FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
See Music City, Hear Music City, Run Music City
Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Returns To Nashville on Saturday,
April 26, 2008
NFL head coach Jeff Fisher encourages kids to run the YMCA Country Music
Kids' Marathon presented by Spenco Insoles
NASHVILLE, Tenn., (December 3, 2007) – The ninth annual Country Music
Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is set to hit the streets of Nashville on Saturday,
April 26, 2008. Featuring many of Nashville's best live bands on 28 stages
along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, the musically themed road race is
expected to attract 35,000 runners, walkers and junior racers. For 2008,
the half-marathon will be capped at 22,500 participants and is expected to
sell out prior to race week. Participants are encouraged to commit to their
New Year's resolution and sign-up at www.CMMarathon.com to receive the
early-entry rate before prices increase on January 1, 2008.
The Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is recognized as the ultimate
tour of Music City, USA, featuring historic sites like the Parthenon,
Nashville's world-renowned Music Row and an expansive finish line festival
outside the Tennessee Titan's home, LP Field, located along the Cumberland
River. The event culminates with a post-race concert, which has featured
past acts Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar, Jo Dee Messina, Diamond
Rio, Martina McBride and Kenny Rogers.
In 2007, the race's unique blend of music and running produced the largest
event to date with 29,082 total registered participants, a sizable increase
from 22,007 in 2006.
"I encourage runners and walkers to expereince Nashville's hospitality,"
says Adam Zocks, the event's general manager. "Each year, both the race and
the Nashville community receive positive responses from runners across the
U.S. and Canada. As the world's second largest combined marathon and
half-marathon event, Nashville has proved to be a great running
destination."
A strong youth program is contributing to the race's overall growth. The
YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon presented by Spenco Insoles is expected
to draw 3,000 youth runners grades K-6 on Friday, April 25. Last year the
race was moved to Friday evening, the day before the marathon and
half-marathon races, to accommodate the increasing demand, and allow
parents, who run in the marathon or half-marathon, to watch their children
cross the official marathon finish line. The YMCA Kids' Marathon grew from
500 participants in 2003 to 2,600 participants in 2007.
Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher will continue as the spokesperson
for the YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon presented by Spenco Insoles. Even
during the NFL Draft, Fisher makes time to greet the kids at the finish
line and congratulate them on their success.
"The growth of the YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon over the past few
years is a reflection of each of these kids' commitment to enhance their
physical activity and to reach a goal," says Fisher. "As a coach, it is
very rewarding to see children motivated to cross the finish line and our
hope is that they continue to do so throughout other aspects of their
life."
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