Posted: November 9, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Basil Honikman to Retire as Running USA CEO

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (November 8, 2007) - Basil Honikman, one of the founders of Running USA in 1999 and its Executive Director / CEO since 2000, has informed the organization's Board of Directors that he will retire after the 2008 Running USA Conference in La Jolla, Calif. this February. In 1997, he was involved in a series of meetings among the directors of major races dealing with concerns about the future of the sport. Two years later in March 1999, Running USA was launched to improve the status of road racing and long distance running in the United States through education, research, communications, collective marketing, promotions, elite athlete development and services to runners and events. "I believe that we have made remarkable progress in a relatively short time and although I still feel enthusiastic and energetic, I realize that sooner or later I will have to turn over the leadership of the organization to someone else. Given our achievements and the excellent health of Running USA, I feel this is an appropriate time for change. It is my intention to continue to contribute to Running USA and be active in some of its programs. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work for Running," he said. Honikman has had a long-standing involvement in the sport. In 1977, while living in Miami, he helped found the Orange Bowl Marathon and later the Orange Bowl 10K. He directed these events for 11 years as they became prominent on the national running circuit. In 1986, he and his wife Linda Honikman were retained as consultants by USATF (then TAC) to take over the distance running records and data center. Initially named TACStats, this operation later became the Road Running Information Center, now under the aegis of Running USA. He became the USATF records chair in 1989 and continued in that position until 2004. He served on the USATF board of directors from 2001-03. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest