West Coast Armenian Genealogy Conference

Western Armenia Committee                                                       
LOGO
104 N. Belmont
Glendale, CA  91206

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 1, 2019
contact- Daniel Ohanian
626/639-7181



Armenian Genealogy Comes Arrives in CA

Glendale, CA – Finding “lost” Armenian relatives a century after the Genocide 
is a daunting task.  Genealogical research turns out to be an accessible means 
for everyday folk to achieve this end.

A small group of dedicated Armenians have been organizing conferences to train 
people on how to dig into their ancestry.

Three have been held so far in Watertown, MA (2016), Detroit, MI (2017), and 
Mahwah, NJ (2018).  Response has been overwhelming with so many interested that 
some could not be accommodated.  Hundreds of Armenians have become armed with 
the tools to trace their ancestry through research and DNA technology

For the first time, on the weekend of November 15-17, Armenians on the West 
Coast will have the opportunity share in the excitement their East Coast 
compatriots have experienced.  Organizers have reported demand from people 
living in communities in western state of the U.S. Working with them, the 
Western Armenia Committee has put together this opportunity for people in 
southern [and central] California.

Arrangements are being finalized and details will be released in the coming 
weeks about registration, hotel availability for conference participants, the 
sponsors, etc.


#####




NR- 2019 Genlgy Conf- #1- Armenian Genealogy Comes Arrives in CA- Eng.docx

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document



JPEG image


NR- 2019 Genlgy Conf- #1- Armenian Genealogy Comes Arrives in CA- pic 2- Participants the First Armenian Genealogy Conference.jpg

JPEG image

Telma’s Crew

See attached- NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

contact-Garen Yegparian
818/563-3918
[email protected]


Telma’s Crew

Northridge, CA – Telma Ghazarian Altoon is competing in the world’s toughest 
footrace in about one month.  But no one achieves success in such events alone. 
 All the racers are backed up by crews of three or four (the maximum allowed) 
people.

Telma’s crew will consist of four, and is very international.  Currently, one 
slot is open because two people who had planned on filling it were sidelined by 
health issues.  The search is on for a replacement.  Meanwhile, the other three 
are busily preparing for the big two-days in July the Badwater 135 race spans.

The crew’s sole purpose for those days will be to see to the racer’s, Telma’s, 
needs.  They will support her by running beside her not only to hand her water 
and food, but also to keep her from running too fast!  They will spray her with 
water to cool down in the 120-130°F heat of the desert, make sure all supplies 
are immediately available (e.g fresh socks), keep the support van close for the 
brief naps she may take, etc. In short, they are there to make sure all Telma 
does is focus on the grueling task of running 135 miles and 14,600 feet of gain 
in the desert.

Valod Shaverdian, an engineer born in Iran, is the crew chief, and responsible 
for making sure all the nitty-gritty arrangements are made and a tight schedule 
adhered to.  He is the first Armenian to serve in that position in this 
three-decade old race.  He is most proud of being his daughter, Audrey’s, dad.  
But he also brings a dozen years’ worth of hiking/mountaineering/running 
experience.  Before seeing the documentary "Running on the Sun: The Badwater 
135" in 2006, Valod had never been involved in any organized sports and claims 
“I couldn’t run to save my life”.  But the film’s presentation of the human 
spirit and the extremes human bodies can endure fascinated him and he started 
running.  Since then, he has finished eleven half marathons, four marathons, 
and two 50 kilometer races.  His current passion is hiking.  Besides summiting 
most of the major peaks in Southern California, he has climbed Mt. Ararat in 
2014 and Mt. Elbrus (in Russia near Georgia, the highest mountain in Europe) in 
2017, both dormant volcanoes.  He aspires to complete a 50-mile event and climb 
South America’s highest peak, Aconcagua, in Argentina.

Balmore Flores has been running since he was 13 in El Salvador where he was 
born.  Immigrating to the USA at age 17, he ran the mile and two-mile for his 
high school track and cross-country teams for one season.   After graduating, 
Balmore joined the US Navy and kept running for fun, but stayed away from 
competitive events except for a few marathons here and there.  Like Valod, a 
film inspired him.  In March 2013, seeing the film “Indulgence: 1,000 Miles 
Under the Colorado Sky” made him realize that running 100 miles or more is 
possible.  After that, there was no stopping him.  He has completed the LA and 
San Diego Marathons multiple times, along with the Santa Clarita, Mountains to 
Beach, and Boston Marathons.  Among his “short” races are the Valley Crest 
Trail 1/2 Marathon and Xterra Trail 21K (“K” is commonly used in racing circles 
for kilometer).  He has six 50K (33 mile) Ultra-Trail races under his belt –  
Bulldog (twice), Speedgoat (twice), Bandit, and Holcom Valley.  He has the 
Leona Divide and Avalon Ultra-Trail 50 milers under his belt as well.  Finally, 
in the 100 mile Ultra-Trail category, the Chimera (twice), Angeles Crest 
(twice), Bryce, Wasatch, and Born to Run (twice) have all seen the underside of 
his feet!  He hopes to return to Central America upon retirement and is already 
signed up to run the Ultra-Trail Guatemala. However, he’s concerned that “it 
might not happen because the volcano Fuego has erupted twice already this year, 
and the race course goes up that volcano.  I am looking into running Ulta-Trail 
Fuego Y Agua in Nicaragua in 2019.”

