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For Immediate Release, March 16, 2011: Because Karhu mean’s ‘bear’ in Finnish, The Run Wild 5K, a part of the Publix Georgia Marathon race weekend of events, invites runners to come out on Saturday, March 19, and try to "Beat the Karhu Bear." The first 10 runners who "Beat the Karhu bear” during the 5K and cross the finish line before the bear, will be presented with a coupon good for a FREE pair of Karhu running shoes of their choice. Others who finish ahead of the Karhu Bear will receive a free Karhu t-shirt. The race starts and finishes on the Circle Drive near the Cyclorama in the Grant Park area at 8AM. The Run Wild 5K will be followed by the Kids Fun Run at 9AM, open to all kids age 10 and under.

Bill Moss, a 28-year old chiropractic student at Life University, will run as the “Bear” who all of the runners will attempt to defeat. Moss, who has been running on a competitive level since the age of 14, generally runs the 5K on a track in 15:35, and his times are in the 15:40’s on road surfaces.

“I don’t know how my normal times will transfer to “Bear” times, and I’ve never run in a costume before this Saturday’s race,” says Moss. “It shouldn’t be too hot with the 8AM start time, and like every Atlanta course, I’m sure this Grant Park one will be rolling and somewhat hilly. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

First-timer friendly and perfect for avid runners, the Run Wild 5K offers a scenic and festive run along a closed course. Among the entertainment and attendees will be the Publix mascot, Atlanta Dream team members and balloon animals. Participants and spectators are encouraged to make it a family fun day and enjoy the race, and to visit the nearby Grant Park Zoo afterward. Zoo tickets will be discounted for all runners with bibs, and for anyone mentioning the Run Wild 5K.

Registration is still open, with Run Wild 5K online registration at $25 through 11:50 PM on March 16, 2011, and the Kids Fun Run is $20. Runners can also register at the Expo on Friday (Noon – 7P) at the Georgia Dome for the same prices, or register Saturday morning at start/finish line in Grant Park beginning at 7AM. Saturday morning (race day) registration is $30 for the Run Wild 5K, and $25 for the Kids Fun Run. The Run Wild 5K is also a final race for runners to post a qualifying time for July’s Peachtree Road Race.

To register and for more information on the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon visit www.georgiamarathon.com.

Los Angeles, CA  – Because Karhu mean’s ‘bear’ in Finnish, The Karhu 5K, a division of the 13.1 Marathon® – Los Angeles invites racers to come out on January 16th and try to "Beat the Bear". Any runner who "beats the Karhu bear” during the 5K and crosses the finish line before the bear, will be presented with a ticket good for a FREE pair of Karhu running shoes of their choice from the Top to Top specialty run store. 

The Karhu 5K will share the same start and finish as the 13.1 Marathon® – Los Angeles, beginning on the Venice Boardwalk and ending at the historic Windward Circle in Venice for an unforgettable race experience. Amidst ocean views participants will enjoy a Tinseltown themed half marathon and Karhu 5K celebrating the best of Los Angeles.

First-timer friendly and perfect for avid runners, the Karhu 5K will offer a scenic and festive run along a closed course with fully supported aid stations, live entertainment, and medals for all finishers. Participants and spectators are encouraged to wear costumes and enjoy a race “Where the Party Meets the Pavement”.

New this year – racers can look forward a selection of gourmet food truck grub provided at the Finish Line Party by The Sweets Truck, Streets of Thailand, Get Shaved, Dogtown Dogs, and more.

Racers are invited to join the official benefiting charity, Team World Vision to raise funds for clean water projects in Kenya and Malawi while training with local team groups. There is no fundraising minimum and team members will enjoy a Pre-Race Team Dinner, Pep Rally on race morning, and Post-Race Celebration Cookout. For more information on Team World Vision please visit www.worldvision.org

Registration is currently open. Karhu 5K registration is $20 through January 9, 2011. Week of registration will be $25. To register and for more information on 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles visit www.131losangeles.com.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The 5th Annual Nation’s Triathlon^TM To Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society took place today in the nation’s capital, featuring a record field of 4600 competitors, including Mayor Adrian Fenty, competing in the shadow of our national monuments and memorials. Craft was the official performance apparel brand sponsor for the race and KARHU footwear was the official sponsor of the run course.

With athletes represented from 976 cities, 46 states and 14 different countries, the Nation’s Triathlon set a new Guinness Book of World Records record for the largest “International Distance Triathlon Event” in the U.S., surpassing the previous record set by the Chicago Triathlon.  This USAT-sanctioned Olympic distance triathlon included a 1.5k swim in the Potomac River, 40k bike course through downtown D.C., and a 10k run along Washington, DC’s monumental corridor finishing on the scenic banks of the Potomac River.

