FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Geneva Hampton
501-371-4639 (h) 501-351-7730 (c)
Gina Marchese Pharis
501-918-5321 (h) 501-351-7700 (c)
Nothing Little About the 3rd Annual Little Rock Marathon
Race directors predict over 5,000 participants
in Arkansas's "Race for Every Pace"
LITTLE ROCK, AR (January 24, 2005) - To most who stand on the sidelines and
watch, the runners and walkers participating in the annual Little Rock
Marathon are super heroes. Who else is capable of enduring months of
training, through whatever Mother Nature has in store, while most are not
even out of bed? On Sunday, March 6, 2005, those known as "Super Runners"
and "Wonder Walkers" will fill the streets of Little Rock, Arkansas, to
tackle up to 26.2 miles through the state's capitol city. The Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette, the state's largest newspaper, again presents the third
annual Little Rock Marathon.
"There's nothing like the Little Rock Marathon," said Greg Hatcher,
chairman of this year's marathon. "We have the excitement of a Razorback
game, the charm and southern hospitality of a county fair, and noteworthy
attractions like Central High School, the William J. Clinton Presidential
Center and the River Market. Not to mention the plethora of sightseeing
opportunities, excellent restaurants and shopping awaiting each visitor."
A Race for Every Pace
Super Runners and Wonder Walkers come in a variety of shapes, sizes,
experience levels and speeds. And for this reason, the Little Rock
Marathon offers a race for every pace. Participants can choose from a
family fun 5K race (3.1 miles), four-person relay marathon (26.2 miles),
the half-marathon (13.1 miles) or the marathon (26.2 miles).
Start times for the races vary. The 5k and wheelchair races begin prior to
the 8 a.m. marathon, relay and half-marathon start. There is an
established time limit for relay and marathon (8 hours) and the half
marathon (4 hours).
Entry fees vary depending on the race, and discount entry fees available.
Racers registering before February 1 will have their name printed on their
race bib, which draws cheers and support from onlookers perched on the
racecourse. Additional registration information and start times can be
found by logging on to www.littlerockmarathon.com.
Health & Fitness Expo
Race participants and their family and friends have access to over 75
exhibitors offering samples, the latest in running shoes and gear, official
marathon merchandise, apparel and a variety of health and nutrition
products at this year's Fitness Expo. The health and fitness show will be
held at Robinson Center Exhibit Hall located at the corner of Markham and
Broadway Streets in downtown Little Rock. Expo hours are Friday, March 4
from noon till 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
All race participants are required to pick up their race number, official
race shirt and goodie bag at the two-day expo prior to race day.
New Course Offers New Challenge
Due to construction the River Trail Project, the marathon course has been
changed. Course information is now available online at
www.littlerockmarathon.com. When asked if any of the hills had been
removed from the new course, race directors smiled and asked, "What hills?"
Big Finish Offers Big Prizes
For the first time ever, the Little Rock Marathon is equally awarding a
purse worth over $17,000 in cash and prizes to top finishers in both male
and female divisions. Those placing first through fifth in the marathon
will receive a cash prize totaling $11,500. The top three finishers in the
marathon masters will earn a total of $1,700. A total of $3,000 will be
divided among the first three finishers in the half marathon, and $1,100
will be distributed to the top three masters half marathon finishers.
The Little Rock Marathon also holds bragging rights for the world's largest
finisher's medal. Weighing in at one pound, finishers cannot believe how
heavy that feels after completing the distance. Other race premiums
include an official race t-shirt, poster and goody bag for all race
participants. Full marathon participants receive a finisher's shirt,
certificate and official race results book.
