Press Release - Little Rock Marathon - 2/21/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                               Contact: Geneva Hampton
                                        501-371-4639 or 501-351-7730 cell
                                          
                                        Gina Marchese Pharis
                                        501-918-5321 or 501-351-7700 (cell)
                                        

         Arkansas Governor Running as #2008 for Little Rock Marathon

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - (February 21, 2006) - With months of marathon training 
behind him, Gov. Huckabee accepted his official race number for the 2006 
Little Rock Marathon during a ceremony today at Allsopp Park. Race Director 
Geneva Hampton came up with the idea to surprise Gov. Huckabee with the race 
number 2008. The 26.2-mile race through the streets of Little Rock will be 
Sunday, March 5.

"We thought it would be fun to give him 2008 in case he decides to run for 
president," said Hampton. "We were hoping that might get us a few tickets to 
his inauguration." 

"People are always asking me if I'm going to run for president in 2008," 
said Huckabee, "Now I can honestly say I am running in 2008 - number 2008 in 
the Little Rock Marathon." 

This will be Gov. Huckabee's third marathon. He completed the Marine Corps 
Marathon in Washington D.C. in October 2005 with a time of 4 hours 37 
minutes and 10 seconds and he ran the Little Rock Marathon in March 2005 in 
4:38:22. 

Since Gov. Huckabee lost 110 pounds, he has put healthy living in the 
spotlight. His Healthy Arkansas program has partnered with the Little Rock 
Marathon this year to encourage healthy habits. 

"Our partnership with the Little Rock Marathon will help us send the message 
of healthy living statewide. We want to encourage people to eat the right 
foods, quit smoking and exercise on a regular basis. The marathon is not 
only a fun event that benefits our state, it's an event that shows how 
people have found better health through exercise," said Huckabee. 

The Little Rock Marathon is the highlight of a weekend of events geared 
toward fitness. The event is also a huge economic boost for the state, 
bringing in an estimated $4 million to the local economy.

For more information on how you can take part or volunteer for the Little 
Rock Marathon, call (501) 371-4770 or go to www.LittleRockMarathon.com.



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