With a start time of 7:30am, the first competitor crossed the finish line in just under two hours, joining their family and friends at the JetBlue Airways Finish Festival.  First among top males was Robert Wade, age 28 of Arlington, VA, posting a time of 1:57:13.  First among top females was Peggy Yetman, age 42 of Leesburg, VA with a time of 2:07:20.  Washington, DC’s own Mayor Adrian Fenty finished in 67th place in the elite division, with a time of 2:45:57. 

In addition to the general race, there were four “races-within-a-race” featuring federal, military, military academy and Tri Club challenges.  The 3rd Annual CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge took place, featuring more than 400 competitors from Capitol Hill and the federal government.  Top male and female winners were Juan Valdivieso, age 29, with the office of Senator Patrick Leahy with a time of 2:07:04 and Amy Adcock, age 41, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with a time of 2:27:36.  The CQ-Roll Call Group Congressional Challenge Team competition was won by Tri to Touch Us featuring Catherine Brandt, Dan Christiansen and Patrick Hughes with a time of 2:19:47.

The 3rd Annual UMUC Military Challenge, with more than 600 competitors participating, featured a competition among active duty and veteran service members.  Dan Frost, age 42, with the U.S. Navy was the first male military competitor to cross the finish line, posting a time of 2:06:40.   Erika Foster, age 39 with the U.S. Air Force was the first female military competitor, posting a time of 2:24:53.  The winner of the UMUC Military Challenge Team Challenge was Wine Snobs featuring David Merlino, Ange Merlino and Alex Concannon with a team time of 2:49:53.

The 2nd Annual Commander-In-Chief Challenge featured individuals and teams from four military academies.  The U.S. Military Academy at West Point took the top spot among the academy teams and the top male and female competitors were Romedy Murr, age 20, with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, who posted a time of 2:02:08 and Jessica Clay, age 19, also with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a time of 2:14:48. 

In the newest challenge – The 1^st Annual Tri Club Challenge -- Team America featuring Patrick Sanford, Andrew Cronholm and Matt Goldshore took the top spot among the Tri Clubs with a team time of 2:27:09 and the top male and female competitors were Thomas McWalters of Hartford Extended Area Tri Club in Thorndike, ME with a time of 2:05:31 and Sarah Budgen with the San Francisco Triathlon Club with a time of 2:20:28. 

The Nation’s Triathlon, which is the only triathlon in the country dedicated to building awareness and raising money for the treatment of leukemia and blood-related cancers, raised $3 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year with nearly 800 athletes competing and raising funds through the Society’s (LLS) world-famous Team In Training (TNT) endurance sport training program.  To date, the partnership has garnered an estimated $8.4 million for research, patient education and support initiatives that will help the LLS bring us closer to a cure.

“We’d like to thank all of our competitors and sponsors this year,” noted race owners Charles Brodsky and Molly Quinn.  “Their participation has helped us reach this tremendous milestone of largest International distance triathlon event in the nation.  We invite all our competitors to join us again next year as well as new triathletes from across the nation and worldwide to experience a world class triathlon in a world class destination city.”

From New York to Los Angeles, Legendary Running Brand Helps Half Marathoners Move Forward™ to the Finish Line 

Beverly, MA (May 5, 2010) – KARHU, Finland’s Legendary Running Brand and Craft of Sweden Performance Apparel, announce the brand’s partnership with the 13.1 Marathon® Series, a ten plus half-marathon series produced by US Road Sports.  Serving as the exclusive shoe and apparel sponsor, KARHU and Craft will partner with US Road Sports for races in New York, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. 

“We seek to closely communicate with all types of Runners.  13.1 provides a high quality experience for the runner to enjoy a great run.” said Jay Duke, president, KARHU and Craft. “For consumers, 2009 showed they understand our product is simply different in how it works and what benefits it provides. Runners seek to Move Forward™. Our shoes help you do this naturally and efficiently with great stability resulting in a great ride for all types of runners. Also, we partner with local running specialty stores in each location to drive store traffic and support their local running community all the while communicating the unique product of KARHU footwear and CRAFT performance apparel.  Already in New York City runners really enjoyed the KARHU footwear try ons and were quite impressed with our product.” 

The 13.1 Marathon® series was created in response to the growing demand for half marathons. The 13.1 Marathon® Series is embracing the half marathon distance and delivering a race that is equal in production value to a full marathon. Over the past three years, the half marathon is the only distance to experience double-digit race participation growth. As the exclusive apparel and footwear sponsors of the half marathon series, CRAFT and KARHU will reach over 50,000 runners in the first sponsorship year. All participants will get an opportunity to experience KARHU first hand and test out the Fulcrum technology that is helping runners across the country Move Forward™. “We are thrilled to forge a partnership with such well-established running performance brands,” says US Road Sports CEO, Greg Laird “KARHU and Craft are ideal partners for 13.1 Marathon® Series, both brands have exploded into the specialty running market, targeting serious runners through new technology and award winning products.” 

