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NTELOS 8K breaks entry record again; 2007 30th anniversary marathon registration special $30 entry fee
RICHMOND, Va. - (November 7, 2006) - The NTELOS 8K, part of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, has set a new record for the most entries in its 29-year history. As of Tuesday morning, November 7, over 4,700 runners had registered for the event, breaking last year's record total of 4,698. With three days left to register, a total field of over 5,000 is expected by race day on Saturday, November 11. This is the second consecutive year and the eighth time in the past nine years that the 8K has set a new entry record. Combined registrations for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, NTELOS 8K and Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run are expected to be near 10,000 for the second consecutive year.
The SunTrust Richmond Marathon will be held on Saturday, November 11 beginning at 8:00am at 7th and Broad Streets in downtown Richmond. The NTELOS 8K will follow at 8:35am at 6th and Broad Streets. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will begin at 9th & Main Streets at 8:15am.
It's never too early to register for 2007. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the Richmond Marathon and to celebrate the event is offering a special $30 marathon entry fee for a very limited time. The unheard of price will be offered for online registrants only at RichmondMarathon.com from Friday, Nov. 10 through midnight on Sunday, Nov. 12. After that, the fee will still be an incredibly-low $50 through December 31.
Event organizers are already planning a full list of special promotions and activities for the 30th anniversary marathon. Among the perks already announced are a commemorative anniversary shirt, commemorative anniversary finishers' medal, commemorative anniversary poster and commemorative anniversary premium item for all marathon entrants.
This year's 29th running of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on November 11 will take on special significance as the event recognizes Veterans Day. A host of special features will serve to honor our country's veterans and active duty personnel entered in both the marathon and its companion race, the NTELOS 8K.
Among the ways the event will honor Veterans Day include distributing special red, white and blue bibs to be worn by veterans/active duty military personnel running in either race, special bibs to be worn by family and friends in honor of military and veterans with the honoree's name, special True Blue bracelets to be given to veterans and those honoring veterans and active duty military personnel, a military band to play the national anthem at the start of the event, and other special recognition along both race routes. The bibs and bracelets will be available at the NTELOS booth at the event's Health & Fitness Expo on Nov. 9-10.
Ironworks Consulting will offer live splits and results for all marathon participants on the race website (RichmondMarathon.com). In addition to 13.1- and 20-mile splits and standings as well as finish results, Ironworks will provide photos throughout the event for friends and family who can't attend.
Event means big bucks for local economy. The thousands of out-of-town participants and spectators that invade the Richmond region this weekend for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and NTELOS 8K mean millions of dollars to the local economy, a recent study confirms.
The 2005 SunTrust Richmond Marathon, featuring the largest participant field and most spectators in its 28-year history, pumped over $8.4 million into the Richmond economy, according to InZone Research, a sports marketing research group working through Virginia Commonwealth University SportsCenter. The study involved interviewing over 600 attendees at the event on their travel and spending habits during the weekend of November 10-13, 2005.
44 down, 8 to go. This Saturday's SunTrust Richmond Marathon will be Virginian Dane Rauschenberg's 45th of 2006. Dane is on a quest to be the only person to run one marathon every weekend in 2006 (52 marathons - without fail - no matter where it takes him), with all the proceeds that he raises going to the organization L'Arche-Mobile, an international federation of communities in which people with a mental handicap and those who help them can live, work and share their lives together. And if that isn't enough, Dane will continue to work at his present occupation during the week and attempt to run every marathon in 2006 under 4 hours! With 44 Marathons down (including the ING New York City Marathon this past Sunday), he is well on his way. For more information, visit his website at: Fiddy2.org.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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