News30 May 2010


Gebrselassie ready to Run with the Kids in New York City on National Running Day

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Haile Gebrselassie after his fourth Berlin marathon victory (© Getty Images)

World recordholder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, the most decorated long distance runner of all time, will be the special guest at the New York Road Runners Mighty Milers Fun Run at Icahn Stadium, part of running activities and events taking place across the country on Wednesday 2 June to celebrate the second annual National Running Day.

Gebrselassie will be on hand as more than 1,500 New York City schoolchildren take part in various events, including tug-of-war, relay races, and a one-mile run for older kids. The day’s activities at the Randall’s Island venue will begin at 10:00 a.m. and are scheduled to end by 12:30 p.m.
 
“There is no better person to inspire the kids and runners across the nation on National Running Day than Haile,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “We are excited to have arguably the greatest ambassador of running with us today.”

“You know, I always tell all people to run at least 30 minutes a day. It cost you some time, but it refreshes the mind and makes you will work more effective during the day. That’s why I support this National Running Day so much,” said Gebrselassie.

“It’s a wonderful idea which we all together should spread around the World. I’m very excited about coming to New York as America will celebrate it’s National Running Day. I’m also looking very much forward towards meeting all the children at the Ichan Stadium, I’m sure we will all celebrate together.”
 
Gebrselassie is just one many professional stars who will be taking part in a variety of running activities and events on National Running Day. Eight members of Team USA Minnesota, including Katie McGregor and Matt Gabrielson, will attend events around the Twin Cities. Civic leaders are also joining in by writing proclamations for National Running Day in Little Rock, AR, and Indianapolis, IN.  
 
Also on National Running Day, New York Road Runners will proudly unveil the online trailer for 'A Running Start: The Video Resource for Coaching Youth Runners'. This free online coaching resource, available at www.nyrr.org/arunningstart, is composed of more than 80 videos that help coaches teach kids the fundamentals of running.
 
The NYRR Young Professionals will host a fun-run and happy hour to benefit NYRR’s Youth Programs. Runners will meet inside Central Park near 81st Street and Central Park West. After a run, they’ll head to Gin Mill for food, drinks, and raffles.
 
NYRR will also be supplying refreshments to those out running on National Running Day from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in both Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. A water station will be set up inside Central Park at Engineer’s Gate, near East 90th Street and Fifth Avenue. In Prospect Park, runners will be able to hydrate at Grand Army Plaza.
 
Runners can post their events and search for others at www.runningday.org (click on Participate to create an event and view listings). If there isn’t an event scheduled in a specific area, all runners are invited to create their own. No event is too big or too small to be part of National Running Day!

National Running Day is an initiative whereby many of the major organizations within the United States running industry are joining forces in an unprecedented, unified effort to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise. The second annual National Running Day will be Wednesday, June 2. From New York to San Diego, the day will celebrate the benefits of running as part of a healthy and active lifestyle aimed at combating some of today’s most pressing health issues. For more information, visit www.runningday.org.
 
New York Road Runners for the IAAF

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