KARHU's energy in 2010 through retail success, product development and the companies' key partnership with US Road Sports has propelled the brand to Move Forward™ in unparalleled ways.

WASHINGTON, DC – Organizers of The Nation’s Triathlon™ To Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced today that Craft and KARHU have signed on for the second year as official sponsors of the Nation’s Triathlon™ taking place on Sunday, September 12, 2010 in Washington, D.C. With a 900% registration growth over the past five years, Nation’s Tri is the fastest growing triathlon in the U.S. and on pace to become one of the largest triathlons in the nation. Triathlete Magazine just named it one of the Top Ten Urban Races in the country. Registration for this year’s race is already 91% sold out, so interested individuals and teams are urged to register today www.nationstri.com . 

“We are so pleased to have the participation of Craft and KARHU for the 5th Annual Nation’s Triathlon™,” noted Molly Quinn, President of The Nation’s Triathlon™. “Their top-of-the-line apparel and footwear sold out quickly in the 2009 race and we are pleased to announce that we will be offering both male and female race shirts for the 2010 race.” 

“After our success with Nation’s Triathlon™ last year, we’re thrilled to serve as the performance apparel sponsor again and support endurance athletes in their personal fight against Leukemia and Lymphoma. Few people go through their lives unaffected by these diseases including some of our own staff,” said Jay Duke, president, Craft and KARHU brands. “Our whole team is proud to provide Nation’s athletes with Craft products that are tailored to help them achieve their goals,” added Duke. 

They have signed a multi-year deal that positions Craft as the Official Performance Apparel Brand Sponsor for the race and KARHU Footwear as the Official Sponsor of the Run Course. Craft will provide each triathlete with a special edition Nation’s Triathlon Active Run Tee in either male or female styles, and the run course for the 2010 race will officially be branded the Karhu Run Course. Additionally, the company will be the only apparel brand selling Nation’s Tri-branded performance apparel during the race. Craft will offer different styles at the race for participants and spectators to buy. 

The first triathlon in the nation to benefit research toward curing blood cancers, the Nation’s Triathlon™ will take place Sunday, September 12, 2010 in the nation’s Capital. One of the nation’s largest Olympic distance races, competitors will take part in a 1.5k swim in the Potomac River, 40k bike course through D.C., and a 10k run through downtown DC’s historical landmarks.

Re-Thinking Barefoot Running: New Study Suggests Traditional “Cushion and Correct” Technology At Fault, Not Running Shoes

Beverly, MA (February, 2010) – Barefoot running is all the rage this Spring. But before runners shed their shoes and go barefoot, a new study from the one of the world’s leading sports and fitness research institutes, Finland’s University of Jyväskylä (UoJ), suggests that it’s years of a “cushion and correction” approach to running shoe technology that’s at fault, not the shoes themselves.

A recent study on barefoot running by the Harvard Business School added fuel to the barefoot fire by stating that barefoot runners are at less risk of injuries from heel strikes and may be more efficient overall, as the relatively flat position of the foot during strike better preserves forward momentum. 

“Harvard University’s Barefoot Running Study has brought to light that less correction and a more natural forefront strike is clearly beneficial to runners,” said Jay Duke, president, KARHU.  “Running barefoot may be an option for a small group of people but most likely not for the majority of runners.  Yet the reason many are still suffering from injuries induced by too much cushion and correction is because the main brands are missing the mark.  Instead, KARHU offers a revolutionary solution through Natural Ride engineering, patented Fulcrum technology provides natural forward momentum as well as protection and comfort.  We launched KARHU less than a year ago and already the buzz of its benefits are reaching running specialty stores across the country.”

More Than Barefoot Running: KARHU Natural Ride Engineering with the patented Fulcrum

The brand has made product perfection a priority, further deepening research by partnering with Finland’s leading sports and fitness research institute, the University of Jyväskylä (UoJ), to develop advancements in running shoe technology and scientifically confirm the technology associated with Fulcrum.  The university and KARHU have unveiled the next chapter of their research, which will explore other technologies that can further improve efficiency and performance by working in harmony with the natural biomechanics and physiology of runners. 

KARHU’s Spring 2010 collections complement every runner’s needs, whether for sprinting, jogging or walking.  For those needing additional support, the Steady_fulcrum ride is a high-end performance stability ride ideal for the training runner with a significant heel strike force and seeking greater comfort. For the runner with a need for speed, KARHU has developed the Forward fulcrum_ride, designed for the runner who is pushing their limits and seeks a responsive and efficient ride.