Posted: January 22, 2010  :

(RWire) Athletics: Portland Marathon to Host Inaugural Half Marathon on 10-10-10

Northwest fall event adds the fastest growing distance in the U.S.; limited to 3,000 entrants; registration open, sell out near PORTLAND, Ore. - (January 14, 2010) - The Portland Marathon Half, a 13.1-mile run and walk created by the Portland Marathon, was offered to the public this month and is nearly sold out. The new event will be part of the 39th Portland Marathon, which will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010. "The Portland Marathon Half will be a fun event with a fast course and all the well known features of our Portland Marathon," Chris Hardman Course Coordinator said. Event organizers believe the half-marathon will add $3 million of economic impact to the local area. The overall event is estimated to have a $26 million economic impact on the Portland Metro area and has been the "largest convention-like event" in Portland the last four years. Limited to 3,000 entries, the Portland Marathon Half will feature all the entertainment and amenities of the full 26.2-mile marathon, which drew over 9,700 runners and walkers in 2009. Currently, participants for the half event are 76% women from 36 states and 7 foreign countries. According to Running USA, the half-marathon has been the fastest growing distance in the U.S. since 2003. Registration for the half was first offered to former Portland Marathon finishers and other special running and walking groups. Registration opened for the general public on January 10 and will continue until January 31, unless the event sells out earlier. Special entries are also reserved for charities and the military. Those interested in registering can go to www.portlandmarathon.org and can use promotional code PMHALF254 for a discount through January 21. The Portland Marathon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an Oregon non-profit corporation. Each year nearly $200,000 is donated by the Portland Marathon to over 100 local non-profits, school groups, sport teams, and other charities. With the help of the event, charities also raise about $2 million. The Portland Marathon events, which include a marathon (26.2 miles), a half-marathon, a five-miler, a 10K walk and kids' fun run, are produced each year by a committee and more than 4,500 volunteers. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest Check out our FrontPage for all the latest running and triathlon news.