Keep L.A. Running 5K, 10K To Offer Cash Prizes
July 13 Charity Run Seeks Top Runners, Higher National Profile

Cash prizes, team competition add to 2008 Keep L.A. Running.

Playa Del Rey, June 26, 2008 - The 15th annual Keep L.A. Running Charity 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, Kids Dash, Coastal Bike Cruise and Mayor's Mile returns to its traditional site, Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey, on Sunday morning, July 13. The event has the same overall goals, to raise money for deserving charities and promote a healthy lifestyle, but also a few novelties and innovations designed to attract quality runners and give the races a higher athletic national profile.

Colonial Life, a co-title sponsor of the event, has come aboard for the first time to offer prize money to the top individual finishers. Colonial Life will offer cash prizes to the top three finishers in both the 5K and 10K runs for men and women - $500 for first place, $350, for second place, $150 for third place.

“This infusion of cash to Keep L.A. Running should bring out many top runners and also track clubs competing for cash prizes,” stated Don Franken, the event's communications director. “We hope this is only the beginning of making this event one of the most competitive in the country," stated race director, Mike Ward, an avid marathoner.

Special invitations will be send to all Southern California track and distance running clubs as well as running publications to help attract top runners. Mary Decker Slaney, the most accomplished American middle distance runner ever, will be on hand as event spokesperson for the races. Mary will also run the 5K. Josh Rubenstein, the popular weatherman from KCBS and KCAL, will be a host of the event.

The Keep L.A. Running 5K has been won in the past by top runners such as Steve Scott, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Kenya 's former NCAA champion Fredson Mayiek, Ceci St. Geme and Christian Hesch, but prize money will help ensure top runners year in and year out for the event. According do race founder and chairman Alejandro Stephens, prize money should help bring the race a higher national profile.

In addition to the new prize money competition, PacifiCare, another co-title sponsor, will present a Team Cup for the fastest for the winning teams (top five runners) in both the 5K and 10K runs. A team can enter an unlimited number of runners (male and female), but only the highest 5 finishers for each team count for the team competition. Members of running clubs registering as a team get a $5 discount. 

Also new to the event is the expanded Kaiser Permanente Health and Fitness Expo, with more great healthy foods; i.e., Cacique Yogurt, Lara Bars, and health, wellness, and fitness related booths, as well as running related products.

American Income Life will present the scenic 10 and 20-mile coastal bike cruise at the event along the bike paths at the beach. Time Warner will present the Kid's Dash, and Colonial Life will present the Mayor's Mile.

Also for the first time in its history, Keep LA Running will be televised and will be available on video-on-demand on local Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable.

The entire family can participate in the 7:30 am 10/20-mile coastal bike cruise, which winds south from the start on the bike paths along the ocean, or walk / run in the Mayor's Mile, also at 7:30 am. The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the 10K at 8:30 am. Or the kids can run in the Kids Dash, which will begin at 9:45 a.m.

Over the years Keep LA. Running has raised over $1,000,000 for its beneficiary charities. The event is organized by SEIU Local 721 Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization, and also benefits the Pediatric Oncology Service, Women's and Children's Hospital of LAC + USC Medical Center; the Harbor UCLA Medical Center Neonatal Ward, and the American Cancer Society.

Major sponsors of Keep L.A. Running include co-title sponsors, PacifiCare, Colonial Life, Kaiser Permanente and American Income Life.

Sponsors include The Law Offices of Fensten & Gelber, Union Bank of California, Trustmark, Delta Dental, Benefit Vision, United Way, Aflac, Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton of Goldstein, Allstate, and Lewis and Marenstein.

Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable are media partners of Keep L.A. Running.