FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Little Rock Marathon Registration Up 85%
Field Limit Could Be Reached By Early February
LITTLE ROCK (January 7, 2008) - Registration for the Little Rock Marathon,
presented by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and its companion races to be
held in downtown Little Rock on March 2, is nearing its registration cap.
Registration for the 2008 event is significantly ahead of last year's pace
and is filling up faster than ever in the history of the event. Organizers
expect to close registration in early February due to the record number of
registrants to date.
Race officials are preparing for 9,000 participants and 20,000 spectators.
The Little Rock Marathon Festival is actually seven separate events, which
includes a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, presented by Arvest Bank, the
Little Rock Marathon (26.2 miles), the Little Rock Half Marathon (13.1
miles), presented by Baptist Health, the Little Rock Relay Marathon (26.2
miles divided into four sections with each individual running/walking a
little over 6 miles), presented by Alltel Wireless, the Little Rock 5K (3.1
miles), the Little Rockers Kids Marathon (26.2 miles completed over an
extended time frame), presented by Arkansas Children's Hospital and Today's
THV Channel 11, and the Classic Rockers Marathon (26.2 miles completed over
an extended time frame for individuals 55 +), presented by Medi-Pak Choice.
Participant can run, walk or do a combination of running and walking in any
of the events.
"The number of people who have registered at such an early date continues
to illustrate the growing popularity of marathoning and is a compliment to
the quality of our event," said Larry Choate, race chair. "Each year we
meet our registration cap by race weekend - this reinforces our belief our
race competes on a world stage with races much older and larger than ours.
We certainly hope that citizens will stand behind the city's growing
running community and join us in the River Market on March 2."
Marathon groups like the 50 and DC Marathon Group and the Marathon Maniacs,
with more than 1,000 members each world-wide, have selected the Little Rock
Marathon as races their members will run. Members of these groups run a
marathon in each state and the Little Rock Marathon fills a race needed in
Arkansas.
"We plan to keep giving the world's largest finisher's medal," Choate said.
"Our medal is one of the biggest costs we have, but if Runner's World keeps
telling us we are the biggest, then we want to make sure we stay the
biggest."
"People sign up when they see the medal," he said. "I suppose they want to
take their piece of the rock home. We don't want anyone to go home empty
handed - they earned a medal."
Interested participants may register online at www.littlerockmarathon.com
or pick up information at area Arvest Banks as well as "runner friendly"
stores across the country. A list of friends is on the registration page
of the website. For information, visit www.littlerockmarathon.com
or contact Geneva Hampton at 501-371-4639 or .
###
|
