FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Geneva Hampton
Executive Director
501-371-4639
501-351-7730 (cell)
Or
Gina Marchese Pharis
501-918-5321
501-351-7700 (cell)
Little Rock Marathon Coaches Ready for Another Successful Season
LITTLE ROCK, AR (August 5, 2008) - The first informational meeting of the
Little Rock Marathon Training Program is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August
14 in the Adult Leisure Center at 6401 West 12th St.
Coaches will introduce the "Awaken The Athlete Within," which is a free
running and walking program designed to benefit individuals training for
the Little Rock Marathon or one of the other races on March 2, 2008. The
program offers participants an opportunity to talk with professionals
regarding nutrition, training tips, injury prevention and education.
The meeting will include distribution of a free training, introduction of
the coaching staff, a brief overview of the race and a question-and-answer
segment.
A second informational meeting has been set for August 28 and is also at 6
p.m. in the Adult Leisure Center.
"Everyone is concerned about their speed," Tom Singleton, Little Rock
Marathon coach said. "It is not about how fast you are. It is about a
commitment to meet your goal of crossing the finish line on race day."
"Training for a marathon does not have to be dull, even if it means you
have to be serious about it," he said. "The old philosophy 'no pain, no
gain' is a thing of the past. A marathon is not a competition, but an
individual challenge."
"My favorite day of training is the 6 mile Saturday, which is the week
before the marathon," Hobbit Singleton, Little Rock Marathon coach said.
"Not because it is a taper day, but because of the transformation I see in
the athletes from the FIRST weekend of training, which was also 6 miles."
"Every September, our athletes say, 'You expect us to go 6 miles?! What's
wrong with you people?' and that next February the same athletes say, 'Wow,
we only have to go 6 miles? It's hardly worth getting up and putting my
shoes on for that short of a distance!' What a difference a training
season makes."
"Each year we successfully train hundreds of people who do not consider
themselves athletic to finish a marathon," Gina Marchese Pharis,
co-executive director of the Little Rock Marathon said. "Our coaches are
the reason our training program is considered one of the best in the
industry. Tom and Hobbit have tirelessly built the training program from a
few participants the first year to a program that will see almost a
thousand athletes at its completion. They take a sincere interest in each
trainee and have the experience, as well as credentials to back it up."
"The scary part for most is taking the first step," Pharis said. "Our
coaches are real people, with real jobs and understand what it takes to
juggle it all, then train for a marathon on the side."
Pharis hopes to replicate the Singleton's success around the state.
Official training programs will also be offered in Bryant, Jacksonville,
Newport, Fort Smith and Hot Springs.
Registration for the training program is free and available online at
www.littlerockmarathon.com/training. Training schedules, which includes
weekly Saturday morning runs, may also be found on the training page of
the website.
Events for 2008 include the Little Rock Marathon, presented by the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette, the Little Rock Half Marathon, presented by Baptist
Health, the Little Rock Marathon Relay, the Little Rock 5K Fun Run/Walk,
the Little Rockers Kids Marathon, presented by Arkansas Children's Hospital
and Today's THV, the Classic Rockers 55+ Marathon, and the Little Rock
Health & Fitness Expo, presented by Arvest Bank.
Registration for the Little Rocker's Kids Marathon and Classic Rockers 55+
Senior Marathon will open September 1, 2007.
The Little Rock Marathon training program is offered free of charge by
Little Rock Parks & Recreation. It is sponsored in part by, KKPT The Point
94.1, Clear Mountain Water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, and Easy Runner.
The Little Rock Marathon is also sponsored in part by the Little Rock
Convention & Visitors Bureau, Magna 4 Printing, Image one of Little Rock
and the Bill Titus Family.
On line race registration is available at www.littlerockmarathon.com
through February 21, 2008. Race registrations are subject to applicable
fees.
For more information about the race, deadlines and details visit the
website or contact the Little Rock Marathon office at 501-371-4770.
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