FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Los Angeles Marathon and Acura LA Bike Tour 2009 to be Held on Memorial Day
Honda renews as presenting sponsor
LOS ANGELES - (November 13, 2008) - The Los Angeles Marathon will be held
on Memorial Day beginning in 2009, announced Los Angeles Marathon President
Russ Pillar. He also announced the return of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
as the Marathon's presenting sponsor and Acura as the LA Bike Tour's title
sponsor.
As a condition of their acquisition of the marathon and related assets just
six weeks ago, the new race organizers agreed with the City of Los Angeles
to move the marathon to President's Day. But after extensive conversations
with runners, travel and tourism experts, City officials and others, it
became clear that Memorial Day provided far more opportunity and far fewer
obstacles to creating a better experience for all constituencies.
"Our new position on the calendar allows us to honor the City's requirement
that we hold the race on a holiday Monday while, at the same time,
providing us with a 'gateway to summer' event that we can use to highlight
the best that Los Angeles has to offer," said Russ Pillar.
Presenting sponsor American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has extended its
relationship with the Los Angeles Marathon and the Acura LA Bike Tour for
2009.
"Honda and the new management of the Los Angeles Marathon share the same
optimistic vision for the future of this great event. Honda is excited to
once again take part in all of the community activity that is part of both
the Marathon and the Acura LA Bike Tour," said Stephan Morikawa, Assistant
Vice President for Corporate Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc.
Runners who already have registered for next year's race will be signed-up
for the Monday, May 25, 2009 race date automatically; those who already
have paid the entry fee will be reimbursed in full if they are unable to
participate.
In addition to announcing the race's date and sponsor, LA Marathon
announced the appointment of Nick Curl as Race Director. A long-time
veteran of event management in Southern California, Curl had been
affiliated with the Marathon for more than a dozen years, including more
than a half-dozen as Vice President of Operations.
"I'm excited to be back," said Curl. "We've assembled a great team and
we're planning to do great things."
With more than 20,000 participants, 12,000 volunteers, and 1 million
spectators along the course route, the Los Angeles Marathon is one of the
largest organized road races in the country. To sign-up to run the
Marathon, or for more information, visit: LAmarathon.com
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