Renegade Racing Welcomes Running Hope Through America to Peters Canyon Summer Trail Run Series Ev

June 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Irvine, CA, June 7, 2010

Irvine-based race management company Renegade Racing (www.renegaderaceseries.com) is hosting the annual Peters Canyon Summer Trail Run Series, and will be kicking off the 2010 series on June 10th.  This event includes a 5-mile trail run through beautiful Peters Canyon Wilderness Park and a family-friendly BBQ and music after the race.  Participants are welcome to bring their children to compete in the Rough Fit Kids Obstacle Course and enjoy the park’s play areas.  

The Peters Canyon Summer Trail Run Series benefits the Orange County Conservation Corp and the Olive Crest Fun & Fit Program.  The OCCC promotes “Earn…Learn…Serve…Tools to Green the Future”. Fun & Fit matches fitness enthusiasts with Orange County group foster homes. The kids gain self-esteem and confidence through physical activities. Many of the children will volunteer or participate in the event.

Another exciting element to this Thursday’s event is pro-athlete Lisa Smith-Batchen and her running partner, Sister Mary Beth Lloyd, will run the last 5 of 50 miles they are running that day with the local trail run racers.  Ultra-runner Lisa Smith-Batchen and Sister Mary Beth Lloyd are on a mission, Running Hope Through America, to run 50 miles in 50 states in only 62 days – all to benefit orphans worldwide.  Smith-Batchen has raised over $4.5 million dollars over the course of her career for AIDS Orphans Rising, and was invited for a personal visit with Pope John Paul II.

Lloyd, 62, belongs to the order of the Religious Teachers Filipini.  Sister Mary Beth runs along side Smith-Batchen in her full habit: a black wool tunic over a white shirt and underskirt, black headpiece and a black woolen belt, and sneakers.  “There are people who need our help in every corner of the world.  Being blessed to live in a country as rich and generous as ours, Running Hope Through America’s goal is to use our talents to help,” says Smith-Batchen.  "My talent is for running long distances, so that's what I offer.  But everyone has a talent, and everyone can use theirs for good."

Local Orange County runners and supporters, including Cathy Mills and Beiyi Zheng, will accompany Smith-Batchen and Sister Mary Beth.  Ms. Zheng, of Irvine, is responsible for bringing Smith-Batchen to the Peters Canyon Summer Trail Run Series, “I know about Lisa from the movie “Running on the Sun,” which was filmed during the 1999 Badwater race, and also from the book Born to Run. She is very inspiring, she is my hero!”

How to Support Running Hope Through America
Visit Running Hope Through America http://www.runhope.com and make a donation, or visit the Hope Wall http://www.HopeWall.com to post your photo and story or purchase a cross and make a donation to support the cause.

About Lisa Smith-Batchen of The Dreamchasers Foundation
http://www.lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com
Lisa's very first ultra marathon was the legendary Badwater Ultra marathon in 1995 where she earned 2nd place in the women's division. She set the women's record two years later with a finishing time of 37 hours and 01 minute. Eleven years after her Badwater debut, she decided to double the race. She is one of the few females to have run the "Badwater Double" -- also known as the "Death Valley 300".

In 1999, Lisa achieved something no American has yet to duplicate: winning at the infamous "Marathon des Sables." She took the prize for the women's division, and still stands as the only American to have ever earned an MdS trophy. As an added bonus, she met Jay Batchen who was part of a crew filming the event for an Outdoor Life Network documentary.  Less than a year later, they were married.

Thursday, June 10th
SCHEDULE:
5:00pm     Registration/Packet Pick Up Opens
6:15pm     Trail Run Start
6:45pm     Kids Obstacle Course Start

BBQ, Raffle & Music to follow

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Renegade Racing produces running, triathlon and adventure sports events
throughout Southern California.