PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 10, 2008) – Two-time Olympic silver medalist and current world marathon champion, Catherine Ndereba, will lead the field of elite athletes at the ING Philadelphia Distance Run on September 21, 2008.
Ndereba, who had a stirring performance last month in the Olympic marathon en route to her silver medal, will be making her first race appearance since Beijing. A multiple ING Philadelphia Distance Run winner, Catherine is currently the women's world marathon champion, a title she previously held in 2003, and broke the world record in 2001.
"I am overjoyed at being back in Philadelphia to race. It's been some time since my schedule has allowed me to run the ING Philadelphia Distance Run,” said Ndereba, who trains outside of Philadelphia. “It's great that this will be my first race after the Olympic Marathon. That's my home training ground where I prepare for every marathon, so it's great to come back home for a race."
The first four-time women's winner at the Boston Marathon, Ndereba, 36, boasts an impressive running resume. Her list of global achievements includes two victories at the Chicago Marathon and runner up finishes in the London and ING New York City marathons.
“We are delighted to be able to announce Catherine will be competing in her first race after the Olympics on the streets of Philadelphia,” said Matt Turnbull, Athlete Coordinator for the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. “Welcoming such an accomplished runner to Philadelphia shows the high esteem this race is being given by the international track and field community.”
The ING Philadelphia Distance Run has been one of the most popular and respected half marathons in the country for over thirty years. Last year, over 14,000 runners, walkers and wheel-chair participants registered for the event.
The 13.1 mile scenic race course features live bands every mile and showcases many of Philadelphia’s most celebrated sites. The start and finish lines are located at Eakins Oval, by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. From the start line, runners head towards Center City on the legendary Benjamin Franklin Parkway lined with fountains, international flags and a vast array of public art. Runners will then pass City Hall and Independence Hall. After heading back up Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the course rolls into the serene and picturesque Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River before finishing back at Eakins Oval.
Future half marathoners also have their own event on race day. Now in its 16th year, the ING Philadelphia Distance Run for Kids features races and entertainment for children between the ages of three and 12. All of the children’s races will start and finish at Eakins Oval at the same location as the half marathon start line.
For runners who haven’t yet registered for the race, there is time to run with an Olympic silver medalist. Online registration closes this Sunday, September 14, 2008 and is the last opportunity for participants to receive the lower online price of $65. Registration will also be available at the health and Fitness Expo on Friday, September, 19 and Saturday, September 20 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
For more information on the ING Philadelphia Distance Run or to register online, please visit www.ingphiladelphiadistancerun.com or call (800) 311-1255.
About Elite Racing Inc.
Based in San Diego, Calif., Elite Racing, Inc. is a division of Competitor Group, Inc., the leader in endurance sports media, marketing and event management. Elite Racing produces world-class road racing events for runners and walkers throughout the United States. Its signature Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series began in 1998 with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Over the past 11 years, the sports marketing and management company has grown to manage a total of eight marathons and half marathons including the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville, Tenn., the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathons in Virginia Beach, Va. and San Jose, Calif., and the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Events feature live bands on entertainment stages and cheerleaders at every mile along the course and attract between 13,000 and 37,000 participants.
In addition, Elite Racing also produces the Carlsbad 5000. Known as the “world’s fastest 5K,” the Carlsbad 5000 is home to 16 world best times at the 3.1-mile distance and welcomes over 10,000 runners and walkers to the streets of Carlsbad, Calif. annually. For more information about Elite Racing’s events visit www.eliteracing.co.
About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million residential, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 130,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand. In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.
Olympic Marathon Finish, Courtesy: Victah Sailor
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