Posted: June 29, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Inaugural Patrick Henry Half Marathon Set for August 25

Sports Backers and Richmond Road Runners Club partner on race RICHMOND, Va. - (June 26, 2007) - The Patrick Henry Half Marathon, the area's newest running event, is set to be run in Hanover County and the town of Ashland, Virginia on Saturday, August 25, 2007, the Sports Backers have announced. Organized in partnership with the Richmond Road Runners Club, the Patrick Henry Half Marathon is named after Hanover County's famous Colonial-era patriot, Patrick Henry, who proclaimed the Revolutionary War's rallying cry, "Give me liberty or give me death." The 13.1-mile race starts and finishes in Poor Farm Park in Hanover, traversing both rolling countryside and Ashland's scenic railroad district. "Hanover County is thrilled to highlight our historic legacy by hosting the Patrick Henry Half Marathon," said Hanover County Administrator Cecil "Rhu" Harris. "With the support of the Sports Backers and the Richmond Road Runners Club, we expect this event will add to the economic vitality of our county, while also promoting the health of our residents." The race, which replaces the Procrastinators and Battlefield Half Marathons that were traditionally held on Labor Day Weekend, will be a Champion Chip timed event and managed by the Richmond Road Runners Club. "We're excited to provide this great new half-marathon opportunity," said Richmond Road Runners Club president Ed Carmines. "The local running community is growing so quickly and the demand is so high, that we expect over 1,000 participants in the inaugural race." "The Patrick Henry Half Marathon is a great event for us to be a partner," said Sports Backers executive director Jon Lugbill. "It allows us to help bring a significant sporting event to Ashland and Hanover County and to encourage and promote fitness in our community." Sports Backers, named best sports commission in the country by the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization founded in October 1991 to build a more vibrant community through sports. The Richmond Road Runners Club is a non-profit organization whose goal is to foster fitness and a healthy lifestyle through running in the metro Richmond, Virginia area. The club is affiliated with the Road Runners Club of America. For more information about the Patrick Henry Half Marathon and online registration, go to: RRRC.org. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest