on Chicago’s international stage, while the women’s field welcomes, among others, Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia, coming off a fourth-place finish in the 10,000-meter race at the London Olympics. These athletes join previously announced 2012 Boston Marathon champion and Chicago runner-up Wesley Korir of Kenya, three-time U.S. Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, and three-time defending champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia.

“The men’s field is the deepest we’ve ever had in Chicago, and I think it will take a career performance to win on October 7,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Along with Ritzenhein, the top U.S. entrants include Notre Dame University All- American and 2010 U.S. Half Marathon runner-up Patrick Smyth; California’s Jimmy Grabow, who ran 2:12:35 in his debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in January; 2:13 athletes Jeffrey Eggleston of Arizona and Patrick Rizzo, a Chicago native; and Eugene’s Leon.

See the complete release about this year’s race here.

You can also keep up with Leon’s progress toward Chicago on his website. Recently he posted a training update to his blog, including a video of one of his staple 30k progressive runs. Check out the video below to see how the workout went and keep updated  on our facebook page and  at http://www.craigleonrunning.com for his progress toward October 7th.

About the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Celebrating its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a world- class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $219 million in economic impact to its host city in 2011 according to a report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago’s Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In advance of the race, a two-day Health& Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6.

Local Eugene businesses, Ninkasi Brewing and Picky Bars have combined to host a benefit party for Team Run Eugene this Wednesday, June 27th at the Ninkasi Patio. The event is a chance to celebrate the 2012 US Olympic Track and Field Trials, taking place in Eugene, and our aspiring professional runners. During the event 25% of all pint and Picky Bars sales will be donated to TRE.

Ninkasi Brewing, which has supported Team Run Eugene
through it’s Pints for a Cause program, is one of Eugene’s most popular craft breweries. The brewery produces beer that is distributed throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and San Francisco. In addition to making and selling locally oriented craft beer, Ninkasi supports all forms of positive community gatherings and non-profit organizations. So far, we have worked to promote sporting events and team sponsorships, musical events and bands, theater and the fine arts, as well as festivals and neighborhood parties.

Picky Bars are allergy sensitive, athlete designed, and scientifically scrumptious energy bars. Always gluten & dairy free, and always made with real food by real people. Created my professional athletes Lauren Fleshman, Stephanie Rothstein, and Jesse Thomas as their own training snacks they are have all the perfect ratios you’re looking for—4:1 carbs to protein, and balanced marco nutrients for sustained energy, hunger control, and happy digestion.

The Team Run Eugene Benefit is an open event for all those interested. Come out and meet the Picky Bar crew, try one of Ninkasi’s craft beers, and learn more about Team Run Eugene, our athletes and how you can support their quest to become the next generation of running elite.

The Team Run Eugene Benefit will run from 5-9PM at the Ninkasi Patio and Tasting Room at 272 Van Buren Street.

For more more event information go the the Facebook event page.

Team Run Eugene physical therapy sponsor clinic, Cooperative Performance & Rehabilitation, LLC will be hosting 2 Community Footwear Screenings and Fun Runs on Saturday, June 23rd and June 30th. Each run is being sponsored by Mizuno Running as part of their Mezamashii Project. Mizuno is also the official apparel sponsor of Craig Leon, who will be there to lead the 6 mile run and speak on his experience as a professional runner and training.

Participants will take part in a free biomechanical screening by a licensed physical therapist for proper running footwear, and an opportunity to test run the appropriate Mizuno running shoe on a group 3 or 6 mile run touring south Eugene.

After the run, each participant can stay for refreshments and talk/ Q&A with Mizuno Racing Team Athletes, including local runner and 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon participant, Craig Leon, of Team Run Eugene. Each participant will also be eligible for Mizuno prize drawings. Local business and running group, Run Momma Run, will be present with information about their many great programs and events, and will be doing a giveaway as well.

Footwear screenings begin at 8AM each day and are followed by the Run at 9AM.

For more information about the screenings and fun run, including maps of the run, please see the event page on the CP&R website.

Click here for the Facebook event page.