FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006 Inaugural Denver Marathon Debuts in the Mile High City
New Denver Marathon Draws International Recognition with a Scenic Race
Course, Community Celebrations and World- Class Elite Athletes
DENVER, Colo. – October 3, 2006 – The inaugural 2006 world-class Denver
Marathon™ will debut in the Mile High City on Sunday, October 15,
2006. An estimated 5,000 runners are planning to participate on race day,
which includes a marathon, a half-marathon, a four-person relay and the
McDonald's Mile Kids Race. The race day will draw runners from around the
world, including 13 countries and 43 states within the continental United
States and more than 600 volunteers will join together to help make the
event a success over the course of race weekend.
The Denver Marathon follows a spectacular scenic route designed by renowned
Boston Marathon and new Denver Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray and
his Denver Marathon operations team. The course highlights the cultural
diversity of Denver's communities by incorporating a mix of urban
neighborhoods, shopping and restaurant districts, city parks and
residential areas. The race course is flat and has little to no elevation
change and will be certified by USA Track & Field as a qualifier for the
Boston Marathon.
The new Denver Marathon will welcome international elite athletes including
local Coloradoan Alan Culpepper who is ranked the #2 marathoner in U.S. by
Track & Field News and will be running the half-marathon, Kenyan Mike
Korir, Philadelphia Marathon champion in 2002 and 2004 and Taeko Terauchi
from Japan who is a leading female runner in both Japan and the United
States.
The course will start in front of the State Capitol, travel past many of
Denver's major landmarks such as the Denver Public Library and the Denver
Art Museum. It loops through LoDo (lower downtown) including Larimer
Square, Pepsi Center, Union Station and Coors Field, and winds through
City, Cheesman and Washington Parks and their neighborhoods. The final
stretch will take runners down Denver's art district on Santa Fe Drive to
the finish line and a post-race festival in Civic Center Park.
Fees for the Denver marathon are $95.00 for advance registration and the
walk-up fee at the EXPO, taking place at the Adam's Mark Hotel on October
13-14, is $105.00. Half-marathon registration fees are $75.00 and $85.00
for walk-ups at the EXPO. The marathon relay registration fees are $160.00
and the walk-up fee at the EXPO is $200. The McDonald's Mile Kids Race fees
are $10 online and the walk-up fee at the EXPO is $12.
Businesses and organizations can enter teams of four persons to run the
Denver Marathon Corporate Relay of which 100 percent of the money raised
will benefit Denver's Road Home, Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper's
10-year plan to end homelessness.
"We are thrilled to bring a world-class marathon and running experience to
Denver," said McGillivray. "The inaugural Denver Marathon will also bring
an extremely positive economic influence to the city of Denver with an
estimated gross impact on local spending reaching over $3 million in 2006."
The Denver Marathon is proud to also announce this year's inaugural
sponsors of this year's Denver Marathon include CBS4 Denver, KBCO-FM, 5280
Magazine, Saturn, New Balance, McDonald's, Colorado Athletic Club, Michelob
Ultra, Adams Mark Hotel, Coleman Natural Foods, Gatorade, Clif Bar, and
Deep Rock Water.
Approximately 100 participants in this year's Denver Marathon will
represent chosen charitable organizations which will raise more than
$150,000. These charities include the American Council of the Blind of
Colorado, Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI), Denver CASA - Court
Appointed Special Advocates for Children, Denver's Road Home, Legal Aid
Foundation of Colorado, Denver Rescue Mission, Metro Denver Sports
Foundation (MDSC) "Sneaker Week" and Warren Village.
Parking will be available at the Northwest and South of Civic Center Park
and near Union Station. Runners can also park along the 16th Street Mall
and ride the free shuttle-bus along the 16th Street Mall starting at 5:45
a.m. on race day.
Street closures throughout the city of Denver are anticipated between 7:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. during race day on a rolling closure schedule. Residents
should expect delays during this time and race organizers recommend
pre-planning activities during race day to minimize any traffic
inconveniences. Please see a map and timeline on www.denvermarathon.com
for specific street closures and additional information.
For more information or to register, runners can visit
www.denvermarathon.com. Runners can also register at the Denver Marathon
Health & Fitness EXPO (if available).
About Denver Marathon™
The new Denver MarathonTM is owned and operated by Run Denver, LLC, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Experience Sports, LLC – a sports marketing and
management company. Run Denver was created to develop an annual Denver
marathon and half marathon that will bring a world-class running experience
to the Denver community and economic and social vitality to the metro
Denver area. For more information, please visit www.denvermarathon.com.
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