ING Georgia Marathon Reaches Registration Milestone in New Year
More than 10,000 sign-up for inaugural event; less than 5,000 spots remain

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Posted Monday, 8 January, 2007

ATLANTA - (Jan. 4, 2007) - The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon reached a milestone in registrations as more than 10,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes have signed up for the Sunday, March 25 inaugural race. Reaching the 10,000-runner mark more than eight weeks ahead of expectations, the event, which is limited to 15,000 participants, is expected to sell out quickly.

"Safety is our first concern, so once all spots are gone we will not want to expand the field beyond 15,000. Next year, it might be different. This year, it is important to create a race that is safe, fun and memorable for all participants: runners, wheelchair athletes, walkers, volunteers and for the spectators who come out to cheer," said Victoria Seahorn, race director of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon.

An expected field of 15,000 would make it one of the largest inaugural events in the country.

"The ING Georgia Marathon will not only be a great event for the participants, but it will create significant economic impact as well," Seahorn added.

Compared to other marathons in Georgia, the inaugural event is quickly on its way to becoming the largest long-distance event in the state. The Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon usually attracts close to 9,000 participants with nearly 90 percent of those participating in the half-marathon. From the entries received through January 1, 2007, the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon organizers have confirmed that, approximately 45 percent are registered for the marathon and 55 percent for the half-marathon. Participants have registered from all 50 states and 18 countries.

"With the abundance of successful marathons in the U.S. and around the world, there is always a risk when launching a new event," said Ron Wayne, former U.S. marathon champion and director of running and volleyball promotions for Mizuno, one of the race sponsors. "[Race Director] Victoria Seahorn and her staff have developed a user-friendly, informative race website, have extensively promoted the race within the state of Georgia, and have attended many top national marathon race expos promoting the race on a national and worldwide level. As a result of all their efforts, the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon is well on its way to reaching its participation goal of 15,000 runners."

For more information or to register, visit: INGGeorgiaMarathon.com

Contact: Javier De Jesus, (404) 210-2780; Javier@inggeorgiamarathon.com

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