FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aquarium of the Pacific to Host One-Mile Kids Fun Run in Association With
the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon & Half Marathon
Fun FREE event will be held a day prior to Marathon on Saturday, October 16
LONG BEACH, CA - As part of a major emphasis on improving youth health and
fitness as well as helping to counter the major childhood obesity epidemic,
the nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific has joined forces with RUN Racing and
the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon & Half Marathon. Together
they will host a free one-mile Kids Fun Run on Saturday, October 16, 2010
at 9 a.m.
Up to 2000 kids ages 6 to 12 can run in the event at no cost and will be
encouraged to dress in blue or as their favorite marine creature. The
Grand Marshall for the race will be none other than Lola, the Aquarium's
resident talking cockatoo. Costumed characters like the sea otter and shark
will be cheering for the runners. Those participating will each receive a
commemorative Sea Star Medal a finisher certificate, and free entry to the
Aquarium. Kids will be timed and will run in waves with their own age
group.
"The Kids Fun Run is a great way to inspire children to be healthy and to
achieve their goals in life. When they visit the Aquarium, we hope to
inspire them to make ocean conservation one of those goals," said Cecile
Fisher, Aquarium of the Pacific VP of marketing & communications. If they
are interested, kids will also be able to help marine life by raising funds
to feed the Aquarium animals. Participants can choose to run in honor of
their favorite Aquarium marine creature, and all donations will go towards
caring for that animal.
"We want to make running fun. The Aquarium of the Pacific is the epitome
of exploration, inspiration, and wonder. By working together, we know we
can help motivate kids to be fit, healthy, and achieve," said John Parks,
Ex. VP Marketing for RUN Racing.
As part of this initiative, the aquarium and the marathon have adopted and
licensed the nationally acclaimed, award winning JUST RUN® youth fitness
program. JUST RUN® is dedicated to establishing sustainable,
community-based running and fitness training for all children in the Long
Beach area. The year-long program teaches children that exercise and
healthy eating should be incorporated into their lives on an ongoing basis.
Just Run Long Beach is available free of charge to local schools, youth
groups and mentors. It is also being used in the Summer Kids Marathon
Training Program operated by the Long Beach Department of Parks Recreation
& Marine.
More than 22,000 are expected to participate in marathon events on Sunday,
October 17, 2010. Events include the Marathon, Half Marathon, Bike Tour,
and Bubba Gump Run Forrest Run 5K. The Aquarium of the Pacific Kids
One-Mile Fun Run will take place on Saturday, October 16 and will be FREE
to enter for children ages 6 to 12 years old.
2010 event sponsors to date include: Title Sponsor - International City
Bank; Corporate Sponsors, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller
Children's Hospital - Official Hospitals; the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company -
5K Sponsor; the Aquarium of the Pacific - Kids Run Sponsor; Runners High -
Official Running Specialty Store; Brooks - Official Shoe; Buono's Pizzeria
- Official Pizza; Cliff Bar - the Official Energy Bar and Energy Gel;
Michelob Ultra - Finish Line Festival sponsor; SA Recycling - Official
Recycler; and Long Beach Hyatt Hotel - Official Headquarters Hotel. Media
Partners include the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Downtown Long Beach Associates, and California State University Long Beach.
For more information on the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon,
please visit www.runlongbeach.com or call 562-427-4606.
About Aquarium of the Pacific: The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit
institution, is dedicated to instilling a sense of wonder, respect, and
stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Home
to over 11,000 animals, it features programs to engage the public in ocean
conservation and environmental education. It is one of the top aquariums in
the nation and is ranked in the top two Los Angeles cultural attractions.
Address: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. Info:
aquariumofpacific.org/ 562-590-3100.
About JUST RUN®: JUST RUN Long Beach is a free, website-program
designed to assist schools and youth organizations in the promotion of
fitness and healthy lifestyle choices while combating childhood obesity.
This free program, designed by the Big Sur International Marathon, is easy
to implement, turn-key, and provides all of the tools necessary for
teachers and leaders to set the program in motion. JUST RUN is more than a
fitness program. It encourages healthy eating, positive lifestyles, family
participation, good citizenship, goal setting, pride in accomplishment, and
is educational. For more information locally, visit www.JustRunLongBeach.com.
The entire program can be viewed at justrun.org.
About RUN Racing: Led by Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Seagren, RUN Racing
specializes exclusively in the development, management and implementation
of endurance, health, fitness and special events. RUN Racing events
include the OC Marathon held in May; the Pacific Open Water Festivals held
in June and August; the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon held in
October; the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K & 5K held on Thanksgiving Day
and the LA County Half Marathon held in December. "Follow RUN Racing on
Twitter for event information (@RUNRacing) and find The Long Beach
International City Bank Marathon on Facebook for interactive event
information (Long Beach International City Bank Marathon)"
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