FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Louis Runners Receive Special Course Preview
Two-time Olympian Alan Culpepper shares preferred Rock 'n' Roll route;
nearly 9,000 runners registered for inaugural October event; entry fee
price increase on June 30
St. Louis, MO – June 15, 2011 – Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), organizers of
the Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½ Marathon for the
benefit of Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK), yesterday gave runners
a sneak peak of the preferred race route for the first time. Approximately
14,000 entrants are expected for the inaugural running event that will
showcase St. Louis' Midwestern flair when it debuts on Sunday, October 23,
2011.
"The Midwest has a strong running community and we are pleased that the
Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½ Marathon will soon
become one of the region's premier running events," said Olympian Alan
Culpepper, the event's Operations Director, who designed the marathon and
half-marathon courses. "These are beautiful courses that will provide
runners a fun-filled tour of St. Louis' vibrant neighborhoods, scenic parks
and historic sites. The half-marathon will certainly be conducive to
running a fast time."
Early registration for the Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon &
½ Marathon is already strong, with nearly 9,000 participants
entered. In addition to rousing music along each mile of the course, local
high school cheerleading squads will line the route, encouraging
participants along while also competing in the Spirit on the Course
competition.
The benefitting charity for the race is Team Activities for Special Kids, a
nonprofit group that provides safe, accessible recreational opportunities
for children with special physical and developmental needs.
"Solutia is proud to be part of an event that will showcase St. Louis,
promote a healthy lifestyle and most importantly, help children with
special needs," said Jeff Quinn, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Solutia Inc. "Solutia employees all over the world are training
for the course, raising money to help young athletes, and looking forward
to racing and volunteering at this inaugural event."
The event will start in downtown St. Louis, with a simultaneous marathon
and half-marathon start at 7:30 am. Runners will head east with an iconic
view of the Gateway Arch over the old State Capital building shining in the
early morning sunlight.
The planned course tours the downtown city streets, passing Busch Stadium,
home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The marathon and half-marathon share
approximately 12.5 miles, exploring the tree-lined route through many of
the city's eclectic neighborhoods including the Grove, the Hill and
Lafayette Square, a National Historic District. Runners pass in front of
the historic Fox Theater before the marathon and half-marathon courses
split at Tower Grove Park. The event culminates with a downtown finish line
festival and post-race concert, free to all participants and spectators
featuring a rock 'n' roll headliner.
A free two-day Health & Fitness Expo presented by Power Balance kicks off
race weekend at the America's Center on Friday, October 21 and Saturday,
October 22. The expo is open to the public and will feature the latest
health and nutrition information with a variety of products for sample and
sale, and fitness-related clinics.
Runners planning to participate in the inaugural event are encouraged to
save money by registering before the entry fee increases on June 30. After
June 30, the price increases to $105 for the half-marathon and $115 for the
marathon until the event is sold out. For more information, or to register
online for the Solutia Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½
Marathon, visit www.Competitor.com.
About Team Activities for Special Kids
Founded in 1996, Team Activities for Special Kids, or TASK, is a nonprofit
501(c)3 that provides safe, accessible sports and recreation opportunities
for St. Louis-area children with special physical and developmental needs.
For more information about TASK, visit www.TASKsports.org.
About Solutia
Solutia is a market-leading performance materials and specialty chemicals
company that provides solutions for a better life through a range of
products focused on safety, security, energy efficiency, and aesthetics.
With its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, the company operates globally
with approximately 3,300 employees in more than 50 worldwide locations.
More information is available at www.Solutia.com.
About The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
Organized by Competitor Group, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is known
for lining the race route with live bands, cheerleaders and themed water
stations. The original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 1998 is still recognized
as the largest inaugural marathon in history with 19,979 entrants. Today,
the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series has spread to twenty-four cities around
the world, creating the first international series of marathons and
half-marathons, which will attract more than 450,000 participants in 2011.
For more information, please visit www.Competitor.com or follow @RunRocknRoll
on Twitter.
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