FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philly Marathon to Feature First Branded Marathon 'Blue Line' to Help
Runners 'Get there'
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The last thing a marathon runner
wants to worry about is running shoes. In the same way, drivers want to
have confidence that their "shoes" - their tires - will perform in a
variety of conditions. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will make the
connection between the two as it announced today its status as Official
Tire of the 2007 Philadelphia Marathon.
As part of the agreement, Goodyear will make running history by
literally putting its mark on the race course. The marathon's "blue line"
that leads runners through the race's 26.2 miles will be painted in the
pattern of the company's signature TripleTred(TM) Technology tread pattern.
This event is believed to be the first time in the history of road racing
that a marathon line has featured a branded design. The pattern will be
seen by the 15,000 runners and more than 100,000 spectators anticipated to
be in attendance on race day. The race will be held in and around the city
of Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 18.
On Marathon Sunday, 1.5 million Philadelphians with awaken to find a
unique sight, a blue tire-tread line starting in front of Philadelphia's
famous Museum of Art and continuing for more than 26 miles in the shadows
of Independence Hall, Penn's Landing and the Liberty Bell. Goodyear will
also lay down the line in a big way, via an enormous, six-foot tall replica
Fortera TripleTred tire, which will roll the line out over the entire
course.
Over two nights leading into the marathon, the rolling replica Goodyear
tire will paint the groundbreaking patterned blue line in a biodegradable,
all natural vegetable-based latex paint. Philadelphia mayor John F. Street
will begin the line painting in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
during a November 15th press conference.
"The Philadelphia Marathon gives us an original opportunity to
communicate the real-world benefits of our award-winning TripleTred
Technology," said Ed Markey, Goodyear's North American Tire vice president
of PR and communications. "Our new Goodyear 'Get there' advertising
campaign is all about helping consumers reach their destinations with
confidence and peace of mind. In Philadelphia, we'll be helping 15,000
marathoners 'get there' to the finish line with confidence."
"The Philadelphia Marathon is a wonderful part of the city's great
sports tradition, and we are pleased to have Goodyear as the newest member
of our Marathon family," said Janis L. Pierce, Deputy City Representative
and Philadelphia Marathon Executive Director. "Through our relationship, we
can continue to enhance the race as it reaches its next plateau of
prominence as one of the nation's premier race destinations. Goodyear will
be helping us by painting our runners' blue line and will outfit the entire
fleet of official Philadelphia Marathon race vehicles with tires equipped
with Goodyear's great TripleTred Technology. Together, we will get our
runners and participants there."
As the Official Tire of the Philadelphia Marathon, Goodyear will lay it
all on the 'line' and support its sponsorship through a wide variety of
initiatives including providing tires for all race vehicles, distributing
unique Goodyear 'Get there' fan signs at local dealers and at all marathon
'cheer zones,' hosting a booth at the Heath & Fitness Expo and running a
series of marathon specific advertisements.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has focused on innovation in both
its products and its communications and marketing and sponsorships. This
tradition has featured many 'firsts', from the first use of DuPont
KEVLAR(R) and carbon fiber in passenger tires, to the TripleTred tread
pattern being styled into the hair of Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton in
2005, to the world's longest basketball shot - from the Goodyear Blimp
during the men's collegiate basketball tournament finale in Atlanta in
March of 2007.
Goodyear's award-winning TripleTred(TM) Technology is the culmination
of decades of research into the design, engineering and physics of
all-weather tire technology. The technology, featured in top-rated Goodyear
tires including models in the Assurance line for passenger cars and
mini-vans and the Fortera line for SUV's and pickup trucks, lets drivers
confidently take on rain-drenched highways, icy or snowy roads, or
unanticipated situations on dry pavement. Incorporating three unique tread
zones across the face of the tire tread, tires featuring TripleTred
Technology provides for superior traction in any kind of weather by
offering: a Water Zone consisting of deeply carved Aquachutes to propel
water away from the tire's tread on rain-drenched roads; an interlocking
tread pattern in the Ice Zone translating into enhanced gripping power on
icy or snow-covered roads; and a Dry Zone featuring reinforced tire
shoulders for confident maneuvering on dry pavement.
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