FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Napa Valley Marathon Selected as 2012 Road Race of the Year by RRCA
NAPA, Calif. - April 3, 2013 - Last week, the Road Runners Club of America
(RRCA) named the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon among its 2012
National Running Award recipients, designating the 35-year-old race through
California's scenic Napa Valley as its 2012 Road Race of the Year. The RRCA
is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to distance
running with over 1,000 member running clubs and running events
representing over 200,000 running club members. It will honor the Napa
Valley Marathon (NVM) among all of its 2012 National Running Award
recipients and outstanding contributors to the sport at the upcoming RRCA
National Running Awards Banquet and Ceremony on May 4, 2013 in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. For a complete list of the RRCA's 2012 National Running Award
recipients click here
This year's edition of NVM, which was held on March 3rd, served as the RRCA
National Marathon Championship, a designation it also received from
1998-2009. Last year's race served as the organization's Western Regional
Marathon Championship.
"We have great respect for the good work the RRCA does and we're honored to
have served as its 2012 Road Race of the Year," said Rich Benyo who
co-directs NVM with David Hill. "It takes a huge team to put on a viable
road race, and our team of board members, volunteers, and sponsors pull
together to improve the race on a yearly basis. We've been fortunate to
host the RRCA's Marathon Championships for so many years, and look forward
to working closely with them at future Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley
Marathon races."
Several RRCA administrators and dignitaries attended this year's NVM,
including RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack and RRCA Coastal California
State Representative George Rehmet.
The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon boasts one of the most beautiful
courses in the world. The USA Track and Field certified 26.2-mile course
runs the length of the famed Napa Valley wine-growing region. It begins in
Calistoga, famous for its geysers and curative waters, and winds south
along the historic Silverado Trail (paved road) to finish in Napa. Runners
are treated to panoramic views of the valley, flowering fruit trees, and
dormant vineyards carpeted with golden mustard flowers.
Last year, Forbes Travel Guide rated NVM among the top ten marathons in the
world "worth traveling for." Runner's World magazine selected NVM as one of
the top ten U.S. marathons for first-time marathon participants in its
January, 2011 issue. American Express' Departures magazine declared the NVM
as #7 in their "ten travel-worthy races that make for truly memorable
journeys on the run."
Historically, a remarkable 30 percent of NVM's entrants are first-time
marathoners. A sold-out field of 2,600 entrants from 16 countries, 45 U.S.
states, and Washington, D.C. participated in this year's race. The popular
event reaches its entry limit every year. Entry limits for the race are
largely determined by the number of available hotel rooms in the
world-renowned Napa Valley wine producing and tasting region.
Every Napa Valley Marathon participant assists important local causes.
Proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are
donated to local charities and schools in the Napa Valley region. In
addition, an independent economic impact analysis commissioned by the
marathon in 2012 estimated that the local economic impact of NVM is
approximately $3 million annually in direct spending.
Next year's 36th Annual Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon will be held
on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
The Napa Valley Marathon appreciates generous sponsor support from Kaiser
Permanente/Thrive, Gatorade, ASICS, Silverado Trail Wineries Association,
Marathon & Beyond, Visit Napa Valley, Napa County California, Road Runners
Club of America, USA Track & Field, MarathonFoto, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel
& Spa, GU, CBS 5 and The CW, XFINITY, Napa Valley Register, KVYN/99.3 The
Vine, KVON 1440 AM, Napa Running Company, KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM, Arrowhead
Water, Wallaby Organic, Running USA, Hurley's Restaurant, Southgate Mini
Storage, Napa Smith Brewery.
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