Gazelle Sports Hosts “An Evening with The Penguin” John Bingham!

Kalamazoo, MI, USA — August 17, 2011 — Gazelle Sports Kalamazoo is proud to announce “An Evening with The Penguin,” an inspiring and funny conversation with celebrated running columnist and author John “The Penguin” Bingham.

Runners of all abilities—from podium seekers to the back of the pack—are invited to join Bingham as he tells stories about the unexpected joys of running and how he became an “adult-onset athlete” at the Wellspring Theater. Right after the talk, take a quick walk down the mall to meet Bingham in person at Gazelle Sports Kalamazoo and pick up an autographed copy of his new book An Accidental Athlete to inspire your running for the rest of the fall season.

A Conversation with The Penguin
Wednesday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center
359 S Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 204
This event is free and open to the public.

Meet John “The Penguin” Bingham in Person!
Gazelle Sports
214 S Kalamazoo Mall
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 342-5996, www.gazellesports.com/events
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments provided.

About John “The Penguin” Bingham and An Accidental Athlete
Known by fans as “The Penguin” for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. In his new book An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age, the best-selling author and magazine columnist recalls his childhood dreams of athletic glory, sedentary years of unhealthy excess, and a life-changing transformation from couch potato to “adult-onset athlete.” In turns inspiring, poignant, hilarious, and heartbreaking, An Accidental Athlete is a warm and engaging book for the everyday athlete. Bingham tells stories of the joys of running—the pride of the finisher’s medal, a bureau-busting t-shirt collection, intense back-of-the-pack strategizing. An Accidental Athlete is about one man’s discovery that middle age was not the finish line after all, but only the beginning. Bingham is author of several books about running and featured columnist for Competitor magazine, spokesman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, and race announcer of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. His popular column The Penguin Chronicles ran for 14 years in Runner’s World magazine. Learn more about The Penguin at johnbingham.com.

Gazelle Sports has been recognized by Competitor magazine as one of the nation’s Top 50 Running Retailers. Gazelle Sports’ three retail locations strive to provide the world’s best customer care, focusing on creating friendly, positive, and long-term relationships with customers.

Media and event contact:
Joan Orman, Gazelle Sports, (269) 342-5996, jorman@gazellesports.com, www.gazellesports.com/events

John "The Penguin" Bingham Pens Memoir for Everyday Athletes

Boulder, CO, USA — August 10, 2011 — Known by fans as "The Penguin" for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. In his new book An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age, the best-selling author and magazine columnist recalls his childhood dreams of athletic glory, sedentary years of unhealthy excess, and a life-changing transformation from couch potato to "adult-onset athlete." An Accidental Athlete is now available in bookstores, running shops, and online. Download the book's introduction at velopress.com/penguin.

Overweight, uninspired, and saddled with a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit, Bingham found himself firmly wedged into a middle-age slump. Then two frightening trips to the emergency room and a conversation with a happy piano tuner led him to discover running—and changed his life for the better.

In turns inspiring, poignant, hilarious, and heartbreaking, An Accidental Athlete is a warm and engaging book for the everyday athlete. Bingham tells stories of the joys of running—the pride of the finisher’s medal, a bureau-busting t-shirt collection, intense back-of-the-pack strategizing. An Accidental Athlete is about one man's discovery that middle age was not the finish line after all, but only the beginning.

"The Penguin does it again! An Accidental Athlete is a charming, witty and relatable tale of John finding himself through running. In this great book he shares his journey with us one stride and two laughs at a time." — Deena Kastor, American marathon record holder, Olympic medalist, and 12-time national champion

"John 'The Penguin' Bingham has touched a nerve with runners worldwide like no one in the last decade. He's funny but serious, informal but inspirational, and his spoken and written words have become the rallying cry for tens of thousands of runners who have found a patron saint where they least expected one—in the back of the pack. With The Penguin as their leader, they have found not just the courage to start, but also the determination to finish." — Amby Burfoot, Runner’s World magazine

“Most of us can truly identify with John Bingham’s story: There are no gold medals, no laurel wreaths, no world records. But John shows us that we have something more important: a chance, if we have the will and believe in ourselves." — Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon race director

An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age
John "The Penguin" Bingham
Paperback, 5" x 8", 212 pp., $16.95, 978-1-934030-73-8
Available now in bookstores, running shops, and online

John "The Penguin" Bingham is author of several books about running and featured columnist for Competitor magazine, spokesman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, and race announcer of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. His popular column The Penguin Chronicles ran for 14 years in Runner's World magazine. Learn more about The Penguin at johnbingham.com.

VeloPress is an endurance sports and fitness publisher with books on cycling, triathlon, running, swimming, nutrition and diet, yoga, and the histories and personalities of our sports. VeloPress is the book-publishing division of Competitor Group, which publishes Velo, Triathlete, Inside Triathlon, and Competitor magazines and produces the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, TriRock triathlon series, and the Muddy Buddy adventure race series.

For author interviews and events, free media sample copies, or more information, please contact:
Dave Trendler, (303) 245-2138, dtrendler@competitorgroup.com

Running shops can order books or request author events through wholesale@competitorgroup.com.