Seattle Marathon Association Announces Partnership with Girls on the Run of Puget Sound
Non-Profits use running to encourage healthy lifestyles for kids
The Seattle Marathon Association announces today that it has brought on Girls on the Run of Puget Sound as an Official Partner of the 2010 Seattle Marathon Family of Events, which includes the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, the Seattle Marathon 5k Race: presented by Road Runner Sports and the Seattle Children’s Kids Marathon.
“I am happy to have such a great organization partnering with our event,” says Louise Long, Race Director for the Seattle Marathon events. “We share a common goal of promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles for kids.”
An active lifestyle is a key component of good health for all school-age kids and the partnership of the Seattle Marathon Association and Girls on the Run of Puget Sound will encourage training for age-appropriate running activities, such as the kids’ marathon and 5k race. The Seattle Children's Kids Marathon is structured to allow children — kindergarten through eighth grade — to complete a full 26.2-mile marathon at a rate that is fun and safe for their growing bodies “one mile at a time.”
Recognizing, however, that good health relates to more than just exercise, the kids marathon also encourages them to read 13 books and perform 13 do rights (good deeds).
“When a child trains for a running event, not only does her level of fitness increase, but she also learns lessons that equip her with essential life skills,” says Kerin Brasch, Executive Director for Girls on the Run of Puget Sound. “This partnership will enable us to impact the lives of more children than ever before as both organizations are dedicated to improving the health of our community,“ Brasch adds.
This year’s kids marathon marks the 12th occurrence of the annual event and will take place on SATURDAY, November 27th at 10:00 AM at the Seattle Center. The start line, where kids begin their final 1.2 miles, is on the corner of 5th and Harrison.
Brand commits to four-year partnership as exclusive footwear and apparel sponsor
Saucony, Inc, a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel, today announced its four-year exclusive footwear and apparel sponsorship of the Seattle Marathon. The 2010 race, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Seattle Marathon, takes place Sunday, November 28th at the historic Seattle Center in downtown Seattle. The Seattle Marathon family of events includes the Marathon Run, Marathon Walk, Half Marathon Run, Half Marathon Walk, 5K, and Kids Marathon.
“The Seattle Marathon is a not only a Northwest tradition but one of the premier running events in the region,” said Mark Bossardet, vice president of sports marketing for Saucony. “This partnership underlines our continued commitment to the Pacific Northwest running community and allows us to come together to celebrate 40 years of great distance running. We’re confident that together, we will take this event to an entirely new level.”
As part of its sponsorship activation strategy, the brand will provide all of the marathon and half marathon participants with a long-sleeve Saucony technical fabric race shirt. Volunteers for the event will also be outfitted in Saucony apparel, as well as footwear.
“The Seattle Marathon has been growing strong for 40 years thanks to the support of devoted volunteers, runners and sponsors,” said Louise Long, Seattle Marathon race director. “We’re thrilled to welcome Saucony as our official footwear and apparel sponsor and look forward to inspiring even more runners to experience this classic event.”
The Seattle Marathon, one of the two oldest marathons on the west coast, is USATF and AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.
Logo Created To Commemorate 2500th Anniversary of the Marathon
This year marks the 2500th anniversary of the marathon and to commemorate this historic occasion the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and the Athens Classic Marathon (ACM) Organizing Committee, in collaboration with AIMS, have created a unique logo.
In 2010, the world Marathon movement celebrates the 2500th anniversary of the Marathon Battle (490 BC) and the legend of Pheidippides the Greek soldier-runner who ran from the village of Marathon to Athens bearing the message of victory to the Athenians. This legend provided the impetus for the establishment of the Marathon as an event during the first Modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896.
The logo created to mark the 2500th anniversary of the legend of the Marathon is available for use as a supplementary item by race organisations during the year 2010, highlighting the importance and symbolism for world peace and solidarity that the year 2010 brings. The logo and conditions of use are available for download at www.aimsworldrunning.org .
Hiroaki Chosa, President of AIMS (Association of International Marathons & Distance Races) commented: “2010 is an important year in the history of marathon running, marking the 2500th anniversary of the historical run from Marathon to Athens. AIMS is delighted to endorse the use of this logo amongst our 300 member races in 85 countries in order to acknowledge this great occasion.”
AIMS is the world body for marathons and distance races and has over 300 member races across 85 different countries around the world for background information please see www.aimsworldrunning.org .
