Athletics: Napa Valley Marathon Reaches Outer Limits

NAPA, Calif. - February 15, 2004 - On its 26th annual running, the Napa Valley Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, March 7, officially enters the space age. More accurately, the space age enters Napa with the confirmed entry of Astronaut Rick Searfoss, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, retired.

Searfoss is no ordinary astronaut. He is one of the fastest astronauts alive, both in the air and on the ground.

"I do okay in my age group," said the 47-year-old former NASA space shuttle commander and pilot about his 23 years as a distance runner. "I believe I am the fastest person to ever enter the Napa Valley Marathon."

That's a pretty astronomical statement considering Dick Beardsley, the fourth fastest American male marathoner of all time, holds the NVM course record of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 20 seconds, set in 1987. Searfoss mentions that he has negotiated 26.2 miles, the standard marathon distance, in less than five seconds.

"One of my three space flights holds the record for the highest velocity re-entry of any Space Shuttle mission," Searfoss explained. "Only the Apollo astronauts have gone faster. And, I don't think any of them have ever run the Napa Valley Marathon."

Race organizers confirmed the latter statement.

On earth, Searfoss' finished his only previous marathon in a respectable 3 hours and 28 minutes - although his personal best at the 10-kilometer distance is an eye-catching 39 minutes.

For the Napa Valley Marathon, Searfoss is undertaking a particularly personal mission. He is dedicating the race to the seven astronauts who lost their lives on last year's Space Shuttle Columbia mission. Searfoss has logged more time in space on Columbia's flight deck than any other astronaut and six of the seven Columbia crew members were his personal friends. Now, he would like to raise public awareness of the Columbia Shuttle Memorial Trust (www.columbia7trust.org) which is dedicated to the aid of the crew members' spouses, children and other loved ones.

Searfoss feels there is a special connection between space travelers and earthbound runners. "Virtually everyone in the astronaut corps is a fitness buff," he commented. "They run or weight lift, or do another activity. Obviously, crew members need to physically prepare even though they're working 70-hour weeks."

In fact, Searfoss, who has spent over 39 days in space, says the sensations of coming back down from orbit are similar to those of running a moderate set of one-quarter-mile intervals on the track. "The intervals allow your body to be much more adaptable in terms of blood pressure and recovery, things like that, when returning from space," he said.

About Searfoss' participation in the 2004 Napa Valley Marathon, Rich Benyo, NVM board president and co-race director said: "We're thrilled. The Napa Valley Marathon's reputation has reached new heights. We are proud to host a genuine American hero and we are delighted to help Commander Searfoss get the word out about the Columbia Shuttle Memorial Trust."

All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities in the Napa Valley.

The entry limit of 2,200 runners for the marathon was reached in late January. The race is now sold out. For more information about the 26th Annual Napa Valley Marathon, or to register for the same-morning 5K Run presented by the Kiwanis Club of Napa, visit www.napa-marathon.com.

Napa Valley Marathon weekend includes a Sports and Fitness Expo, Saturday, March 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Also on slate is the marathon's popular Marathon College, an innovative speaker/seminar program that includes a "faculty" composed of respected running authorities and celebrity runners such as Joe Henderson (author of 23 running books and noted running columnist), Dick Beardsley and ING New York City Marathon race director Allan Steinfeld.

The Napa Valley Marathon starts at 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 7 in Calistoga, proceeds past vineyards and 35 member wineries of the Silverado Trail Wineries Association along the historic Silverado Trail, and finishes at Vintage High School in Napa.

The Napa Valley Marathon appreciates generous sponsor support from Calistoga Mineral Water, Gatorade, ASICS America Corporation, Silverado Trail Wineries Association, Marathon & Beyond, Road Runners Club of America, USA Track & Field, Marathon Photo, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, St. Helena Hospital, CBS 5 and UPN Bay Area, Tra Vigne, GU, and Wines Central.

The race website is at: www.napa-marathon.com.