About

The Sony Ericsson City of Oaks Marathon will showcase what runners long have celebrated as one of the Southeast's best places to run. The race is coordinated by Raleigh Running Outfitters (RRO) and a team of enthusiastic Team RRO runners, family, sponsors, and friends. The race brings marathon running to North Carolina's capital, highlighting its beautiful landscape and colorful, majestic oak trees in peak fall season.

About the Race

Raleigh is often described as "a park with a city in it." The marathon will take runners through the city's downtown core, which has undergone a $2 billion renaissance, and over serene trails of the 5,400-acre William B. Umstead Park. From urban renewal to protected forestland, runners will experience what Forbes considers the #6 Best City for Singles and #2 Best City for Business, and one of Runner's World Great Destinations Off the Beaten Path.

A figure 8-shaped course, this 26.2-mile route allows the Marathon and Half Marathon to offer something for everyone. Gentle, rolling terrain starts the course from the State Fairgrounds, and takes runners through the farmland of the N.C. State University veterinary school. Continuing toward downtown Raleigh, the race passes through the campus of North Carolina State University, historic residential neighborhoods, the newly-reopened Fayetteville Street, the N.C. State Capitol, trendy Glenwood South entertainment district, and the oak tree-lined Cameron Village enclave. Runners will reach the 13.1-mile marker back at the fairgrounds.

Marathoners are in for a treat as the second half of the course ventures into famous Umstead State Park. Weaving through forest on a bike-and-bridle trail, racers will experience a favorite route for local runners -- untouched woodland. Each runner will finish like a champion when the race ends, passing the RBC Center, home of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Claim victory at the fairgrounds, where you accept your prize and begin to rest your feet.

About the Race Committee

Jim Micheels, Co-Race Director & Expo Director

Jim Micheels is Owner of Raleigh Running Outfitters and a City of Oaks Race Director. He has been an impassioned runner and racer for the last 20+ years. He has run over 20 marathons, his favorite distance, and clocked a personal best of 2:28. After a professional career in Human Resources Management, he turned his love for running into a career. He gained invaluable experience in the running specialty industry when he worked and ran for the Runner's Edge in Farmingdale, NY. He then ventured south to pursue opening his own shop. After only a few years of business, he has been awarded a number of industry-coveted awards and national recognition for his shop.

Kazem Yahyapour, Co-Race Director & Finance Director

Kazem is owner and president of Auto Dealers Investments Inc. Since 2001, Kazem has made a successful transition from the corporate high-tech world to running his own financial company. Kazem is president of the Wakefield High School Wolverine Athletic Booster Club and is a coach for Wakefield High School's cross country team. He was the race director for Wakefield high school's first-annual Students Against Drinking and Driving 5K race, organized to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. Kazem has a true passion for running. Diagnosed with coronary artery disease in 2002, Kazem started running to lose weight and improve his general health. Within four months, he ran his first marathon (Myrtle Beach) and, since then, has run an additional six marathons. His favorite is the Boston Marathon, which he finished twice. He will be at the starting line again this April.

Jerry Beckman, Co-Facilities Director & Co-Marketing Director

Jerry has been running for Team RRO for the past year. He's been running competitively for four years and has run 12 marathons, including Chicago, the Marine Corps, Disney, Nashville, Anchorage and the local Umstead marathon. He has also run 11 half-marathons, including the Rock'n Roll in Va. Beach, Disney, and the Victory Junction Gang race. In January of 2006 he completed the Disney Goofy Challenge by running the half-marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday. He also enjoys participating in many local 5K and 10K races as well. When not running you may find him somewhere in the Appalachians, Rockies or High Sierras hiking across a mountain top, conducting business as the South Atlantic Operations manager for an international engineering firm or spending time with his wife, Ingrid, and their two dogs.

David Blackley, Committee Member

David has run with Team RRO for about two years since finishing school. Years ago he started as a middle distance track runner, but he is now trying to throw in a few longer road races as well. He does cytogenetic oncology work for a clinical lab in RTP, and originally hails from Shelby, North Carolina. When not running, he enjoys traveling, hiking and pretty much anything involving the outdoors.

