FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympian Ryan Hall and Nissan LEAF to Highlight Fan Experience at
Chevron Houston Marathon
HOUSTON (Jan. 20, 2011) - As the official and exclusive automotive sponsor
of the 2011 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon,
Nissan will offer event participants and running enthusiasts a unique
experience during race weekend, Jan. 28-30. In addition to the opportunity
to meet Nissan 'Master' and Aramco Houston Half Marathon record holder,
Ryan Hall, consumers will have the opportunity to win a brand new 100%
electric Nissan LEAF. These activities, and more, will take place at the
Nissan booth at the 2011 Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute EXPO at
the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Ryan Hall is the fastest American marathoner on the road today with a
personal best of 2:06:17 (London, 2008). Hall, 28, qualified for the 2008
Summer Olympics with a record setting performance (2:09:02) at the U.S.
Olympic Trials in New York. He set the American record (59:43) in the
half-marathon in Houston in 2007. Hall, who is scheduled to run in the
2011 USA Half-Marathon Championships on Saturday, January 29, will sign
autographs and share inside running tips at the Nissan booth on Sunday,
Jan. 30 (9:30-10:30 a.m.).
The Nissan LEAF is a 100% electric vehicle with no tailpipe and no
emissions. This will be the first time the lead runners in Houston will not
have to worry about running behind a pace vehicle with a tailpipe. The LEAF
will be on display at the Nissan booth at the EXPO on Friday, Jan. 28.
through Sunday, Jan. 30. Consumers will have the opportunity to qualify to
win a new LEAF and have their photo taken for a personal cover of Runner's
World Magazine.
"We are excited to be the official and exclusive automotive sponsor of the
Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, two of the
premier running events in the U.S.," said Jon Brancheau, Vice President,
Marketing, Nissan Division. "The marketing partnership we have with these
outstanding events is an ideal way to showcase the unique features of the
Nissan LEAF to Houston's active lifestyle community."
"Having Ryan and Nissan partner with us will certainly enhance our
participant race weekend experience," said Steven Karpas, managing director
of business development and marketing of the Houston Marathon Committee.
"And having the Nissan LEAF set the pace for our runners is a great fit
with our green initiative."
Hall's appearance in Houston ties in to Nissan's 2011 'Master the SHIFT'
program. The program empowers runners to become better athletes through a
series of training videos, blogs and on-site appearances by the Masters at
several high-profile running events nationwide. Master the Shift offers an
inside look at what motivates Hall and how he trains for success. In
addition to Hall, members of 'Team Ryan' - coaches, trainers,
nutritionists, etc. - provide frequent, exclusive content for running
enthusiasts. All Master the SHIFT content, including training tips, race
preparation, stress management and food choices/preparation, are delivered
to the public through a customized, multi-media Facebook page:
(www.facebook.com/mastertheshift).
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running
USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation's premier winter
marathon, half-marathon, 5K and kids' fun run. In 2010, more than 30,000
runners participated in four race weekend events organized by 7,500
volunteers, creating Houston's largest single-day sporting event. In
addition to hosting numerous world-renowned road races, including the USA
Men's and Women's Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and 2007
respectively, and the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials, HMC will
host the 2012 U.S. Men's and Women's Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on
January 14, 2012.
For more information, visit houstonmarathon.com or call 713.957.3453.
About Nissan
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the
environment under the Nissan Green Program 2011, whose key priorities are
reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.
More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and
www.infiniti.com.
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