Press Release - Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon - 5/20/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                        
        KENYA'S PAUL TERGAT TO RACE AT ROCK 'N' ROLL SEATTLE
   Former Marathon World Record Holder to Compete in Inaugural Event
 
Seattle, Wash. – May 20, 2009 – Five-time World Champion Paul Tergat is set 
to conquer the roads of the Pacific Northwest at the inaugural Rock 'n' 
Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Saturday, June 27. Tergat, 39, is 
universally regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners 
in history and will compete in the half marathon ten days after his 40th 
birthday.

Tergat, two-time Olympic silver medalist, recently won the Lake Biwa 
Marathon in Japan with a time of 2:10:22. He held the world record in the 
marathon from 2003 to 2007, as the first runner in history to break 2:05 
with a time of 2:04:55. 

"I'm excited to be part of the first Rock 'n' Roll event in Seattle. I'm 
very happy with my races in 2009 and I'm hoping that will continue at the 
end of next month," said Tergat, who will be running his first race in the 
U.S. since the ING New York City Marathon last year. "I ran the Rock 'n' 
Roll in Virginia Beach back in 2002 and I'm looking forward to be being 
part of another great event. I've yet to decide on my plans for the rest of 
the year but I am enjoying my running at the moment and looking forward to 
a competitive half marathon."

Tergat's PR in the half marathon is 59:17, set in 1998, which at the time 
was the world's best and is still one of the top-20 all time fastest times 
ever recorded for the distance. He is the fourth fastest marathon runner in 
history and his marathon PR currently ranks as the sixth fastest ever run. 

"We are thrilled to have Paul Tergat race in Seattle," said Matt Turnbull, 
elite athlete coordinator for the event. "Paul is one of the true icons of 
athletics and has been a champion whether it be on the track, roads or 
cross-country."

The Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will begin in the city of 
Tukwila at 7:00 am on Saturday, June 27. The course proceeds along the 
shores of Lake Washington, offering scenic views of Puget Sound and Mt. 
Rainier before finishing in downtown Seattle at Qwest Field. The event 
continues with an evening headliner concert at King County's Marymoor Park 
on race night featuring Keb' Mo'. All registered participants and race 
volunteers receive a free ticket to the concert. For more information about 
Rock 'n' Roll Seattle, please visit www.rnrseattle.com.

                            ###