Running USA 2012 - Houston
HOUSTON – (January 17, 2012) – Running USA 2012: The Industry Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Houston from January 15-17, set a record with 468 attendees in the Bayou City. The largest and signature running industry conference featured something for everybody from Idea Labs and round table sessions, keynote speakers such as Kevin Carroll and Shellie Pfohl, the Running Rocks Youth Assembly, fun social events and morning runs as well as networking opportunities.
“With new records in attendance and expo exhibitors, our 9th edition had an entertaining Hall of Champions dinner and auction, the induction of running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson and the Mammoth Track Club receiving the third Allan Steinfeld Development Award. This was simply our best conference ever!” said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO. “We especially thank our Running USA 2012 sponsors, attendees and exhibitors for helping make this conference so special.”
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
The Sunday evening Running USA Hall of Champions Dinner and Live Auction presented by Competitor Group inducted the ninth class of Running USA Hall of Champions who was recognized and celebrated for her contribution and dedication to the sport:
* Joan Benoit Samuelson (Freeport, ME), Olympic champion / record setter / race founder / legend / ambassador
The Mammoth Track Club was also announced as the third Allan Steinfeld Development Award winner during the Hall of Champions dinner, and the conference’s silent and live auctions raised more than $56,000 for the Mammoth Lakes, California-based training group and other Running USA programs.
At Monday’s Ashworth Youth Awards Luncheon, the speaker was Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), who addressed the overwhelming importance of getting and keeping America and her youth active.
During the luncheon, Running USA Youth Awards sponsored by YouthRunner.com were presented to:
Youth Event of the Year
The Cowtown Kid’s 5K, Fort Worth, TX
Youth Program of the Year
Students Run LA, Los Angeles, CA
Youth Program Contributor of the Year
Kerry Vargo, Kids Run America, Denver, CO
In addition, after lunch, there was the Running Rocks Youth Assembly led by Kevin Carroll, our dynamic keynote speaker. Carroll was joined in this engaging, interactive session by Carl Lewis, 9-time Olympic champion and former Houston resident, and 150 future runners of Houston. Carroll’s talent for inspiration and collaboration and Lewis’ story of becoming an Olympic legend helped the audience think about how to inspire young runners in our communities and “What Moves You?”
On Tuesday at the Trailblazer Luncheon presented by Active Network, Nancy Hobbs, long-time USA Mountain and Trail Running Leader (American Trail Running Association founder and executive director, USATF MUT chair and World Mountain Running Association council) and Running USA Membership Director, was presented the 8th Women’s Trailblazer Award for her contributions to the sport.
Earlier, on Sunday, Running USA’s Board of Directors elected the following officers to two-year terms: president, Virginia Brophy Achman (Twin Cities In Motion); vice president, Beth Salinger (Hospital Hill Run); treasurer, Lonnie Somers (Fetal Hope Foundation) and secretary, Jeff Matlow (imATHLETE). Allan Steinfeld (New York Road Runners) is president emeritus.
Running USA 2012 was presented by the Active Network, Ashworth Awards, Competitor Group, Leslie Jordan, Inc. and MarathonFoto.
Running USA 2013 – set for February 24-26 – will be held in Savannah, Georgia, and 2013 registration will open soon.
