FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Half Marathon Added to 2008 SunTrust Richmond Marathon
Record registration numbers for this year's events
RICHMOND, VA - Sports Backers announce the return of a half marathon as
part of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon events next year. Slated to follow
much of the same route as the second half of the SunTrust Richmond
Marathon, it too will have junk food stops, wet wash cloths, bands, spirit
groups and all the other extra touches expected of a Sports Backers event.
The half marathon is set to start at 7:30 a.m., on Broad Street, the same
site as the NTELOS 8K and SunTrust Richmond Marathon. The 31st SunTrust
Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon and NTELOS 8k will take place on Saturday,
November 15, 2008.
A special early bird promotion for next year's half marathon and marathon
will be offered this weekend only. Enter the 2008 Richmond SunTrust
Marathon for $50 or the Richmond Half Marathon for $40 by signing up online
at www.richmondmarathon.com from Friday,
November 9th through midnight on Sunday, November 11th. There will also be
Early Entry brochures at the Sports Backers booth at the Health & Fitness
Expo. After November 11th, the registration fees go to $60 for the
marathon and $50 for the half marathon through December 31st.
Record Registration Numbers. The 2007 SunTrust Richmond Marathon has
shattered its all-time registration record. As of Tuesday, November 6,
almost 5,000 runners had signed up for "America's Friendliest Marathon."
That total breaks the marathon's previous record of 4,763 set in 2005.
With registration still available through Friday, a total marathon field of
over 5,100 is expected by race day on Saturday, November 10. The
marathon's companion race, the NTELOS 8k has also surpassed its record
field of 5,393 participants set last year. A total field of over 6,000 is
expected for the NTELOS 8k. There have also been 500 entries in the
Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run. This is the eighth time in nine years
that the marathon has set a new entry record and the ninth time in ten
years for the 8k.
Online registration for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, the NTELOS 8K or
the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run is available at www.richmondmarathon.com
until 11:59 p.m., Wednesday November 7. Late walk-up registration for those
events can be accomplished at the Omni Richmond Hotel during the
Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, November 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday,
Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no race day registration!
In all, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, NTELOS 8k and Richmond
Times-Dispatch Kids Run entries have already surpassed 2005's record number
of 10,390. Over 1,000 Richmond area runners have registered for the
marathon by signing up for the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, a
6-month program that encourages entry level runners to attempt a marathon.
Commemorative Poster. The SunTrust Richmond Marathon has unveiled its 2007
Commemorative poster, created by local artist Robert Meganck. All proceeds
from the sale of the poster benefit Donate Life, the official charity of
the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, working to increase organ and tissue
donation. Donate Life is a program of the non-profit agencies UNOS and
LifeNet and its educational efforts encourage all Americans to say "yes" to
organ and tissue donation and record a donation decision.
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