FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ING Miami Marathon® Entries Soaring Higher
South Florida's premier running event continues to get larger.
Entries for the 2011 ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon®, which will be
held January 30 through the streets of downtown Miami, Miami Beach and
Coconut Grove, are trending 18% higher than in 2010 and the race could top
the 20,000 runner mark for the first time in its eight-year history.
More than 16,000 runners have registered with just under four weeks to go
to race day. The deadline for entries is January 21, but registration will
resume on race weekend at the Nissan Health and Fitness Expo presented by
The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald January 28 and 29 at theMiami Beach
Convention Center.
The increase in entries is largely due to the growth of the running
community both locally and nationally that is attributed to people's quest
to live healthier as well as greater participation among females.
The Tropical 5K, a great family event annually held the morning before the
marathon, is also experiencing an increase in entries over 2010, with more
than 2.100 runners expected to run on January 29. The race will start at
Watson Island and end on South Beach.
"The 2011 ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® has earned its niche as a
premier running event," said ING Miami Marathon® Race Director David Scott.
"Through validation by publications such as Runners World and USA Today and
also through word of mouth among runners throughout the country, people are
sharing that this is a race that everybody has to run.
"You are coming to Miami. People want to visit our South Florida community.
And this is one of the more scenic courses, if not the most scenic, in the
country."
The half-marathon distance continues to grow in popularity. About 75% of
all entries in the 2011 ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® are for the
half-marathon distance, which is very popular among women entrants because
it is a more attainable distance than the marathon.
"Marathons and half marathons around the country are seeing a continual
climb," Scott said. "I also think that with so much attention givento
health reform that a spin off to that is that people are looking to be more
active and healthier."
Entries typically surge in the final days before the race due to the
resolutions runners make around the New Year to complete their training and
test themselves at the marathon or half-marathon distance. Corporations are
also encouraging their employees to be more active and get in shape and are
offering them incentives to do so.
"Running is good for people and frankly it makes them feel better," Scott
said. "Even in the tough economic times that we have been experiencing the
past few years, the continuedgrowth of the ING Miami Marathon is proof that
running is important in people's lives and has become a part of their
lifestyle."
2011 FACTS
Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011
Year Founded: 2003
Start Time: 6:05 AM for wheelchair, 6:15 AM for ING Miami Marathon and Half
Marathon®
Participants: 20,000 in marathon and half marathon; 5000 children in the
ING Run for Something Better program; and 2,100 runners in the Tropical 5K
held one day prior.
Race Ratio: 25/75 (marathon/half marathon)
Registration: Before January 21, 2010: $75 Half Marathon; $100 Marathon;
At Expo (January 28 and 29): $125 Half Marathon; $125 Marathon
Timing: ChronoTrack B-Tag timing system, administered by
Splitsecondtiming.com
Weather: The average start time temperature is 64º F
Start Location: American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL
33131
Finish Location: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33131
Race Route: The USATF-certified course and Boston qualifier starts at
American Airlines Arena, travels over the MacArthur Causeway to South
Beach, through the Venetian Islands, Arts District, Downtown Miami, Coconut
Grove, Brickell Avenue, and finishes at Bayfront Park.
ING Cheering Zones & Community Fun Zones: The race course comes alive with
five areas that provide runners, residents and spectators with
entertainment, refreshments and giveaways. Thousands of spectators are
expected at the ING Cheering Zone, Omni Center on NE 15th Street and
Biscayne Boulevard (Mile 10.5).
Pace Team: The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® will provide
experienced pacers to help runners and walkers finish at expected times.
Racers can choose from several pace groups: 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50,
4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 7:00.
Prize Purse: A total of $10,000 will be distributed to top runners and
wheelers in the marathon. The men and women's winner each get $2,000. The
half-marathon winners each get $500. Performance bonuses are available to
runner's who set a new course record or a new Florida record for the
distance.
Course Records:
Marathon
Men's: David Ruto 2:12:22 (2003)
Women's: Hiromi Ominami, 2:34:11 (2006)
Half Marathon
Men's: Brian Sell, 1:03:46 (2008)
Women's: Deirdre Brill, 1:17:44 (2004)
2010 Winners:
Marathon
Men's: Michael Wardian 2:28:39
Women's: Brett Ely, 2:45:36
Half Marathon
Men's: Justin Young, 1:05.57
Women's: Meghan Armstrong, 1:17.50
Race Accolades: "Top 10 U.S. Marathons" USA Today 2009; "Cool Runs"
Runner's World Magazine 2009, "2008 Races to Run" by Runner's World
Magazine; "2008 Top Winter Destination Race" by USA Today; Competitor
Sports Southeast "Best Event of the Year and Best Running Race."
Title Sponsor: ING has been the title sponsor for six years. 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.
Other Events:
Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29 - The Nissan Health & Fitness
Expo presented by The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald is one of the
largest health expos in the region (expected attendance of 35,000). The
Expo will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and will be open 12
Noon to 7 PM Friday and 10 AM - 6 PM on Saturday.
Saturday, January 29 - Tropical 5K, 7:30 AM
Sunday, January 30 - Finish Line Celebration at Bayfront Park for
participants, families and friends from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Call (305) 278-8668 or visit www.ingmiamimarathon.com.
About US Road Sports
US Road Sports & Entertainment Group is a health and wellness company
dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events. The mission of
US Road Sports is to offer an unparalleled participant sports experience
that showcases host communities and endures as a deeply valued local asset
through events that are a part of the city's culture, identity and brand.
For each participant, US Road Sports strives to offer events that allow
participants of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their physical
and mental health and accomplish life-altering goals while having fun. US
Road Sports provides sponsors and municipalities highly effective exposure
to help maximize their presence and message in the community.
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