Posted: June 2, 2005

Athletics: 32nd Annual Hospital Hill Run, Presented by Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Set for June 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (May 30, 2005) - Running enthusiasts will converge on Kansas City on Saturday, June 4 for the 32nd annual Hospital Hill Run at Crown Center Square, Pershing Road and Grand Boulevard. This year's race, a Kansas City tradition, is presented by the Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute.

The run brings attention to growing health problems in society. There are several health issues that are on the brink of crisis. Weight issues, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and vascular disease all relate to heart problems. Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the Hospital Hill Run have teamed up to build awareness and fight these growing concerns. The Hospital Hill Run offers an opportunity for people from across the nation to come support family and friends who struggle with cardiovascular disease. Portions of proceeds from the event are used to offset the costs of community screenings and assessments, education efforts and research for this increasingly at-risk population.

The challenge and the tradition will bring over 3,000 runners and walkers from across the country to compete in three challenging road races - the traditional half-marathon (13.1 miles), a 12K race (7.44 miles) and a 5K walk/run (3.1 miles) with cash prizes totaling over $8,000. Those races, sponsored by Reebok for the third consecutive year, begin at 7am.

If those distances are too much, rally behind the cause and participate in the new Mile Fun Run/Walk, which gets underway at 9:30am. Families and friends of the participants are encouraged to come cheer on the runners and walkers and enjoy live music provided by Neon Blue throughout the morning, visit the Health and Fitness Expo and enjoy the exotic petting zoo and Kaleidoscope activities available for children. A pancake breakfast, sponsored by Chris Cakes, is scheduled from 8-11am. Each runner and walker receives a free ticket to the pancake breakfast as part of the race entry.

The half-marathon, a favorite of many of the nation's elite athletes, continues to attract several of the top runners in the country. Last year, Ryan Shay of East Jordan, Mich., was the men's half-marathon champion, running the course in a time of 1:05:04 to capture his second consecutive title at the Hospital Hill Run. On the women's side, Theresa Gosnell of Omaha, Neb. was the 2004 winner in 1:22:42. From 2002-04, the Hospital Hill Run hosted the USA Men's Half-Marathon Championship. In 2006, the women's half-marathon will be the USA Women's Championship.

The Hospital Hill Run is a city road race with six hills along its course. While there are races across the country with steeper or longer hills, few races have as many hills as the Hospital Hill Run. Named by Runner's World as one of the top 25 half-marathons in the nation, the course winds its way from the historic downtown Kansas City area to the Brookside area and back, passing offices and residential neighborhoods, fountains and tree-lined boulevards as well as many Kansas City hospitals and landmarks.

Register for the races at HospitalHillRun.com or Active.com. Race-day registration will be offered. The entry fee includes a pair of Insport running shorts, and for the first time, ChampionChip Timing will be utilized to provide results for the races. The Hospital Hill Run offers cash awards to the top three male and female finishers in the half-marathon, 12K and 5K races.

In addition, commemorative merchandise, including a limited number of Hospital Hill Jackets, will be available for purchase at packet pick-up and on race day. Come join the fun and tradition of the Hospital Hill Run.

Source: Pat Madden

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.