Becoming a Hero Beyond the Finish Line
Race participants are heroes to those who have trouble even imaging that
completing a marathon is possible. But, this year's race offers
participants a chance to become a hero off the asphalt. The Little Rock
Marathon is launching its charity program in effort raise funds for many
worthwhile charities including:
? American Diabetes Association
? Alzheimer's Association
? Easter Seals Arkansas
? Little Rock Boys & Girls Club
? Care Link
? Arkansas Food Bank Network
? Epilepsy Education Association of Arkansas
? And many others
Participation is simple. Enter one of the Little Rock Marathon races and
select the charity of choice. Marathon staff will send your contact
information only to the selected charity. The charity will confirm your
participation on the team and provide you with the organization's
individual fundraising goal per participant. Fundraising can be done
online courtesy of www.MarathonGuide.com. Each participant will receive a
free personal fundraising web page in which he can post fundraising goals,
reasons for contributing to chosen charity and an account for online
donations from friends and family. For those choosing to raise funds
through other means, a donation form is available to assist with
solicitation. All donations are tax deductible.
Little Rockers Making a Huge Splash
This is the second year that children, ages seven to twelve, can experience
the thrill of the race. As part of the Little Rockers Kids Marathon,
presented by the Little Rock Rotary Club, children can complete the
25.2-mile distance over an extended period of time. The final mile is then
completed on race day, March 6 at 2 p.m. Race directors encourage race
participants, family and friends to stay and support the Little Rockers as
they accomplish their goal.
The goal of the Little Rockers Kids Marathon is to teach healthy lifestyles
through physical activity and to teach children the importance of setting
and reaching their goals. The Little Rockers Training Program is a free
program geared toward any child regardless of fitness level and is
presented by Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Volunteers Needed
Over 1,500 volunteers are needed in order to ensure that race weekend is a
success. Volunteer opportunities range from assisting with race packet
assembly and pick-up, staffing aid stations along the route, manning food
tables in the finisher's tent and much more. Race staffers encourage
organizations, private companies, sororities and fraternities and friends
of race participants to join together as a team and volunteer their time to
make this race a wonderful experience for all racers. For more information
on volunteer opportunities, contact Linda Sue Sanders at (501) 744-2039 or
by e-mail at suewho2@att.net.
Need More Information?
For more information on the third annual Little Rock Marathon, log on to
www.littlerockmarathon.com. Visitors to the site will find average race
temperature, course layout, entry information, official race host hotels,
pre- and post-race activities and much more. Discount entry fees are
available to any Arkansas Democrat-Gazette subscriber and to those who
enter prior to February 1. The Little Rock Marathon is the 2005 RRCA
Southern Region Championship Marathon. USA Track and Field (USATF) is the
sanctioning and certifying body for the Little Rock Marathon.
The 3rd Annual Little Rock Marathon is presented by the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette. The race is also sponsored by adidas, The Hatcher
Agency, Little Rock Convention & Visitor's Bureau (LRCVB), Arkansas
Specialty Orthopaedics, Healthy Arkansas, Clear Mountain, Magna IV, Crown
Royal, Datamax, Fence World, Lemon Grass Design Studio, The Little Rock
Rotary Club, Diamond Bear, KARK Channel 4, B98.5, Arkansas Children's
Hospital, Alltel Corp., Macaroni Grill, Bedford Camera & Video, The Janet
Jones Company, KATV Channel 7, Stephens Inc., KTHV Channel 11, QualChoice,
Hugg & Hall, Alice 107.7, Papa Johns Pizza, Fox 16, Riggs Power Solutions,
UPN 38, Pepsi, Landers, City of Little Rock, SBC, Delta Dental, Easy
Runner, MEMS, Unum Provident, arkansasrunner.com, Metropolitan National
Bank, and JP Fitness.
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Little Rock Parks and Recreation (LRPR) oversees 53 parks, four community
centers, the Adult Leisure Center, War Memorial Fitness Center, four
swimming pools, two tennis centers, the River Market, the Riverfest
Amphitheatre, three golf courses, and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas
Military History. The LRPR system includes more than 5,000 acres of
designated parks and open space. In addition, the organization offers a
wide-range of youth and adult recreational and sports leagues, after-school
and summer playground programs for children ages 6-15, outdoor recreation,
therapeutic recreation and programs for seniors. Funds raised will
continue to support parks and recreational programs for all ages. For more
information about Little Rock Parks & Recreation please visit www.lrpr.org.
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