FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hydration Stations Will Flood Race Course with Water in March
25 Total Hydration Stations Will Line Course at 2nd Annual Event
(ATLANTA, Ga. February 26, 2008) – The 2008 ING Georgia Marathon &
Half-Marathon race organizers will provide an ample supply of hydration on
March 30 for an expected 15,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes.
There will be 25 "Hydration Stations" from Mile 2 to the finish line area
in Centennial Olympic Park.
"We may be in a drought situation in Georgia this season, but you will not
know it when you run on March 30," said Victoria Seahorn, race director of
the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. "With the help of corporate
sponsors, we created so many more places along the course for runners,
walkers and wheelers to replenish their fluids and get to the finish line."
Hydration Stations will be spaced between Mile 2 and the Finish Line of the
entire 26.2-mile marathon course. Each Hydration Station will have 40-50
volunteers, provided by a community or corporate organization. The best
overall Hydration Station, as selected by Georgia Marathon LLC and
post-event voting from racers, will receive $2,500 for a charity of its
choice. Runners will be able to vote for their favorite Hydration Station
at the finish line area.
Some of the organizations which have already committed to supporting the
new Hydration Station program are: Agnes Scott College, Camp Twin Lakes,
Cystic Fibrosis - 65 Roses, City of Decatur, Dekalb Police, Delta Air
Lines, Emory Healthcare, Emory Rehabilitation, Atlanta Falcons, Foot
Solutions, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Get
Fit Atlanta, KPMG, Lupus Foundation of America, Mizuno USA, Price
WaterhouseCoopers, REI, Scout Troop 266, St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Team in Training, WNBA Atlanta
Dream.
All Hydration Stations will be thoroughly stocked with water, and many will
offer Gatorade, the official sports drink. Energy gels will be available
at two of the stations. Several of the Hydration Stations will serve
runners for both the 26.2-mile marathon and the 13.1-mile half marathon for
the March 30 event, where the two routes are shared.
The Hydration Stations are not the only improvements for racers in 2008.
The ING Georgia Marathon has been named the 2008 Road Runners Club of
America (RRCA) State Marathon Championship for Georgia. Qualified runners
of the 26.2-mile course now have an opportunity to compete for special
awards, presented by the RRCA and Gatorade - top open male/female; masters
male/female (40 years and older) and grandmaster male/female (50 years and
older) winners from Georgia.
"Our focus, our commitment is to build the best springtime marathon in the
country. We believe these changes will create a race experience unlike any
other," stated Seahorn.
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