Press Release - ING Georgia Marathon - 3/26/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  Start Location Moves for Sunday's 
                 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
          Move Prompted By Recent Storm Damage, Road Closing

(March 26, 2008, ATLANTA) – The start for this Sunday's ING Georgia 
Marathon & Half Marathon has been moved 300 feet from Marietta Street in 
front of the CNN Center to Centennial Olympic Park Drive at the 
intersection with Walton Street.  The move was prompted by the road closing 
of Marietta Street in front of CNN Center while repairs are made from the 
recent tornado damage.  Race officials will have the race course 
re-certified by USA Track & Field (USATF) within the next 72 hours.  The 
move will not impact the race's designation as State Marathon Championship 
for the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). 

"Safety is our most important concern.  Even as we prepare for the arrival 
of 15,000 racers for Sunday, top of our mind is keeping everyone safe from 
the first step to the final step," said Victoria Seahorn, race director, 
ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. "Our new start, still alongside 
Centennial Olympic Park, will offer a picturesque beginning to what should 
be a fun, memorable and rewarding race." 

Racers will begin along Centennial Olympic Park Drive by Walton Street and 
the make a left turn onto Marietta Street and continue on the originally 
planned race course.  Barricades, signs, and volunteers will be directing 
runners along the route. The start area, still in the Centennial Olympic 
Park area of downtown Atlanta, is easily accessible by taking MARTA for all 
participants, spectators and volunteers.  The finish line remains the same, 
with runners entering Centennial Olympic Park and crossing the line on 
Andrew Young International Boulevard. 

The change to the start is not the only race activity impacted by the 
recent tornado damage in downtown Atlanta.  The weekend's Health & Fitness 
Expo Driven by Saturn was moved from the Georgia World Congress Center to 
the Georgia Dome. This two-day event, March 28-29, is where all 15,000 
participants will be picking up their race numbers and registration 
packets; it is also free and open to the general public.  A pre-race Friday 
benefit concert scheduled to be at the Tabernacle was cancelled. 
 
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