Posted: December 16, 2005

Athletics:"Battle of the Badges" Relay at 2006 Spirit of St. Louis Marathon

ST. LOUIS - (December 14, 2005) - Leaving their squad cars and fire engines at the station, police officers and firefighters from the City of St. Louis Police and Fire Departments will lace up for the "Battle of the Badges" a new addition to the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend™, April 8-9, 2006. The weekend's events return with the theme, "Art and Sole," and seven events designed to encourage people of all ages and athletic abilities to engage in different running and walking-related fitness activities.

Honorary Co-Chairmen for the 2006 Spirit of St. Louis Marathon Weekend are St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa and St. Louis Fire Commissioner and Chief Sherman George. Other honorary chairmen include St. Louis Public Schools District Superintendent Creg Williams for the Read, Read & Run Marathon™ and Fox 2 News Anchor Dick Ford for the Mature Mile.

The "Battle of the Badges" will feature several four-person teams from each department who will participate in the Marathon Relay, which has a combined total of 26.2 miles. They will demonstrate their athletic prowess and vie for the traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year. Limited to St. Louis City departments in 2006, the "Battle of the Badges" may expand in future years. All police and fire participants, regardless of which city they work for, will be given red or blue singlets to wear on race day for the Marathon or Half-Marathon event.

Adding a new level of excitement and community involvement to "Battle of the Badges" and the Marathon is the opportunity for St. Louisans to vote for their favorite department with a donation to The BackStoppers, a non-profit organization providing financial support and assistance to families of greater St. Louis area police officers and firefighters who have perished in the line of duty.

"Over the last six years, the men and women of these departments have been on hand to help provide safety and support for participants of the St. Louis Marathon Weekend," said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay. "This year, some of them will be able to actually participate in what has become Missouri's largest marathon and half marathon festival and a showcase event for our city. We applaud them in their life-saving, athletic and charitable efforts."

Joining police and firefighters will be thousands of participants in the sixth annual Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend. Under the continuing theme "Art and Sole," local artists will provide visually stimulating interpretations of the "Art of Running" on eight by three canvases located at each mile marker along the marathon course. Performing arts and music will also be featured along the route.

Taking place over three days, the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend was created with a mission to promote the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Today, it is the largest and most comprehensive festival of its kind in Missouri, with the 2005 event drawing more than 10,000 runners and walkers of all ages and abilities from 47 states and two countries. Further, the Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon recently was cited by Running USA's Road Running Information Center as one of the fastest growing, existing Half-Marathons in the country.

"Our commitment to fitness, coupled with community partnerships and grass roots efforts, has positioned the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon organization as a leader in raising awareness of the importance of health and fitness locally, and in the state of Missouri," said Marathon Weekend President Nancy Lieberman. "We will continue to explore and create innovative ways to attract new participants at all levels and strive to enhance St. Louis' image as a health conscious city as well as to expand programs throughout the State of Missouri."

The 2006 weekend kicks off on Friday, April 7, with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Health & Fitness Expo at the America's Center. The action moves to Forest Park on Saturday, April 8, with a variety of Fun Runs ranging from a Diaper Dash to a 1/2-mile run, the Read, Right & Run Marathon - the nation's only fully integrated children's marathon - a 5K Run/Walk and the Mature Mile, which challenges adults age 60 and older to train and walk one mile.

Sunday, April 9, is Marathon Day when thousands of runners and walkers test their stamina for the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon, Half Marathon and a four-person Marathon Relay. The 26.2-mile course starts near Soldier's Memorial in downtown St. Louis then winds its way through the Soulard, Central West End, Forest Park, Clayton and University City/DeBaliviere communities before returning to Soldier's Memorial.

For the second consecutive year, the St. Louis Marathon Weekend will host the Missouri Marathon and Half-Marathon Championship. The state championship races are held in conjunction with the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon and Half Marathon on April 9 with honors going to the top male and female Missouri finishers.

A traditional pre-Marathon Pasta Party will be held Saturday evening at St. Louis City Hall.

For more information about the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon Weekend & Family Fitness Weekend and "Battle of the Badges" visit STLouisMarathon.com or call (314) 727-0800.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.