2008 Champion Edith Masai of Kenya returns to Virginia Beach Credit: ASIphoto.com
Professional Field Announced for Ninth Annual Labor Day Weekend Road Race
Virginia Beach, VA. – September 2, 2009 – The professional athlete field is set for the ninth annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach on Sunday, September 6, 2009. For the first time, the event will include an international team challenge format with the U.S. squad going up against teams from Kenya, Ethiopia, Europe and Japan, each competing for over $30,000 in team prize money.
“The half marathon distance is the most competitive in the sport,” said Matt Turnbull, elite athlete recruiter. “The International Team Challenge will pit some of the world’s best runners in a team competition to find the best half marathon road racing team in the world.”
It’s ladies first in Virginia Beach as the professional women start 15 minutes ahead of the men. The powerful Kenyan team comes in as favorites, led by defending champion Edith Masai and two-time former champion Edna Kiplagat. Masai holds a half marathon PR of 1:07:16, and has won three individual gold medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Kiplagat owns a half marathon best of 1:09:32, and is the only back-to-back winner in the history of the event (2006-’07).
Read Full Story »
Penin Track Club Members
Ten members from the Get Fit Challenge Team, PeninTrackClub, will be getting fit for free at Bally Total Fitness this year! PeninTrackClub was drawn from all qualifying teams as the winner of ten one-year memberships to Bally Total Fitness.
Team captain and fitness enthusiast, Pam Garrett, commented ecstatically, “I can’t believe I actually won something!” Working out at Bally Total Fitness will definitely help prepare these Trackstars for a personal best.
PeninTrackClub, now in 5th place on the leaderboard for largest team, consists of Peninsula Track Club members, their family, friends and co-workers. Garrett does not limit the team to those she knows. Anyone is welcome to join her friendly and ever-growing team. So far, the team consists of mostly Rock ‘n’ Roll veterans, but word is spreading to the rookies just how much fun running actually can be!
“My first half marathon ever was Virginia Beach back in 2002. I highly recommend it for a first-time half marathon because it is just plain fun – music and cheerleaders on the course, tons of excitement, lots of people, generous crowd support, the headliner concert and weekend music festival and a huge race expo,” says Garrett. “Having a team competition is a perfect way for me to promote the many benefits of running.”
Garrett is doing most of her recruiting through The Peninsula Track Club newsletter, mass e-mails, social activities and word of mouth. Garrett says the number one goal is to have fun, but out of the Get Ft Challenge categories: Fastest Team and Largest Team, they will be striving to take home the gold for the Largest Team in the Club Division.
Good luck to Pam and all of the GET FIT Challenge teams!
Read Full Story »
