FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECORD BREAKING PARTICIPATION FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL
GO! ST. LOUIS MARATHON & FAMILY FITNESS WEEKEND
Marathon Relay Sells Out at 500 Teams
New Features to Enhance Participant Race Experience in 2011
ST. LOUIS (MO) – March 25, 2011 – GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit
organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for
the region on a year-round basis, announced today that overall
registrations for the 2011 GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend,
set for April 9 & 10 have reached an all-time high. The 11-year fitness
event started in 2000 with 2,500 participants and has grown to become a
major civic event and the largest competitive fitness event in Missouri. It
is also a top race destination for runners from across the country. An
estimated 25,000 participants will compete in one of the 10 different
events over the weekend. Additionally, more than 50,000 spectators will
line the various race courses to support participants.
The GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend is an event that was created for
all ages and fitness abilities and features a marathon, half marathon –
presented by PNC Bank, Marathon Relay – presented by Lockton Companies, 5K
Run/Walk - presented by Reliv International, GO! St. Louis Read, Right and
Run Marathon® - presented by Express Scripts, Children's Fun Runs and a
Mature Mile – presented by Essence Healthcare.
"It's truly inspiring to see this event continue to expand each year" said
Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis president. "Every year we look for new ways
to improve our product, with the overall participant experience in mind and
I think we have added some fun new features this year that will be
well-received from our participants. This is an event that is very large in
scope, with registrants coming from all over the world, but it really has a
hometown feel. It's an event that local residents can be proud to call
their own" she continued.
A variety of new and exciting features will add to the participant's race
day experience this year. Among the additions is a new LED big screen video
board with live streaming finish line video, participant corrals that will
streamline the start, free athlete tracking, neighborhood cheer zones, more
course entertainment, the U.S. Marines start line participation (helicopter
flyover), an expanded GO! For a Cause charity program and an expansive
finish line area, including a new finish line structure.
Event Highlights
The popular half marathon race was introduced to the event in 2003.
More than 13,000 participants are expected to compete, making it one of the
largest half marathons in the United States and the largest in Missouri.
The half marathon course record is 1:05:09, set last year by Mario Macias
from Alamosa, CO.
Participation in the Marathon Relay has increased dramatically since 2008,
when 265 teams registered. The 2011 Marathon Relay sold out in early March
at 500 total teams. Teams are comprised of four people, who each run
approximately 6 miles each, to complete a full 26.2 marathon. Categories
include corporate, coed, battle of the badges, and friends and family.
Elite Athletes to Watch: Marathon - Karl Gilpin (M), Roman Dedov (M), Bryan
Morsemar (M) and Krista Seibert (F). Half Marathon – Joshpat Boit (M),
Sammy Rotich (M), David Fuentes (M), Emily Ramsey (F), Jackie Pirtle-Hall
(F), and Jessica Koster (F).
Over 87% of the participants reside in Missouri or Illinois, but athletes
from 49 different states (Vermont, not represented) will visit St. Louis to
compete. In addition, athletes from eight countries (Canada, United
Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Brazil, France, The Netherlands and Mexico) are
registered in the field.
Prize Money for Age Group Winners: Further establishing this event as a
race for all ages, the top male and female, competing in the marathon and
half marathon receive $100 for winning their age group (13 different age
groups).
Run with Bart – Runner World's Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso will be
competing in the Marathon Relay. Yasso selected his relay team members by
holding a video contest. Three lucky winners – Shelly Kannel, Margie
Hanneken and Tricia Croyle received training tips from Yasso, leading up to
the event and will meet him prior to the race.
GO! For a Cause, a charity training program that encourages local charities
to fundraiser by recruiting participants for the race. More than 13
charities were accepted as official charities this year. For a complete
list visit
http://www.gostlouis.org/community-programs/programs/go-for-a-cause.html
The marathon race course starts and finishes in downtown St. Louis at
Market & 14th Street. The course includes the Gateway Arch (great view,
before turning at Tucker), Busch Stadium, Anheuser Busch-InBev brewery,
Forest Park, Washington University, Downtown Clayton, and The Loop in U
City. Area residents are encouraged to come out to show their support by
cheering on the participants along the course.
Neighborhood Cheer Zones – Four area associations – Central West End
Association, Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council, Franz Park Community
Association and Soulard Restoration Group will compete in a contest, judged
by participants for the best Cheer Zone.
Saturday's Family Fitness Day in Forest Park will feature people ranging in
ages from a young toddler, crawling across the finish line in the Diaper
Dash to a 94-year-old participating in the Mature Mile. More than 7,000
people, including more than 4,000 children are expected to attend.
Children from 115 schools will converge on Forest Park to complete the
Read, Right & Run Marathon, a six-month innovative program that promotes
Reading 26 books, Completing 26 good deeds and Running 26 miles. The
program concludes with students running their final miles. Also part of the
Read, Right & Run Marathon program is 15,000 Saint Louis Public School
students, who complete the program with special in-school celebrations in
the month of May.
The Students on the GO! program, now in its third year, features five area
high schools - Roosevelt High School, Central Visual Performing Arts,
Gateway Institute of Technology, Block Yeshevia and Bais Yacov. The program
trains and mentors high school students to run the half marathon. More than
100 students, school educators and administrators have been training in
Forest Park for several months in preparation.
The Mature Mile is for adults 60-years of age and older. Close to 500
Mature Milers, have been training for weeks in anticipation of completing
the one mile course. In 2010, 80 Mature Milers over the age of 85
participated in the race.
Pasta House president Kim Tucci serves as 2011 Honorary Chairman of the
event. He will welcome participants before the race and congratulate them
at the finish line.
Individuals interested in registering for one of the events can register
online until April 1 or visit the Health & Fitness Expo at the Chaifetz
Arena, which is set for Friday, April 8 from 11 am – 7 pm and Saturday,
April 9 from 10 am – 7 pm. Race Day registration is available for the
Family Day events (5K, Children's Funs Runs and Mature Mile) on Saturday,
April 9 at the event site. The 5K has a participation cap of 2,000 people,
which may be reached before race day.
Event Schedule: Friday, April 8 – Health & Fitness Expo presented by Big
River Running, 11am-7pm Chaifetz Arena, Saturday, April 9 in Forest Park –
5K Run/Walk at 8am, Read, Right & Run Marathon at 9:15 am, Children's Fun
Runs at 10:15 am and Mature Mile at 11:00 am. Health & Fitness Expo 10am –
7pm. Sunday, April 10 at Market & 14th Street – Marathon, Half Marathon and
Marathon Relay at 7am.
2011 Sponsors:
PNC Bank, Express Scripts, McCarthy Building Companies, KMOX Radio, Reliv
International, Drury Hotels, Missouri Beef Industry Council, Lockton
Companies, Big River Running Company, Boeing, Essence Healthcare, Michelob
ULTRA, Centene Corporation, Missouri Lottery, St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
ALIVE Magazine, Pasta House Company, KPMG, Brighton Agency, Absopure, ESCO,
St. Louis Injury & Rehab and Gatorade Endurance.
###
|
