FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Irvin
Irvin PR
614.296.4057
Or
Terri Erlenbach
Nationwide Better Health
614.249.5755
NATIONWIDE BETTER HEALTH TITLE SPONSOR OF THE COLUMBUS MARATHON
(COLUMBUS, OH) - Nationwide Better Health, the leading provider of total
population health management solutions, will join other top corporations
around the U.S. as the title sponsor of a major marathon; as a result, the
28th Columbus Marathon will now be the Nationwide Better Health Columbus
Marathon.
Nationwide Better Health will be the title sponsor of the Columbus Marathon
and 1/2 Marathon for its 2007, 2008 and 2009 events. Approximately 10,000
runners and walkers are expected to participate in the 28th running of the
2007 Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and 1/2 Marathon events on
Sunday, Oct. 21.
"The involvement of Nationwide Better Health coupled with the growing
popularity of marathon events across the nation will continue to position
our marathon as one of America's top events," said Bill Burns, chair of the
Columbus Marathon board of trustees.
Over the past three years, more top U.S. marathons, such as the ING New
York City, Medtronic Twin Cities and Chevron Houston Marathons have either
added a first-time title sponsor or secured a new one. In addition, large
inaugural marathons have also signed title sponsors such as P.F. Chang's
Rock 'n' Roll Arizona and the recent, sold-out ING Georgia Marathon in
Atlanta.
"With a demographic similar to golf and tennis in size and income and
education levels, running is an attractive, relatively inexpensive-to-reach
market for corporate America; and like golf and tennis, as more sponsors
enter the sport, other sponsors will follow," said Ryan Lamppa, media
director for Running USA.
"We are excited to be involved with the Columbus Marathon," said Holly
Snyder, president of Nationwide Better Health. "Nationwide introduced
Nationwide Better Health last fall because of its passion to help people
understand and manage what really matters - their health and well-being. As
a provider of health management solutions, we're committed to providing
services that foster healthy employees and organizations."
The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and 1/2 Marathon events will
take place on Sunday, Oct. 21 and will feature a 7 a.m. start for walkers
and an 8 a.m. start for runners. Both events start on the corner of Broad
and High Streets and finish on Nationwide Blvd. in the Arena District.
The Columbus Marathon was one of the 25 largest of more than 350 active
marathons conducted in the U.S in 2006. Nearly one-in-five finishers (18.4
percent) qualified for the Boston Marathon. Last year's marathon and 1/2
marathon events featured approximately 7,500 runners, walkers and
wheelchair athletes; 1,500 volunteers and tens of thousands of spectators.
Visit www.columbusmarathon.com for more
information.
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