FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Javier De Jesus
ING Georgia Marathon &
Half Marathon
(404) 210-2780
Or
Jenny Schmitt
Peloton Sports
(404) 421-8323
or
First-Ever ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon Fills Field of 15,000
Race Sells Out Early; 38% Running Full 26.2 Miles
(ATLANTA, Feb. 26, 2007) – The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon has
reached its limit of 15,000 spots for the Sunday, March 25 event and has
closed registration.
"We are thrilled, just thrilled to have sold out our first race," said
Victoria Seahorn, race director of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half
Marathon. "Our neighborhood course along with Atlanta's ideal springtime
climate is a winning combination for many people. Runners from all 50
states and from around the world will learn what we already know: Atlanta
is a great place to run."
On Sunday, March 25, the ING Georgia Marathon will officially become the
state's largest long-distance running event. Sporting a diverse race field,
the event has a high ratio of marathoners to half marathoners: 38 percent
are signed up for the marathon and 62 percent are signed up for the half
marathon. Female racers make up slightly more than half of all registrants
at 52 percent; male racers make up 48 percent of the field. The half
marathon field for wheelchair racers will sport one of the most fiercely
competitive fields in the distance this year; 37 wheelers have signed up
for the event including five who are ranked among the top 15 worldwide. As
a combined group, the racers represent all 50 states and 25 countries, with
Ireland, Canada and Mexico having the highest representation among the
international athletes.
"Since we began this vision nearly two years ago, we've been joined by so
many volunteers and supported by so many sponsors. Every one of them has
helped us make today's news a reality," added Seahorn. "And with less than
30 days until race day, it is the energy, enthusiasm and support from ING
and other sponsors that will make this one of the best springtime marathons
in the country."
Today, ING, the title sponsor for the inaugural event, held a celebration
at its ING Americas headquarters in Atlanta for its employees to recognize
the race's early accomplishment. "We're proud to see the field sell out so
far in advance," said Tom Waldron, executive vice president, ING Americas.
"That's very unusual for an inaugural marathon, and it tells us we made the
right choice in sponsoring a race here."
"All of us at ING are excited to be part of the race. One of our
sponsorship priorities is making it easier for other people to get involved
in the race, whether they are running or watching." ING has created three
ways for people to become involved in the race. First, ING issued a
Neighborhood Challenge setting up a cheering contest among five
neighborhoods who will compete for cash prizes to be used for fitness
initiatives in their neighborhoods. Second, the company will set up ING
Cheering Zones along the racecourse providing fun and festive places for
neighbors to get together to cheer on racers. And third, it created a
special ING Run for Something Better fund, which underwrites free
school-based running programs for kids in Atlanta. "When you make a
donation of $10 or more, you'll get a pair of special orange shoelaces that
you can wear on race day as a way to show your 'ties' to the community and
kids fitness," Waldron said.
In addition to ING, sponsors of the inaugural ING Georgia Marathon & Half
Marathon include (in alphabetical order): AT&T, Atlanta Sports & Fitness,
Big Peach Running Company, Caribou Coffee, Clif Bar, Comcast, Delta Air
Lines, Emory Healthcare, GM/Saturn, KPMG, MARTA, Mizuno USA, Omni Hotel at
CNN Center, PSI Promotional Solutions, Inc., Publix, Raving Brands,
Underground Atlanta, UPS, WXIA, and radio stations 99X, Q100, and 680AM the
Fan.
More information is available online at www.inggeorgiamarathon.com.
###
|
