Posted: January 23, 2006

Athletics: Napa Valley Marathon Draws New Wave Of Runners

NAPA, Calif. - January 22, 2006 - When 2,300 runners line up for the 28th Annual Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, March 5, 2006, a large number of its participants will do so as neophytes to the 26.2-mile distance. Although a devoted core of serious marathoners will seek personal record times on the fast Calistoga-to-Napa course, many will follow a more basic protocol of simply finishing the race.

The profile of current marathoners is markedly different than their competitive counterparts of twenty years ago. Today's marathoners -- many of them first timers -- are just as likely to train for and run the distance to overcome a personal hurdle, or to benefit others through charity endeavors, as to defeat their fellow competitors.

"I'm hoping to improve my time," says Allison Hill of Alhambra, Calif. who has chosen Napa as her second ever marathon, "but that's not the reason I'm doing it."

Not long ago, the 34-year-old sales representative of natural and organic products never dreamed of running around the block, let alone the 26.2 miles required for the marathon. "I thought marathoners were a little crazy," she now admits.

Hill, who stands an even 5-feet tall, weighed 212 pounds and wore size 22 outfits. She was one of about 31 percent of Americans who are obese. Hill was extremely so. She suffered physically, emotionally, and socially. Hill had to do something, but she knew that she had a huge hill to overcome. In October, 2004, she had gastric bypass surgery. But, studies show that this surgery alone is not a long-term solution unless changes in exercise and eating routines accompany it.

So, last June, Hill joined the AIDS National Marathon Training Program which raises money for people living with HIV and AIDS. She was assigned into a "pace group" composed of peer runners and started training for last December's Honolulu Marathon, which she completed in 5 hours and 54 minutes.

Today, ascribing to a careful diet that shuns white sugar and white flour, Hill is, literally, half the person she once was. At a svelte size 2, and 106 pounds, she's preparing to tackle Napa's scenic course -- the marathon that her father, David Hill, co-directs. If all goes well, she might set her sights on the challenging 3-day triple marathon at the Lake Tahoe Marathon in September.

"I'm living a new life, and I love it," says Hill. "I have a lot more self confidence now, which is why I'm able to train for marathons. They've noticed my confidence at work, and promoted me into sales. The better my health gets, the better I feel about myself, and about the job that I do at work and at home."

The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon (KPNVM) provides a popular opportunity for "new age" marathoners. To date, pre-registration entries for the race are slightly ahead of last year's record-setting numbers. The event has an entry limit of 2,300 runners, which is largely determined by the number of available hotel rooms in the world-renowned Napa Valley wine producing and tasting region.

Based on data from its 2003 and 2004 races, 73.8 percent of the Napa Valley Marathon's participants will be running in the race for the first time. Statistics from other marathons indicate that at least half the first-timers at Napa have never run a marathon before.

Running USA, a Santa Barbara-based trade organization for the running industry, reports that the number of marathon finishers has reached an all-time high (an estimated 423,000 in 2004), with a large percentage of first-time marathoners (40% in large marathons in 2004 and 2005). These numbers correspond with the Napa Valley Marathon's record turnout of 2,300 entrants last year, and a 35 to 40 percent first-timers rate.

Additionally, median finishing times for marathoners have slowed about 51 minutes for both men and women since 1980. In 2004, median finishing times in marathons were 4:23:35 for men and 4:55:21 for women according to Running USA. KPNVM's median finishing times in last year's race were 4:00 for men and 4:29 for women, however all runners are required to finish under 5-1/2 hours to receive an official time.

Female runners now compose a solid 46.1 percent of the competitive running population, a long stride from the 1970s when few women ran. KPNVM's percentages (finishers, 2004 and 2005) are 56 percent male, 44 percent female.

"It's safe to say that new runners are coming to the sport for reasons that are going to keep them in the sport longer -- for health and fitness," says Ryan Lamppa, Media Director for Running USA. "That's opposed to runners in the first running boom who were very competitive and doing 80-plus mile weeks. Invariably, that can lead to injury and burnout."

Rich Benyo, Co-Race Director for the Napa Valley Marathon, agrees with Lamppa's observation.

"The whole swinging of the spectrum has changed the Napa Valley Marathon from primarily being a race to being a participatory event," Benyo says. "In many ways that's been positive, encouraging a lot more people to get involved."

Benyo points out that many women, in particular, are drawn to marathon training groups, which may have connections to charitable programs, for the spirit of participation and a healthy lifestyle rather than for competition.

"Certainly, the charity running groups and charitable aspects of many marathons are part of this phenomenon," says Benyo.

Every Napa Valley Marathon participant assists important local causes. All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities and schools in the Napa Valley region ($38,000 over the past five years). In addition, charitable training groups such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program often field teams at KPNVM to raise funds for curing deadly diseases.

In addition, title sponsorship of the Napa Valley Marathon by Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers of Santa Rosa and Vallejo helps to promote the message that running is one way that individuals can take responsibility for their own health. Kaiser Permanente offers a multi-faceted approach to encourage active lifestyles and proactive health through its Thrive program.

"Like Kaiser Permanente, Napa Valley Marathon weekend encourages people to be healthy and active," says Linda Weissman, Kaiser Permanente Director of Public Affairs. "We look forward to working with the marathon to underscore the benefits of a vitally active lifestyle."

Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon weekend includes a Sports and Fitness Expo, Saturday, March 4 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.

The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon boasts one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course runs the length of the famed Napa Valley wine-growing region. The marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 5 in Calistoga, famous for its geysers and curative waters, and winds south along the historic Silverado Trail to finish at Vintage High School in north Napa. The 2006 edition of the KPNVM has again been selected by the Road Runners Club of America as its National Marathon Championship -- a designation it has received since 1998. Runners may also choose the companion Kiwanis 5K Run, which starts and finishes at Vintage High School on marathon morning.

EVENT ENTRY: Entry is limited to the first 2,300 registrants. Runners can register for the marathon online or download an entry form at www.napavalleymarathon.org. Alternatively, contact the race at NVM, P.O. Box 4307, Napa 94558, e-mail: nvm@napanet.net, telephone: (707) 255-2609 or FAX: (707) 257-6515. The registration fee for the race is $100. There is no race-day registration.

The Napa Valley Marathon appreciates generous sponsor support from Kaiser Permanente/Thrive, Calistoga Mineral Water Company, Gatorade, ASICS America Corporation, Silverado Trail Wineries Association, Marathon & Beyond, Road Runners Club of America, USA Track & Field, MarathonFoto, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, GU, CBS 5 and UPN Bay Area, KVYN/99.3 The Vine, KVON 1440, and Napa Running Company.

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