Mingling with the starts....and getting inspired

I am member of the NYRR's Young Professionals Committee which  is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to fund-raising on behalf of NYRR programs that combat childhood obesity and empower youth development.  The YPC plans, publicizes, and attends  fund-raising events. YPC members also play a critical role in connecting NYRR with corporations that may be interested in sponsoring NYRR events or youth programs.  Last Thursday we host an event where some of the professional runners attended to help us with the fund-raising.  They were very nice with everyone and we were happy to have they there helping this great cause. Here a little about them:

Alan Webb - US 1 mile holder record...3:46:91

Alan Webb



Since turning professional in 2002, Webb has competed for Nike. In 2005, he won another national title at 1500 meters, and made it to the Finals of the World Championships in Helsinki in that event. He also set personal records (PRs) at every distance from the 1500 to the 5000 meters, setting the American record at 2 miles along the way. In 2007, Webb once again won the national championship in the 1500 m run, surging past Bernard Lagat in the final 50 meters for the title. He then finished 8th in the final of the 1500 m at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. On July 6, 2007 Webb won the IAAF Golden League meet 1500 m race in Paris in a lifetime best of 3:30.54, third fastest on the American list. On July 21, 2007, Webb broke the American record in the mile. His time of 3:46.91 bested the 25-year-old record of 3:47.69 run by Steve Scott.



Shannon Rowbury



Shannon Rowbury 

She competed for the United States in the women's 1500 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. She won the bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in the 1500 m. On July 22, 2010, Rowbury improved her personal best in the 3000 m by 23 seconds with a time of 8:31.38, which is the third-best mark in U.S. history. On 2009 Shannon also won the Fifth Avenue Mile.



Shannon signing my singlet



Both of them are very nice and simple and I was really hoping that they won today. Unfortunately Alan lost but my girl Shannon got the first place for second consecutive year....I was scared at one point when she was in 4th place and thought she was not going to make it but  then she passed all the other runners in a matter of seconds...very impressive....her time 4:24:12...wow wow wow  I am really happy that she won!!



I was lucky enough to get one of Shannon's singlets, yeas one of her owns!!! Jane, who works with the elite runners at the NYRR gave it to me and Shannon signed it to wish me luck in my 50 miles but I told her I was going to wear it on the race on Sunday for good luck.