Billie Cartwright, Medical Coordinator and Military Coordinator

Billie has been both a recreational and competitive runner for over 25 years. After a long layoff due to military deployments and graduate school she has started competing again for Team Raleigh Running Outfitters. A former 5K/10K specialist she recently completed her first marathon in Calgary, AB in 3:35.16, good enough to qualify for Boston. Billie has been in the US Army (Active duty, Reserve and now National Guard) for 20 years and now serves as a Physician Assistant-C. She works full time in family practice at Johnston Co. Public Health Dept.

Ben Dillon, Committee Member

A late starter, Ben's first race ever was Peachtree Road Race 10K in '85 when he was 35. Never a "fast" runner but eventually after doing 100's of short races, ran his first marathon at Shamrock in 1994 (and still a PR at 3:36). Ben is now the designated "ultra" guy on the committee with 26 marathons and 9 ultras completed (Including the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance run this year). Ben has also been involved in race management in the Triangle for the last 15 years, mainly with the North Carolina Roadrunners Club.

Robb Hamilton, Co-Marketing Director

Robb has been a member of Team RRO for four years. He started competitive running in honor of his grandmother as an Arthritis Foundatation Joints in Motion team member at the 2001 Dublin Marathon. While Robb prefers local runs around Raleigh's greenways and parks, his race history includes the Richmond Marathon, Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Carrabas Half Marathon in Raleigh, and numerous local races. A runner through and through, Robb even chose his dog based on its running ability. He and his Italian Greyhound, Montee, hit the pavement together whenever the weather is right. Robb calls it running. Montee considers it a brisk walk. When not running, Robb earns his keep as a web designer/developer.

Ben Hannas, Course/Race Management Director

Ben began running in high school and has continued competing through college and beyond. Hailing from Northern Virginia, he ran track and cross country at Lynchburg College in southern Virginia before moving to Raleigh for grad school. Ben has run five marathons to date, including a personal best of 2:45. When not running, Ben is a data analyst for a local company in Raleigh, but also helps out at Raleigh Running Outfitters on the weekends.

Greg Jackson, Co-Facilities Director

Greg has enjoyed running throughout his life, but didn't get serious about running until eight years ago. Since 1999, he's run countless 5Ks and 10Ks, including the Cooper River Bridge Run, Peachtree Road Race, Wakefield 5K, and The Old Reliable Run. He extended his distance running with half marathons and finally marathons, including New York Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, the Cannonball Run, and the VA Beach Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon. He is now a member of the Raleigh Running Outfitters Team and, since joining, has consistently set new PRs. He says that Raleigh is by far his favorite place in the country to run because it offers so much variety in the way of trails, weather, and terrain. Greg works for a UK based medical device company as an Extended Care Representative covering Central NC.

Carolyn Micheels, Media Director

Carolyn is a Co-Owner of Raleigh Running Outfitters and serves as the store’s Online Sales/Marketing Manager. Originally a rower, Carolyn made the transition to running 13 years ago and has been dedicated to training and racing since then. Her background in race management includes 5 years as Media Chair for the prestigious Cow Harbor 10K Race in Northport, NY. Her own experience with marathons/half-marathons includes an attempt at the Virginia Beach Shamrock Marathon, which she completed in 3:43, and a Long Island Half Marathon personal best of 1:38.

John Podolak, Co-Sponsorship Director & Co-Post-Race Event Director

John began his running career in Ann Arbor, MI in 1998, as a preventive health measure. Bit by the marathon bug in 1999, John has since become a full-time running addict. John transferred to Raleigh, NC with IBM, and is in his 29th year with the company, in an Administrative Staff position. As a team member with Raleigh Running Outfitters, John satisfies his running passion by participating in weekly training sessions with fellow RRO teammates, along with solo runs with his Australian Shepherd, Nellie. The marathon is John's favorite event, with 14 marathons and a PB of 03:00:24 to his credit. When not running, John enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities and time with his family.

Devin Swann, Beneficiary Director & Elite Athlete Coordinator

Devinis a semi-professional runner, a member of the Raleigh Running sales team, and a personal running coach. Devin is one of the region's top runners, with a 10K PR of 30:25 and a passion for competing. Devin ran for N.C. State, the school from which he earned his degree in business management in 2005. He specialized in cross-country/5K/10K and competed in the NCAA championships. Since then, Devin has won such races as the 2005 Raleigh Grand Prix Series and the 2005 Savannah River Bridge Run, and he continues to improve his times.