FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Bitong
Marketing Director
330-375-2786,x3
2007 Road Runner Akron Marathon to Give Free Shoes to
Marathon Finishers
AKRON, Ohio - (Feb. 2, 2007) - The Road Runner Akron Marathon, the first
race in the country to offer free running shoes to marathon finishers,
recently announced a new deal with Brooks® enabling it to offer free shoes
to runners of the full marathon for the second consecutive year.
Through the new partnership, Brooks will become the Official Running Shoe
and Apparel sponsor of the Road Runner Akron Marathon, now in its fifth
year. Brooks, the number two running shoe manufacturer in the United
States, will work with marathon officials to offer full marathon finishers
their choice of one of four available models of running shoes (models
include: Radius, Axiom, Adrenaline GTS and Addiction). All participants in
the full marathon, the new half-marathon and the marathon team relays on
Saturday, September 29, will also receive a Brooks Podium long sleeve
technical shirt with the Road Runner Akron Marathon logo.
"When we made the announcement before the 2006 race that we would give a
free pair of running shoes to all marathon finishers, we really got a huge
and favorable response from runners," said executive race director, Jim
Barnett. "Now with the partnership with Brooks, a favorite among many
runners, I hope the excitement in the running community to participate in
our race is even greater."
The marathon is partnering with Second Sole running apparel and shoe stores
in Northeast Ohio as the distribution point for the Brooks shoes and
apparel. All marathon runners will have the opportunity to be sized and
fitted for their shoes at the University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo
the day before the race and at participating Second Sole retail stores.
The post-race responses of participants receiving free shoes have affirmed
that it is one more reason that Akron has become a desired race for
marathoners.
"The Road Runner Akron Marathon was named among the Top 50 Best Marathons
in the country just a few years after we started; we've been recognized in
the industry for our exemplary event organization; we offer a lot of free
gifts to our runners and a variety of distances for runners to choose
from," said Barnett. "All of this is paying off as we continue to see the
number of runners rising each year."
In 2006, nearly 6,000 people took to the streets of Akron to participate in
the full marathon, 2-person and 5-person team relays and Kids Fun Run,
setting a race record.
The Road Runner Akron Marathon is organized by the Akron Marathon
Charitable Corporation, a nonprofit group that is dedicated to promoting
health and fitness. Those interested in participating in the 2007 Road
Runner Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Chase Team Relays on Saturday,
September 29, can register online at AkronMarathon.org or by calling the
marathon office at (330) 375-2786 (2RUN). Further information on Brooks,
the Official Running Shoe and Apparel sponsor of the marathon, can be found
at BrooksRunning.com.
For information regarding the 2007 Road Runner Akron Marathon, please visit
www.akronmarathon.org.
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