FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 801-412-6060
312-505-7555
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER JOAN BENOIT SAMUELSON
ADDED TO SALT LAKE CITY MARATHON LINE UP
SALT LAKE CITY - (April 8, 2005) - Salt Lake City Marathon officials today
announced that American Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the Gold Medal in
the first Women's Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles at the 1984 Olympic
Games, will serve as an Honorary Starter for the 2nd Annual Salt Lake City
Marathon.
Not only has Joan run more than 30 Marathons, she set world records in her
wins at the Boston Marathon in 1979 and 1983 (running 2:22:43). She also
set American records in her wins at the Philadelphia Half-Marathon in 1984
and the Chicago Marathon in 1985.
Joan Benoit Samuelson is a super-star in the running world. In December
2004, she was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. She's also
an accomplished athlete, road race founder and organizer, motivational
speaker, mother, author, consultant to Nike, former coach and key
participant in many charities and civic endeavors at the local, state and
national levels.
In addition to providing commentary at the Start and Finish Lines, Joan
will serve as Honorary Starter with Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.
On Thursday, April 21, Joan will conduct Race Training Seminars and
autograph sessions (11 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m.) during
the Health & Fitness Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center. On Friday,
April 22, Joan will also conduct Race Training Seminars and sign autographs
from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
The second annual Salt Lake City Marathon & 5K "Run, Bump & Boogie" will be
held on April 23, 2005. It is expected that total participant numbers from
last year will nearly double on the second annual running on April 23,
2005. A full weekend of opportunities for fun and celebration abound. The
Ken Garff Volvo Bike Tour is new this year, featuring a 25-mile non-stop,
leisurely morning ride through the most scenic and spectacular parts of the
Salt Lake Valley. The tour, starting at 6:00 a.m. follows the Salt Lake
City Marathon route on race morning April 23rd.
The Salt Lake City Marathon was among 12 new favorites listed by Runner's
World in the January 2005 Marathon Guide: "Small Wonders: Big Fun, Big
Scenery, Big Rewards." January's Competitor Magazine and Rocky Mountain
Sports Magazine both tout Salt Lake City as the "Best Race at Altitude."
Online registration is available at www.saltlakecitymarathon.com.
With a 25 percent increase in the prize purse to $125,000, this race is
expected to attract even greater attention from world-class runners around
the globe. The website has easy-to-use registration forms, training
information, travel and accommodation links, special stories and
photographs from the inaugural event. In addition, participants can find
course maps and details on the entire weekend of festivities.
The Devine Racing offices are located at 136 E. South Temple in Salt Lake
City, Utah. For race information, contact Scott Kerr, Race Director at
(801) 412-6060. $10 per marathon participant and $5 from every 5K
participant will go to The Huntsman Cancer Institute, the premiere cancer
research and care facility in the Intermountain West.
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