Press Release - Grand Rapids Marathon - 5/15/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      Be a Marathoner for Life

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 15 May 2008.  The Metro Health Grand Rapids 
Marathon has done it again.  The small friendly marathon in West Michigan 
which brought you celebrity pace teams, beer and chili in the finish area, 
and a hug from the race director at the finish line has come up with a new 
innovation: a lifetime of guaranteed racing.

Beginning in 2008, marathoners have the chance to sign up for the Lifetime 
Entry Program and run every Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon (GRM) until 
they retire from running.  Why a lifetime of entries?  According to GRM 
race director Don Kern, "Marathons can be expensive.  Fees go up every 
year.  They also go up if you wait until closer to the event."  

The Lifetime Entry Program gives a runner a permanent race number and entry 
to either the full or half-marathon for the rest of his/her life.  This is 
the only lifetime entry program known among road racing.  In addition to 
the yearly race shirt, runners receive a special edition shirt and VIP 
treatment at all future races.

The 2008 cost for the permanent entry is $650 and is not transferable to 
other runners.  For math-savvy runners, the calculations are simple: At 
normal rates of increase, Kern estimates a runner will break even within 5 
years--sooner if they are the kind of people who wait until the last minute 
to register and pay late entry fees.  

To sign up for this year's race or all future races, runners should go 
online to www.grandrapidsmarathon.com.
 
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