Hakoop Abnoos, like Valod, was born in Iran and currently resides in Burbank.  
He is a black belt in karate.  He was been passionate about track and field in 
his teenage years when he  participated in multiple 400m, 1600m and 10k races 
in Iran’s Hamahaykakan (pan-Armenian) games, continuing into young adulthood.  
One of Hakoop's life-long dreams was to climb Mount Ararat.  After achieving 
this goal in 2014, he got passionate about hiking and mountaineering and went 
on to climb Mount Orizaba – Mexico highest, and Chimborazo, Cayambe, Illiniza 
Norte, Pichincha, and Pasochoa in Ecuador. In 2015, he completed the LA 
marathon which reignited his passion for the sport of running.  He has since 
completed four additional marathons, two 50Ks, two 50 milers, and several half 
marathons and 10k runs.  He placed first for his age group in two of those 
competitions.  His biggest goals are to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and 
participate in a 100-miler.

All this running and training is necessary since the crew will also have to 
endure the same conditions as Telma, but will be taking turns in running with 
her.

#####



application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 05- Telma's Crew- pic.png

JPEG image

How an Ultra Runner Was Born

Attached are the Armenian & English versions of the news release plus 
accompanying photo.


NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
contact-Garen Yegparian
818/563-3918
June 6, 2018
[email protected]


How an Ultra Runner Was Born

Northridge, CA – How does a demure little girl blossom into a world class 
ultra-marathon runner and competitor?

Telma Ghazarian Altoon moved to the United States from Iran when she was twelve 
years old and already running and racing.  Soon after, she ran varsity track 
and cross country for Glendale High School starting in her first year there.

Telma’s aptitude for running earned her a scholarship to the University of 
Southern California where she continued to shine as one of the school’s 
Division I athletes in track and cross country.

All of that is still a far cry from the elite, and fairly new, sport of 
ultra-running.  In 2007, Telma just leapt in when she participated in a 50 
kilometer (31.25 mi) race in Simi Valley, never even having run a marathon (26 
mi/41.2 km) before.  She has not stopped since then, participating in dozens of 
ultra races, some longer than 170 miles (272km), worldwide.  She has run in the 
Alps of Europe, the mountains and deserts of California, and even Artzakh’s 
Janabarh Trail.

Telma’s favorite race was the Grand-to-Grand Ultra.  At 176 mi (275 km), this 
race extends from the Grand Canyon to the Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah.  
It is self-supported, meaning runners must carry their food and sleeping gear 
as they run through all kinds of terrain surrounded by amazing scenery over the 
course of five or six days.

But she found the 100km (62.5 mi) race in Joshua Tree National park to be the 
most difficult, even though she placed first among the women and second 
overall.  At one point during this race, she was close to being pulled out by 
the organizers because she started to hallucinate in the desert’s harsh heat.  
But she persisted and completed the run.

Telma usually places at or near the top of the field in these events.  She 
always displays the Armenian flag proudly and is an excellent “ambassador” for 
the nation in this rarified circle of ultra competitors.  She is even an 
Ambassador for three companies – XoSkin, IRUN4ULTRA, and Health Warrior 
Superfoods – which are involved in supplying and supporting the sport.

Looking forward to the future Telma says, “I hope to bring ultra racing to the 
Armenian highlands and participate in the Ultra Milano Sanremo”.  That’s a 175 
mi race that is run in only two days between those Italian cities, with only 50 
participants accepted each year.

#####



application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 04- How an Ultra Runner Was Born- Eng.docx

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 04- How an Ultra Runner Was Born- pic.png

JPEG image

Wild West Telma

see attached Armenian and English news releases

picture caption- Telma at Wild Wild West Ultra Race

NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE  NEWS RELEASE  NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2018
contact-Garen Yegparian
818/563-3918
[email protected]


Wild West Telma

Lone Pine, CA – Two weeks ago, on Saturday, May 5, Telma Ghazarian Altoon ran 
the 50-mile Wild, Wild West race in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine California.

Running this kind of course, the equivalent of roughly two marathons, in desert 
heat is just part of the intense training ultra-marathon runners undergo.  In 
this case, Telma is preparing for the Badwater 135 mile, 14,600 foot gain, race 
from the lowest point in North America to Whitney Portal, gateway to the 
highest point in the continental United States.  It is known as the world’s 
toughest footrace.

Along with a few other runners, she ended up running six extra miles, because 
of a wrong turn.  This is one of the risks of races in wilderness settings.  
Despite that snafu, she finished eighth among the women.  It is also important 
to note that not all participants are always able to finish the race.

