Lidiya Grigoryeva (photo left) was on top of the world when she strode across the awards stage to collect her first place check for $6,000 after establishing a world women's world record at the 34th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run(R) on Sunday, April 2. Her time of 52:11 set the world standard for a women's only event run on a standard (loop) course. But the Russian athlete, who had just won the Los Angeles Marathon two weeks earlier, was ready to give something back.

The day before the 10-mile, she purchased a fund-raising bib number being sold by Credit Union Miracle Day Committee volunteers. During her record-setting run, she wore the bib, which honors a child who is receiving life-saving treatment at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, the area's Children's Miracle Network affiliated hospital. After the race she pledged to make an additional donation of 5% of her prize money to CMN as well. "I truly believe it is extremely important to help children who are ill as I have a four-year old daughter myself," Grigoryeva said. "She is precious to me and I know I am fortunate that she is healthy. So I have decided to donate 5 percent of my winnings to the Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. for the good work that they are doing."

Event Director Phil Stewart said, "So often there is a disconnect between the elite athletes and the charity fundraising component of today's running events. This makes it extra special when a world-class athlete like Lidiya crosses that divide and makes such a generous donation. I consider it the best of both worlds and I hope her action will set an example nationwide."

In addition to Grigoryeva, three other women who went off in the women's only advance start also entered the record books in this category. Turena Johnson Lane of Muncie, IN set an American 10- mile record of 55:42, Canadian Sandy Jacobson established an All- comers Masters (40-and-over) mark of 1:06:41, and Debbie Flynn, 49, of Gaithersburg, MD set an American Masters mark of 1:08:53. Flynn may be the most unsuspecting American record holder ever, as she inadvertently slipped into the elite women's advance start and ended up with an American Masters record!

Paperwork for the records will be submitted to USATF and the Association of Road Racing Statisticians for ratification. The course was pre-validated in advance, and a member of USATF's Road Running Technical Council rode in the lead vehicle to ascertain that the course was run as certified. Satisfying these two criteria makes the approval of the records little more than a formality.

Race director Stewart said, "There have been faster 10 mile times run than these four times, including the mixed race world best time of 51:16 set by Colleen De Reuck at the 1998 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile. However, this is the first time there has ever been a 10-mile race on a loop course in which the women started before the men, which makes it qualify as an 'all women's race.'"

With the start and finish at the same spot, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom qualifies as a loop course. Point-to-point courses such as the Boston Marathon can be wind aided or have a loss in elevation over the distance of the race. Stewart continued, "We hope by establishing these times, we will provide an incentive for other races to adapt this format, which is the purest form of competition where the women's race is unaffected by the men and the course is unaided."

The Credit Union Miracle Day Committee announced that the 2006 event ended up raising $530,000 for the Children's Miracle Network.

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a partnership of credit unions and affiliated organizations, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. Proceeds from the run benefit the Children's Miracle Network (CMN), an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 Children's Hospitals throughout North America.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned by those who use its services. Funds are federally insured, but unlike banks, there are no stockholders at credit unions, so earnings are returned to member-owners in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and low or no-fee products and services. Credit unions are chartered to serve groups that share a common bond. Nearly 9,500 credit unions with assets exceeding $663 billion serve 87 million Americans.