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The Richmond Sports Backers have been awarded the 2005 "Outstanding Locally Created Event/Program Award" by the National Association of Sports Commissions at the group's Sports Event Symposium held last week in Portland, Oregon. The award, which was open to events with budgets over $200,000, was presented to the Sports Backers based on the success of the annual Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K.

"We are thrilled to be nationally recognized for what has become a signature event for the Sports Backers and the Richmond community," said Tracey Russell, race director for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. "Not only has the 10K seen tremendous growth in just six years, but the event has significantly contributed to a healthier and more active community for the Richmond region."

The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K was first held on April 1, 2000, with 2,462 runners and walkers lining up for the inaugural event. Since then, the growth of the race has been astounding, with 16,511 registering for the April 9, 2005 event. Beginning in 2002, the Sports Backers created the YMCA 10K Training Team as a way to encourage and properly train novice runners and walkers for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. In just four years, more than 8,800 people have participated in the program. To help encourage youth physical fitness, the First Market Mile Kids Run was added in 2003 and a total of 1,070 youngsters ages 6 through 12 participated in 2005.

The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) is the sports event industry's leading networking organization. Founded in 1992, the NASC represents over 350 organizations from more than 270 cities across the country. Members include organizations that attract sporting events to their community (i.e. sports commissions and convention and visitors bureaus), event owners and vendors and suppliers to the sports event industry. The NASC is the primary network for communication and information sharing on all topics relating to the sports event industry.

Ukrops Monument 10K 2005 Race Day Report