Posted: October 25, 2005

Athletics: Inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon to Host 2006 USATF Club Relay Marathon Championships

DENVER - (October 19, 2005) - The inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon continues gaining national prominence. Race officials from the Colfax Marathon Partnership have announced that the USA Track & Field Club Relay Marathon National Championships will be contested during the May 21, 2006 running of the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon. Officials from USA Track & Field (USATF) cited the popularity of marathon and relay running in their decision to bring the championships to the state.

"We applaud the efforts of the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon to bring our national championship event to Colorado. Here at USA Track & Field, we are committed to do everything we can to make this event a success and bring added national significance to our running club program," said Bill Roe, President, USATF.

This will only be the third time the USATF has held a club relay marathon national championship. Club relay marathon competitions are one of the few opportunities runners have to compete as a team since most marathon events only involve individual running competitions.

Colorado USATF spokesman John Tope said state clubs, such as the Boulder Road Runners, are excited to compete at the national championships in their home state.

"There will be clubs coming from all over the country and we have to defend our home turf," Tope said. "This is a great opportunity to show the rest of the country that Colorado running clubs are among the best in the nation."

The club relay marathon national championships will include USATF clubs and members and will feature five runners with each running either 5K, 10K or 12K legs. The event joins the Wheelchair Track & Field USA National Wheelchair Marathon Championships in selecting Colfax to host their competitions.

"For Colfax to be selected for this unique event is truly an honor," said Jay Gershen, Executive Vice Chancellor for the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center and the Chairman of the Colfax Marathon Partnership. "I'm certain that communities along the Colfax corridor and throughout the state will show these elite competitors the passion we have for the sport."

The inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2006. Dubbed "America's Main Street Marathon", it starts on historic Colfax Avenue in Aurora, passes the state capitol in Denver and finishes at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Lakewood. Race organizers predict more than 6,000 participants in either the full or half-marathon or in the unique five-person relay. Proceeds from the event will be donated to local community-based charities that support youth health and fitness.

To learn more about the race, visit: ColoradoColfaxMarathon.org.

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.