FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Williams Route 66 Marathon Finisher Medal Ranks #1 in North America
Route 66 is the Only Event in the Country to Finish in the
Top Three in as Many Years
TULSA, Okla. – Marathon runners take their hardware seriously, and rightly
so after journeying 26.2 miles to cross the finish line. After finishing
second and third the last two years, the Williams Route 66 Marathon
finisher medal has been ranked number one among North American marathon
medals, according to the May/June issue of Marathon & Beyond magazine.
The 2011 medal is designed to look like a hood ornament on a classic 1941
Cadillac. In Paul Gentry's article, "Chasing the Flying Goddess," the
Williams Route 66 medal has been recognized for capturing the spirit of the
marathon. Judges especially liked its elegant, sleek and shiny design that
makes it look "fast."
Marathon & Beyond formed a 23-member panel made up of marathoners from
across the country and Canada to judge the 2011 marathon medals. There are
an estimated 500 marathons in the U.S. This is the third year in a row that
the Williams Route 66 Marathon medal has placed in the top three, something
no other event in the country has ever done.
"The attention paid to marathon medals has really escalated over the
years," said Rich Benyo, editor of Marathon & Beyond. "The perfect medal is
one that perfectly symbolizes the area through which it runs, and the Route
66 medal does this perfectly!"
Gentry said of the marathon's medal, "Without a doubt, Tulsa is the center
of the 'medal' universe! To be in the top three for three straight years is
truly amazing, especially considering that Marathon & Beyond has a
completely different panel of judges each year. I am a proud finisher of
this event, and I smile with pride every time I see my Flying Goddess
hanging in my den."
"This is a tremendous honor," said Chris Lieberman, director of the
Williams Route 66 Marathon. "Of course, we wanted a medal that reflected
the essence of the event and the history of Tulsa, but more importantly, we
wanted the medal to be worthy of the effort of finishing the marathon."
About the Williams Route 66 Marathon
The Williams Route 66 Marathon, celebrating its seventh year, will wind
through the beautiful city of Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 17 and
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. The presenting sponsor is Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Oklahoma. Each year the race events are held the Saturday and Sunday before
Thanksgiving, and include a two-day health and fitness expo, marathon, half
marathon, marathon relay, 5K run/walk, and a one-mile fun run/walk. To
learn more about the events, sponsoring, training or volunteering,
please e-mail , call (918) 409-2828, or visit
www.route66marathon.com .
About Marathon & Beyond
Celebrating its 16th year, Marathon & Beyond is an international bimonthly
magazine dedicated to long-distance running. Marathon & Beyond subscribers
are marathoners and ultrarunners who compete in several long-distance races
a year. Subscribers live in all 50 states, all provinces of Canada, more
than a dozen European countries, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as
places like Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
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