FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Richard Maher
877-345-2230
MAJOR MARATHON TO BE HELD IN EUGENE, OREGON
Eugene OR -- It has returned. And it's big.
The first major destination marathon since the early 1980s, the inaugural
Eugene Marathon will be held in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday, April 29, 2007.
In a city that many runners consider the mecca of their sport; the course
will take runners along the hallowed roads and trails used by such legends
as the late Steve Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar and Mary Decker Slaney.
"Eugene has long been a magic name in running circles. Now, at last, after
an absence of more than 20 years, our city will again have a major marathon
where runners come from around the country and the world to experience its
magic," said Eugene Marathon board member Joe Henderson, local author,
columnist for Marathon and Beyond magazine, and running coach.
The event is the brainchild of Richard Maher, a longtime Eugene resident
and veteran marathoner who has completed 19 marathons, including Boston,
Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Paris and Victoria and his
nephew, Andy Heily, who was a high school All-American and 11 time
letterman in track and cross-country at Georgetown University. Joining
Maher, Heily and Henderson on the board are a who’s who of U.S. distance
running including:
Cathie Twomey Bellamy, 3 time U.S. Olympic trials veteran and former
world-record holder in the 20k
Frank Gagliano, Nike Farm Team head coach
Andy Downin, former US 1,500 meter Champion, four-time All-American in
cross-country at Georgetown, and founder of New Hampshire’s largest road
mile the Millennium Mile race
Matt Downin, former All-American at the University of Wisconsin who set a
personal best of 2:14:28 at the 2005 New York Marathon and was ranked # 5
at the 26.2 distance by U.S. Track and Field
"It is not often one can feel like an elite athlete within a relatively
small city," Twomey Bellamy said. "Taking part in the Eugene Marathon
allows everyone to become Prefontaine for even just a few hours."
The music-filled family event will include a marathon, half-marathon,
5-kilometer and kids runs. The course will begin and end in the vicinity
of Eugene's Alton Baker Park, taking runners through Eugene and
Springfield, on city streets and bike paths, and along the Willamette
River. Live music will be positioned along the marathon and half-marathon
routes and at the finish. Event sponsors include The Pape Group of
Companies, Sporthill, Krusteaz, and the Lane County Visitor’s Bureau. The
event will benefit Bolder Options, Food for Lane County, Eugene Education
Fund, and Pre's Trail.
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