November 11, 2009
Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon 2009 Shadow Run in Baghdad
March 22, 2009
May 9th is National Run a Mile Day
NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAY™ is a “youth and adult” fitness event sponsored by the American Running Association. The goals of the RUN A MILE event are to celebrate the mile and encourage people of all ages, especially children from elementary to middle school ages, to participate in running the mile. NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAY™ shall be a festive event that promotes the message that running can be fun and is an important aspect of overall health, fitness and well-being.
November 4, 2008
Road Runner Sports Named Presenting Sponsor for Seattle Marathon 5K Race
We are happy to announce that Road Runner Sports will be the presenting sponsor for the inaugural edition of the Seattle Marathon 5K Race on November 29th, 2008.
The Seattle Marathon Association Board of Directors were thrilled when Road Runner Sports signed on as sponsor. "The Seattle Marathon Association couldn't have asked for a more appropriate sponsor for the Seattle Marathon 5K. Road Runner Sports is a highly respected member of the running community and perfectly complements the Seattle Marathon 5K Run/Walk," they said in a prepared statement.
Road Runner Sports is the world's largest running store, with 22 stores in 10 states.
Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the race that defined the modern-day marathon at the IV Olympic Games in London on July 24, 1908. For the full story of the 1908 Marathon, click here .
"The notorious end to the 1908 marathon had officials helping Dorando Pietri of Italy over the finish line. This contravention of the rules led to his disqualification. He had entered the stadium in a near state of collapse, and, indeed, fell down five times on the last lap of the track.
It has always been stated that the high temperature (78°F) of the day, allied to his strenuous exertions during the last few miles of the race, caused his sorry state. However, recently there has been the suggestion that perhaps the main cause of his distress was the little Italian’s habit of gargling with wine during the race, which did not go well with the heat. After a protest by the American team, the second finisher, Johnny Hayes, was awarded the gold medal."
We are pleased to announce that Amica Insurance will be the title sponsor for the 2008 Seattle Marathon. Amica Insurance will serve as the title sponsor not only for 2008 but also for the 2009 through 2011 races.
“Due to our great experience as a Platinum Sponsor last year, Amica was thrilled to become title sponsor and we are delighted that this event will now bear our name,” said Vince Burks, senior assistant vice president at Amica Insurance. “We were drawn to this event because marathoners are driven individuals that appreciate quality and understand better than anyone the importance of consistent performance over the long haul. Amica Insurance has been delivering nationally recognized customer service for over 100 years, realizing it is indeed a marathon, not a sprint, when it comes to setting expectations and then doing what it takes to deliver. Amica is really looking forward to being a part of the Seattle Marathon.”
The Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, Marathon Walk, Half Marathon and Half Marathon Walk will take place Sunday, November 30, 2008. All events will start and end at the historic Seattle Center in downtown Seattle and will traverse the streets of the Emerald City, affording sweeping vistas of this important seaport town. The marathon course is USATF and AIMS certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.
“The Seattle Marathon has been growing strong for 37 years thanks to the support of devoted volunteers, runners and sponsors. Their passion for excellence has turned this race into a Northwest tradition,” said John Kokes, president of the Seattle Marathon Association. “I am extremely excited to have Amica Insurance as our title sponsor and look forward to the growth for this year and beyond.”
Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation’s oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine, and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,000 people in 39 offices across the country, including the Greater Seattle Office. Amica has been offering insurance in Washington since 1945.
Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by US News & World Report, Seattle Children's serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children's has been delivering superior patient care for 100 years, including advancing new discoveries and treatments in pediatric research, and serving as a primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
The Seattle Marathon Association has clarified its rules on iPods/MP3 players on the course for the 2008 event. Headsets will be allowed — as long as they are used safely — on the course on Race Day until 2:15 pm when the course opens to traffic.
Please note that the Road Runners Club of America does not encourage headphone use during its member races. However, it does not disallow them as long as they are used safely. For this reason, SMA will allow headsets on the course only if it does not pose a safety risk.
For safety reasons, it may be necessary for a course official to ask you to remove your headset/earphones during the race. You are required to comply or face disqualification and removal from the course.
This year marks the 2500th anniversary of the marathon and to commemorate this historic occasion the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and the Athens Classic Marathon (ACM) Organizing Committee, in collaboration with AIMS, have created a unique logo. 
