FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It's never too early to make your OBX® Marathon reservations!
By Jeff Merron
June 16, 2008
With less than six months to go, it's time to register -- and reserve your
lodging -- for the 2008 OBX® Marathon and Half Marathon.
Nags Head, NC (June 16, 2008) - Ahoy!
If you haven't already registered and reserved your accommodations for the
2008 OBX® Marathon and Half Marathon, now is the time. The third annual
OBX® Marathon, presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and the
Gateway Bank Half Marathon, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008. You can
make sure you get a spot in the race you're running, and save $10 by
registering before July 5th at www.obxmarathon.org.
And while registering, book your Outer Banks, North Carolina fall getaway.
You'll want to arrive early on the Outer Banks to enjoy the beautiful
beaches and historic scenery of North Carolina's barrier islands. Warm
weather typically extends into late autumn and attracts many vacationers,
so early planning can help you find the perfect place for you, your family,
and friends.
Both the marathon and the half-marathon are point-to-point races that allow
you to see miles and miles of the Outer Banks on foot. With a course that
stretches the length of the beautiful barrier island, you may be wondering
where you should stay. There are many different choices for lodging on the
Outer Banks, and you can count on the free and convenient shuttle system to
get you to the starting line and back after the post race party.
It's easy to find information about where to stay by clicking on the
"Travel Resources" link at www.obxmarathon.org. You can also find
information at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Web site www.outerbanks.org.
The Outer Banks is a unique destination with many accommodations options
including modern ocean front hotels, motels, traditional inns, and beach
house rentals. Most of the lodgings listed on www.obxmarathon.org offer
special marathon weekend packages and rates, and some rental properties --
which range from one to six-bedroom units -- can be had for an additional
discount if reserved far enough in advance. For large groups, vacation
houses, which usually include full kitchens and offer many amenities like
game rooms and heated pools, can be a very affordable option. On the other
end of the spectrum are the quaint inns that offer exceptional hospitality
and service.
The OBX® Marathon and Half Marathon drew nearly 4000 runners combined
in 2007, and are expecting larger turnouts in 2008. In addition to the
races, there will be plenty of activities like the family-friendly Kelly
Hospitality Group Fun Run, the OBX® Marathon EXPO and the pasta party.
The OBX® Marathon and Half Marathon are run on USA Track & Field
(USATF)-certified point-to-point courses. The fast, flat courses are
conducive to fast times, and the November date and weather (November Outer
Banks temperatures are moderate, averaging lows of 48 degrees Fahrenheit
highs of 63) provide an excellent opportunity for those hoping to qualify
for the Boston Marathon. Both races feature elite racers competing for more
than $25,000 in prize money. Last year's half-marathon winner, Samuel
Kosgei of Kenya, ran a blazing 1:02:34 while setting an all-comers state
record.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina® is a chain of barrier islands midway
on the Atlantic Seaboard, 90 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia and 321 miles
north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Surrounded by 900 square miles of
water, it has the third largest estuary system in the world, wildlife
refuges, maritime forests, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the
highest sand dunes on the East Coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park.
The Outer Banks are brimming with historic attractions. Just a few of the
family favorites are:
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, which marks the site of the
world's first controlled powered flight on December 17, 1903, and features
a full-scale reproductions of the Wright 1903 Powered Flyer;
The new Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, which is dedicated to
preserving and interpreting the rich maritime history of the Outer Banks
and the more than 2,000 known shipwrecks that rest off the Outer
Banks;
Roanoke Island Festival Park. is an interactive family attraction that
celebrates the first English settlement in America. The centerpiece of the
25-acre island park adjacent to Manteo, is, Elizabeth II, a representation
of one of the seven English ships from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585.
The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort offers a treasure trove
of Outer Banks pirate lore, including the "Blackbeard and Queen Anne's
Revenge" exhibit, which features items recovered from the famous pirate's
ship. You can also take a short ferry ride to Teach's Hole Blackbeard
Exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop on Ocrakoke Island, near the site of the
Nov. 22, 1718 battle in which the famous pirate (AKA Edward Teach) was
killed.
Stay tuned to learn more about the new twist on the OBX® Marathon and
Half Marathon for 2008. And if you've already registered and reserved a
place to stay, a hearty Arrr!
For more information and to register for the OBX® Marathon and Half
Marathon, visit www.obxmarathon.org or call 252-261-6296.
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