California Runners Opens Website and Memberships To The Public and Kicks Off Launch By Supporting High School Cross-Country Runners at Mt. SAC Invitational

October 23, 2013 (Walnut, California)—California Runners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to unifying the California running community is proud to announce the launch of their website and open memberships to the public. The organization aims to connect runners of all levels and abilities with other runners in the state of California and within their individual communities, while educating the general public on the health benefits of running, walking and physical activity. California Runners will promote health and fitness through their charitable work as well as host and sponsor running events throughout the state to promote and unify the sport of running.

Members of California Runners will enjoy extensive benefits including discounts at races and specialty running stores throughout the state. Members will also get $46 off the inaugural California Half Marathon in 2014 including members only VIP benefits. Anyone who signs up in the first year will receive a California Runners “Founders” t-shirt and be considered a founding member of the organization. The proceeds of the annual membership will support California Runners marquis charities—registration and insurance for middle school running programs, in-state shoe donation projects and maintaining a clean system of California trails and roads. The website will provide both the public and members with unique content that highlights state wide running talent, stories and personalities (youth, elites and masters), a comprehensive event calendar as well as health and training tips from the top athletes, coaches and health experts from the Golden State.

California Runners is the brainchild of lifelong runners James and Mimi Nielsen, Sergio and Morgan Gonzalez and JT Service, who have felt firsthand the immense benefits that running has brought and continues to bring to their lives, communities and health. Their involvement in every level of running from beginner, youth/high school, collegiate, professional and within their communities is the foundation to the mission of unity that is central to California Runners. James got his start in running at the middle school level, “Two of my teachers started a running club when I was in 7th grade. Little did I know that introduction to running would launch a

lifelong passion that has affected every day of my life since. I never thought I would run in high school, college or professionally. I hope to return the favor and that California Runners gives our youth and community members an opportunity to start or enhance their running careers.”

California Runners is also proud to announce that Olympic medalist Deena Kastor has joined the founding team as an Ambassador. Deena will help inspire our local community members, generate more interest in the elite side of racing and promote California Runners to the world, “California Runners is ‘Running Central’ for this great state. From youth, to high school, to college, to professional and Masters, California has the best running schools, programs, club system, training locations and races than anywhere in the world I have traveled. For this reason my husband Andrew and I have chosen to live, train and race in this great state and we now have a central place to turn for all our running questions and ideas thanks to California Runners.”

To kick off the launch California Runners will attend the Mt. SAC High School Cross-Country Invitational in Walnut, CA which is the largest cross country race in the world, this Friday and Saturday (October 25-26), where the founders will cheer on and support the runners alongside the life size California Runners grizzly bear mascot. For Sergio this means returning to a race that highlights the pivotal role that running plays in his life, “We all ran the Mt. SAC Invitational in high school and have some of our best running memories here, so we are pumped to cheer on the runners who are just getting their start in the sport. Running shaped my life, it was my path to college and I was the first person in my family to graduate. It is our aim with California Runners to grow and build more opportunities at the grassroots and community level through this amazing sport.”

Come meet California Runners at the Mt. SAC Cross-Country Invitational October 25-26. We are so excited to share what we are able to give back to you and the community. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @CaliforniaRuns and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/californiaruns. Visit californiarunners.org and find out how you can become a founding member today!

Contact:

Morgan Gonzalez

[email protected]

(909)702-6835