Posted: June 12, 2005

Athletics: 2005 Charlotte Marathon Gets New Name, New Look

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - (June 9, 2005) - The all-new marathon event slated for this December will be titled "Charlotte's 'Thunder Road' Marathon".

Event Marketing Services, Inc. and Run for Your Life, the event's organizers, selected the title from more than one hundred entries in last month's "Name That Marathon" contest and designed the event logo based on the winning name.

"The selection of 'Thunder Road' Marathon goes to the heart of what we want to do with the theme of this event," says Tim Rhodes, owner and president of Event Marketing Services, Inc., and Run for Your Life, "and that is to celebrate Charlotte's unique heritage of stock car racing through a world-class marathon event."

The 2005 "Thunder Road Marathon" is scheduled for December 3. Registration is available now at RunCharlotte.com.

Rhodes says runners and spectators can expect local music and food at the finish and along the course.

As the first person to suggest the title "Thunder Road", Larry Seavers is the grand prize winner in the Run for Your Life "Name That Marathon Contest". For his efforts, Seavers receives the Marathon Prize Package including a complementary race entry for the next 5 years, free running shoes and a personalized training program courtesy of Run for Your Life.

John Gillis also submitted "Thunder Road" as one of his suggested marathon names. Gillis will get a free entry into this year's event, plus a $50 gift certificate to Run for Your Life.

Within the next few weeks, Rhodes expects to announce the official course, the host hotel and the charitable beneficiaries for Charlotte's "Thunder Road Marathon".

The 26.2 mile marathon course will start and finish in uptown Charlotte and wind its way through neighborhoods in Myers Park and Dilworth. And for the first time ever, a Charlotte marathon course will include the Eastover, Plaza-Midwood and North Davidson areas. The "Thunder Road Marathon" event will also feature a 10K run/walk and marathon relay in order to offer something for most everyone. Registration for all events is available online at RunCharlotte.com.

Run for Your Life is the southeast's largest running specialty store with three locations in Charlotte - historic Dilworth, Stonecrest and in the University area.

Event Marketing Services, Inc. is the area's premier running event company, offering event planning, timing and scoring for over 60 events each year.

For more information, contact: Tim Rhodes at tim@runforyoulife.com or (704) 358-0713.

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.