Press Release - Little Rock Marathon - 12/12/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                        Contact: Geneva Hampton
                                                 501-371-4639
                                                 501-351-7730 cell
                                                 

                                                 Gina Marchese Pharis
                                                 501-918-5321
                                                 501-351-7700 cell
                                                 
                                        


            Keeping Your New Year's Resolution Just Got Easier
             Little Rock Relay Marathon Training Now Underway


LITTLE ROCK, AR  (December 12, 2005) - It will be a little easier to keep 
that resolution to be more fit with the start of the New Year weeks away.  
Organizers of the Little Rock Relay Marathon, presented by the Adolescent 
Center & Sports Medicine Plus at Arkansas Children's Hospital, are gearing 
up for an increase in participants preparing for the race, which is held in 
conjunction with the Little Rock Marathon, presented by the Arkansas 
Democrat Gazette on March 5, 2006.  

The relay marathon is run on the same course and at the same time as the 
marathon.  The 26.2-mile course is divided up into four sections (6.8 
miles, 6.6 miles, 7.2 miles, and 5.6 miles) that start and finish in the 
same locations as the marathon (downtown Little Rock near Capitol and 
Victory Streets.  

The first leg gets underway at 8 a.m., however teams needing more than six 
hours to finish are encouraged to begin at 6 a.m. with early start for the 
marathon.  About 400 teams from around the country are expected to 
participate with 16 award divisions as well as an award for the 
organization with the largest number of teams. 

"A relay marathon brings back the concept of teamwork and camaraderie that 
are typically not part of an a marathon, Roy Lamm, relay marathon chair 
said.  "The relay marathon adds a longer distance element for individuals 
who are not ready or do not wish to participate in the entire marathon.  We 
originally created this race primarily as a team competition for schools 
and corporations, but have had such overwhelming success over the last 
couple years in the family and religious organization divisions that we 
continue to add divisions."

"We are excited to have the Adolescent Center & Sports Medicine Plus at 
Arkansas Children's Hospital as the presenting sponsor of this year's relay 
marathon race," Lamm said.  "We believe there is a great need for a fitness 
program geared towards adolescents and teens.  We will be developing that 
program with the help of the Adolescent Center & Sports Medicine Plus."  

Official training for the relay begins December 12 with schedules and 
information available at www.littlerockmarathon.com/training.  Training is 
free of charge and a program of Little Rock Parks & Recreation.  

Entry fees: 
$35 per person before February 1
$45 per person after February 1
$55 per person race weekend

To register for the relay marathon or get additional information, visit 
www.littlerockmarathon.com
##

                            ###