FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EVENT REGISTRATIONS ON PACE TO ECLISPE LAST YEAR'S
RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Half Marathon Race Close to 75% Full
Marathon Relay Race Participants Increase by 25%
ST. LOUIS (MO) – March 4, 2009 – GO! St. Louis, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization that specializes in presenting fitness events and programs for
the region on a year-round basis, announced today that overall
registrations for the 2009 GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend are
approximately 10% ahead of last year's record-breaking number of entries.
Every race category has seen an increase in participants, with the 4-person
marathon relay increasing by 25%. The half marathon, which is the most
popular race has reached 75% of its 10,000 capacity.
"The increase in registration entries is a validation of the type of
quality event and positive experience we continue to offer participants,"
said Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis President. "In nine years we have grown
this event from a few thousand people to an estimated 20,000 in 2009. I
believe our model of offering a variety of events for all abilities and
ages has had a tremendous impact on our growth and has become a national
trend that other races are now adopting", she concluded.
The 9th annual event, set for April 18 & 19, 2009, is Missouri's largest
competitive running event, featuring races for all ages and fitness levels.
The GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend features a marathon (26.2 miles),
half marathon (13. 1 miles) – presented by National City, Marathon Relay –
presented by Lockton Companies, 5K Run/Walk (3.1 miles)- presented by YMCA
of Greater St. Louis, GO! St. Louis Read, Right and Run Marathon® -
presented by Centene Corporation, Children's Fun Runs – presented by SUBWAY
and a Mature Mile.
Due to the increased popularity of the event, a registration participation
cap has been reinstituted again this year for the endurance races
(marathon, half marathon and marathon relay). The race maximum has been set
at 15,000 total endurance participants. The half marathon race has grown to
one of the largest in the U.S., with an estimated 10,000 registrants this
year. The marathon relay race draws a large majority of interest from area
companies, who promote the race as a way to get employees fit. More than
300 teams are expected to participate in categories ranging from corporate
to family & friends, with divisions for co-ed, male and female.
To register for the GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend, visit
gostlouis.org. For additional information, call 314-727-0800 or email
.
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