Ironman Meets Avalon 50 Mile Run

Ironman Champion Heather Fuhr to compete in Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run

The 1997 Ironman Triathlon World Champion, Heather Fuhr, is signed up to race in the Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run on Saturday, January 15, 2011.  Fuhr is considered one of the best women triathlon competitors of all-time having won 12 Ironman Championships, placing her second on the all-time list, second only to “The Queen of Kona”, Paula Newby-Fraser (22). The 42 year old Canadian also won Ironman USA in 1999, 2001-2003 and again in 2005.  Heather recently broke the women’s Ridgecrest 50k course record set by Ann Trason in 2001.  Her 3 hour, 39 minute, 42 second finish took over 7 1/2 minutes off the old record and was good for second place among all 50k finishers.

“Having a high caliber athlete like Heather Fuhr compete at the Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run is very exciting.  While we regularly host some of the country’s best ultra-runners and trail marathon runners, having an Ironman athlete compete brings our event to an entire different level,” said Race Director and President of Spectrum Sports Management, Mike Bone. As the event grows, we hope to continue to attract more and more athletes of Heather’s caliber. Our participant numbers are at a record high this year which is great news for the event as well as the Avalon business community.”

About Avalon 50 Mile Run
Saturday, January 15, 2011
5:00AM (12 hour cutoff; course will be closed at 5:00pm)
Location- Crescent & the Pier, Avalon, CA-Santa Catalina Island
Race Records: Male-Peter Park (2002) 5:48 ;  Female- Julie Arter (2000) 7:22:45
Age Group Awards: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-Over   
The race is known as one of the country’s most challenging and scenic 50-milers, with all proceeds from entry fees and sponsored mileage going to charity and used as a fundraiser for the Avalon’s Lion’s Club. Recipients of the Lion’s proceeds through the Avalon Benefit 50 Mile Run include: Avalon Hospital, Avalon High School scholarships, Catalina Island Conservancy and the Bill Pullman Health Care Fund. The course is a 50-mile out and back course on scenic fire roads from Avalon to the Isthmus and back; takes runners through island’s interior, which is generally closed to the public.

Spectrum Sports Management, LLC is a full-service sports and event marketing agency with expertise in participant events; from world class championships to grass roots event marketing, we also specialize in sponsorship packaging and sales that deliver the desired results for your organization. Spectrum Sports Management is owned by Mike Bone, a sports marketing and management professional with more than 25 years of experience in the race industry. Spectrum Sports Management also has immense experience managing golf tournaments, working with such organizations as the PGA, PGA Champions TOUR, and the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. For more information please visit, www.spectrumsports.net.