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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Field For Sunday’s P.F. Chang Rock ‘N Roll Races Named

Posted January 10th, 2008 at 9:32 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The fifth annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & Half-Marathon on Sunday, January 13, 2008 will host an Ethiopian dominated professional field and shine the spotlight on 39 American women from 19 states who are “Running Down a Dream” as they race for a position at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon.

Without Terefe Yae, the 2007 men’s champion, in this year’s field, Ethiopian Dejene Yirdawe, 29, who finished third at the 2007 Dublin Marathon in a personal best time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 8 seconds, represents the fastest time in this year’s Arizona field.
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Elite Racing Names Turnbull New Elite Athlete Coordinator

Posted December 12th, 2007 at 9:15 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Elite Racing, Inc., announces Matthew Turnbull has been hired as the company’s new elite athlete coordinator.

Turnbull replaces Mike Long who died in July. Long served as Elite Racing’s athlete coordinator for 16 years.

Turnbull, 30, from Stocksfield, Northumberland in England, is now responsible for recruiting and managing the professional and elite amateur athlete fields for Elite Racing’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and the Carlsbad 5000.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series includes seven major marathons and half marathons throughout the U.S. The Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world records and is known as the “world’s fastest 5K.”
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Hundreds gather to remember Mike Long

Posted July 28th, 2007 at 11:22 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Under the warm Southern California sun, which no doubt had influenced his sunny disposition, hundreds of family, friends and running industry colleagues gathered at Mission Point Park to remember Elite Racing’s legendary elite athletes coordinator, Mike Long, who died unexpectedly last week at 65.

Tears flowed freely as more than a dozen people came to the podium to remember Long, showering him with praise and sharing their goodbyes.

“For those who never met him words would not suffice,” said writer and television commentator, Toni Reavis, who acted as emcee. He called the diminutive Long, who only stood 5′ 6″ (168cm) tall, “the center around which all we revolved.”

Long’s son, Bruce, said that his father’s sudden death –believed to be a heart attack– was probably how his father would have wanted to go, not caring for lingering goodbyes. “He was never a hospital bed kind of guy,” he said, his sunglasses concealing his tear-swollen eyes.
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