2011 USATF Southern California Cross Country Grand Prix

Runners! Give your legs a break from pounding the pavement and join USATF Southern California in the 2011 Cross Country Grand Prix! There are FIVE races to go in the exciting nine-race series, culminating in the Southern California Association Championships at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area on Saturday, November 5! USATF Southern California members who run in two Grand Prix races, plus run in the Association Championships on November 5, will be competition for a total of$2,500 in prize money, divided between Open runners, Masters (40-49) and Masters (50+). Detailed rules here!

The Association Championships winning open men’s and open women’s open teams will earn a $500 travel stipend for travel to the 2011 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Seattle, WA.

• September 24, Bell-Jeff Invitational, Griffith Park
  
  For 38 years top high school students have competed in theBellarmine-Griffith Park Invitation Cross County race! Now, thanks to the help of sponsors A Runner's Circle and Saucony, a special non-high school open race has been added to schedule! Open runners will start off this historic race at 7:00 am! Do not miss this unique opportunity to run a cross country race in beautiful Griffith Park.
  
  Registration is open now for the 5K race. On September 23rd athletes entered in the Open Race can pick up their Race packet and Bib at A Runner's Circle located at 3216 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, 90039. You can also pay your pre-registration fee of $25, by sending a check to Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, 465 E. Olive Ave. Burbank, CA. 91501 or pay at the time of your Bib pick up. For late entries you may sign up the morning of the race and pay your entry fee of $30 on race morning.Email A Runner's Circle for specific questions about the Open competition, info@arunnerscircle.com.
  
  
• October 16, Free Spirit Invitational, Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)
  
  With 62 years of history, the Mt. SAC Cross Country Course is one of the oldest and most famed courses in the world, challenging generations of runners against each other. This is a tough course over asphalt and dirt trails with flat and rolling hill combinations, plus switch backs and serious hills. The Open and Masters Cross Country race will start at 8:00 am before the youth competitions. Medals will be given to 1st thru 8th place overall. Runners can register on race day for only $10!
  
  Registration is available via email to Denise Smotherman, or entries can be mailed to Denise Smotherman, 165 South Dommer Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 Telephone (909) 595-0103. Email Denise Smotherman at smotgnd52@earthlink.net for more information.
  
  
• October 22, Elysian Park 5K Eco Run/Walk Elysian Park
  
  Run an awesome 5 km cross country race and have a great time while creating an awareness for the environment! This is a beautiful cross country style 5k race to benefit Tree People. Green Running Events proudly brings you its 2nd annual eco-friendly race. The event will feature eco friendly awards for the top 3 finishers in each division, plus a raffle with great prizes and music. The 2011 Eco 5K also features a new course winding through Elysian Park, adjacent to the Dodgers stadium.
  
  Registration for the Eco Run/Walk is only $25, but increases in four days to $30! Youth runners pay just $15! Want a better deal? Register a team of 4 runners for only$60! Email Heather Heath at heather@greenrunningevents.org for more information.
  
  
  
• October 29, Twilight's Last Gleaming, Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura
  
  This race is the most unique and challenging run in the 2011 Grand Prix series, a cross country race run in the early evening! The course is impossible to run. Only mountain goats and sherpa guides will find this reasonable. The first mile is particularly brutal, going up a city street that automobiles have trouble with. Most competitors are wasted before they can consider racing. You've got to be CRAZY to want to do this thing. So don't miss it!
  
  Registration on race day in encouraged, $10 to sign up. In fact, there is a $5 penalty to register early! Didn't we say this is a crazy race? So head to Ventura, run this race, then hang out with race organizer (disorganizer) and USATF Masters Cross Country chair, Andrew Hecker! Email Andrew Hecker at info@trackinfo.org for more information.
  
  
  
• November 5, USATF Southern California Association Cross Country Championships, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
  
  Welcome back to Kenneth Hahn State Park, site of previous Association Championships, but this year with a NEW course, and a NEW time. The Championships race is just part of several competitions held on November 5, including a 6 km Community Showcase, a Monster Hill Challenge race, and a Bowl-Run Relay. USATF members can vie for Championship titles and medals, then continue the fun with the Monster Hill Challenge and Bowl-Run Relay. And Kenneth Hahn is the perfect place for a post run picnic and potluck!
  
  Registration is open now, just $30 to race with some of the finest cross country athletes in Southern California. The women's Championships race is at 8:50 am, and the men's race is at 9:40 am. Email K-Trax Athletics atktraxathletics@gmail.com for more information!
  
  
• USATF $500 Cross Country Travel Grant to USATF National Cross Country Club Championships, Seattle, WA
  
  As part of USATF’s effort to support Association-based programs, as well as the development of the Open Club system, a generous travel grant of $500 is available to the winners of the Southern California Association Cross Country Championships. That is a grant of $500 to the Open men's team, and $500 to the Open women's team, a total of $1,000, to assist with traveling to Seattle, Washington to compete on December 10 for the USATF National Cross Country Club Championships title. More information available here.
  
  
  
  USATF Southern California Cross Country Grand Prix information: Andrew Hecker (Masters Cross Country, email: info@trackinfo.org, 805-642-3879.