FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Largest Field in Event History,
Record Number of Participants Expected
to Mark 40th Anniversary of Chevron Houston Marathon
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials -
Marathon to be held one day prior to race day
HOUSTON (Jul. 15, 2011) - The Houston Marathon Committee is excited to
celebrate its 40th anniversary running of the Houston Marathon six months
from today on January 15, 2012. The 2012 event will mark the largest
participant base in the event's history with a record 28,000 participants
expected to hit the streets of Houston in the Chevron Houston Marathon,
Aramco Houston Half Marathon and El Paso Corporation 5K.
This past January, the Chevron Houston Marathon had the largest number of
marathon finishers in the event's history, and for the fifth consecutive
year, a new course and state marathon record was set by either the men's or
women's marathon champion. In addition, the Run for a Reason charity
program generated a record $2,086,000 benefiting 52 nonprofit
organizations, surpassing $12.4 million in charitable donations in the
program's 17-year history.
"Our 40th anniversary event will be a celebration of growth, commitment,
loyalty and dedication that our City, participants, sponsors, volunteers
and committee members have shown to the race," said Steven Karpas, managing
director of business development and marketing. "It is fitting that we
built 40 words into our 40th anniversary finisher medal with each word
serving to represent a connection to our great race."
A preview of the 40th anniversary logo can be found on the event website
ChevronHoustonMarathon.com.
The anniversary weekend will kick off with the Houston Marathon Committee's
hosting of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on January 14,
2012, one day prior to race day. This will be the first time in U.S.
Olympic Trials - Marathon history that a single city will host both the
men's and women's Olympic Trials events in the same year.
The races will determine the runners who will represent the United States
in the marathon at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Houston is only the
second city to host the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon twice, first
hosting the women's Trials in 1992.
Runners can still be a part of the 40th anniversary weekend through the Run
for a Reason charity program. Limited marathon and half marathon charity
entries are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Details about how
to enroll can be found at RunforaReasonHouston.org.
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 2011, 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 the 1992 U.S.
Women's Olympic Marathon Trials, HMC will host the 2012 U.S. Men's and
Women's Olympic Marathon Trials on January 14, 2012.
For more information, visit houstonmarathon.com or call (713) 957-3453.
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