The race location has stunning scenery.   The Alabama Hills are jumbled, 
ancient stone formations that protrude from the floor of California’s Owens 
valley.    As runners wend their way through these mounds of rocks, they are 
treated to views of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range which serves as 
the backdrop.  This area has been used to film countless Western films.  In 
fact, there is now a museum dedicated to those films in the town of Lone Pine.

The temperatures on that day ranged from the low 40s (F) to the high 80s.  
“Part of the appeal of this race for me is its proximity to the location of the 
Badwater 135 race,” observed Telma.  “This way I got a feel for the area, the 
terrain, and can better prepare for the race.”  Since she is more frequently a 
participant in ultra races located in mountainous terrain, it is important for 
her to adapt to the desert’s conditions.

Telma is now in Armenia to continue her training while showing an 
ultra-marathon organizer the Armenian Highland’s beauty.  She will run the 
Janaparh Trail with Hans Keifer who is mountain biking it.  Hans is heavily 
involved in trail building in the Republic of Armenia and is training local 
residents in that specialized field of construction which is his business.

Details from the trip and more background will soon follow.

#####



application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 02- Wild West Telma- Eng.docx

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 02- Wild West Telma- pic- T at WldWldWst Ultra.JPG

JPEG image

Badwater 135 Accepts First Armenian

NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE  NEWS RELEASE  NEWS RELEASE


Pic 1 Caption- Start of the Badwater 135 Race
Pic 2 Caption- On the climb to the finish line with Mt. Whitney in the 
background

Pic 1 credit- Photo by Ron Jones / Badwater.com ©AdventureCORPS
Pic 2 credit- Photo by Ron Jones / Badwater.com ©AdventureCORPS


For Immediate Release
May 9, 2018
contact-Garen Yegparian
818/[email protected]


Badwater 135 Accepts First Armenian

Death Valley– Telma Ghazarian Altoon has become the first Armenian accepted as 
a participant in the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon.

This race is run annually in July, this year the 23rd-25th.  Participants are 
permitted a maximum of 48 hours to complete 135 miles (216 km), 14,600 feet 
(4450 m) of gain and 6,100 feet (1860 m) of descent.  But the challenge is not 
just in these extremes of distance, uphill/downhill running, and sleep 
deprivation, but also the shade-less environment with temperatures usually 
above 100°F (38°C), even reaching 130°F (55°C).

The race is named after its starting point, Badwater, the lowest point in North 
America, 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.  The end is at Whitney Portal, 8,374 ft 
(2552 m) above sea level, the trailhead to the highest point in the contiguous 
United States.  All but the last few miles of the course are effectively in 
deserts.  There are stories the rubber under runners’ shoes starting to melt on 
the hot asphalt.

Held on weekdays to avoid automotive traffic, the race route starts in and 
crosses 41 miles (66 km) of Death Valley National Park, traverses two mountain 
ranges plus the broad Owens Valley, and ends with a 4,600 ft (1400 m) climb 
over 13 miles (21 km).

First run as a race in 1987, and originally all the way to the summit of Mt. 
Whitney (14,505 ft/4421m above sea elvel), organizers currently accept only 100 
participants each year.  Race Director Chris Kostman welcomed, “the Armenian 
community to the world’s toughest footrace for the first time.  We’re proud to 
have Telma Altoon joining our Badwater family.”

Each runner is permitted a crew of four people who follow in a van, provide 
water, nutrition, and any other needs the competitor has.  They also pace the 
racer, taking turns running beside her/him.  Telma’s crew members are Hagop 
Abnoos, Balmore Flores, Aaron Flynn, and Valod Shahverdian.

Telma Altoon is an accomplished ultra-marathoner, having run in the Alps, 
deserts, the mountains of Southern California, and wherever else the siren song 
of extreme races summoned her.  She always displays the Armenian tricolor with 
her, making Armenians a presence in the rarified world of extreme sports.

Some runners use the race as a fundraising opportunity for a cause or charity 
they support.  People will have opportunities to give moral support to Telma, 
details about these will follow.

The record time, 21:56:32, for the Badwater 135 race is held by Pete 
Kostelnick, who set it at age 28 in 2016.  The women’s record, 25:53:07, 
belongs to Alyson Venti (Allen), also set in 2016, at age 34.  These data come 
from the race’s website which has a great variety of very interesting 
information 
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.badwater.com_event_badwater-2D135_&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=f7hdcOWCmIaMEBaxcdVDfeaVyB9pgzNT-Ur-KWKTUiU&s=JR8Jl6lOLHk3wRyrgo7_WJ4nac2fsgHjybNoImUC_5U&e=).

#####


NR 01- Badwater 135 Accepts First Armenian- Arm.docx

application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document



application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document


NR 01- Badwater 135 Accepts First Armenian- pic 1-.jpg

image/pjpeg


NR 01- Badwater 135 Accepts First Armenian- pic 2-.jpg

image/pjpeg