FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Scharff
Marketing Specialist
OBX Marathon
(252) 256-0496
Records are made to be broken and the OBX Marathon
sponsored by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is where that is happening.
Last year, two local runners set new state records for North Carolina for
the marathon in their age brackets, Tom Ray and Grady Gaskill.
In addition, a new Lebanese national record was established last year in
the Gateway Bank Half Marathon by runner, Maria Pia Nehme who ran the
13.1-mile course in one hour, 25 minutes, 19 seconds. The Deputy Secretary
General of the Lebanese Athletic Federation, Nehmetallah Bejjani commented
in correspondence to marathon organizers on the new record saying, "This
time represents a new national record for Lebanon. We thank you very much
and we hope to be able to send more local athletes to run at the OBX
Marathon and half-marathon in the future."
One record that may be challenged this year will have spectators on the
edges of their seats and one participant firmly strapped to his. Michael
Wardian, a runner in last year's OBX Marathon, ran a June marathon setting
a Guinness Record for running a marathon while pushing a pram. In the pram
was his 10-month-old son, Pierce. Wardian has registered to run in the OBX
Marathon in November.
Wardian broke the Guinness World Record of 2:49 that had been set in
Toronto in 2004 at the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Frederick Marathon in
Maryland in June by running the marathon in 2:42:21. Wardian held the world
record for "fastest marathon on a treadmill" for two years until Eric Blake
beat his time in 2006. In 2006, Wardian won four of his five marathons in
45 days. The former Michigan State lacrosse player has already won several
marathons in 2007 and set a personal best of 2:21:37 with a third place at
the Shamrock Marathon.
Athletes from around the world will use the official 26.2 mile race as a
USA Track and Field Association (USATF) certified and sanctioned qualifier
for the Olympic Trials and the Boston Marathon. USATF has named the OBX
Marathon as its North Carolina Association Championship event.
Marathon officials will be interviewed on Max Media's Beach 104 on
Thursday, August 30 at 8:10 a.m. to discuss some of the records established
last year and talk about some of the runners expected to participate this
year. Max Media is the official radio sponsor for the Marathon and the Half
Marathon and provides a weekly radio update show on Thursdays at 8:10 a.m.
The November race weekend will feature the OBX Marathon presented by the
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (OBVB) on Sunday, November 11, along with the
Gateway Bank Half Marathon, which offer over $26,000 in prize money for
winners in an array of categories. A Fun Run will be sponsored by the
Kelly's Hospitality Group the day before, November 10, to encourage
everyone to think about the health benefits of exercise.
For information on the Fun Run, tune in one of CapSan radio's four stations
every Tuesday. Fun Run information will be discussed at 8 a.m. on The Sound
99.1, at 8:15 a.m. on Wilbur 92.3 and Orville 97.1 and at 8:30 a.m. on
Classic Hits 104.9.
For the Fun Run, participants are asked to complete the final leg of a
marathon at the First Flight High School track in Kill Devil Hills that
they started and ran in segments leading up to race day. The Fun Run can be
run or walked by participants. The event, involving people of all skill
levels, is sponsored by Mako Mike's, Penguin Isle and Kelly's, restaurants
owned by Mike Kelly, one of the event's organizers.
OBVB has again awarded an event grant to organizers to repeat last year's
inaugural marathon success. Race weekend organizers see this event as an
exciting highlight of fall on the Outer Banks, creating a come and stay
atmosphere for the race weekend or perhaps the entire week. It offers an
opportunity for the entire community to become involved as sponsors,
cheering squads, entertainers, and race crew volunteers. Accommodations
information for visitors is available on the OBVB website,
www.outerbanks.org.
Marathon organizers have something more at stake than just running a good
race. They intend to raise money for two local charities. Proceeds raised
by the event benefit both the Dare Education Foundation and the Outer Banks
Relief Foundation.
The committee is still soliciting sponsors and volunteers for the event.
Anyone wishing to become involved as a sponsor, as a planning committee
member or as a race day volunteer should contact Event Coordinator Robyn
Keenan at 252-261-6296 or or Amy
Montgomery, Executive Director of the Dare Education Foundation, at
252-255-5545 or .
Persons wishing to register for the Marathon, Half Marathon or the Fun Run
or who need more information should go to the official website at
www.obxmarathon.org.
###
|
