Posted: March 27, 2006

Athletics: Etonic, Road Runner Akron Marathon Partner to Give Runners Free Shoes

Giveaway signals Etonics "return" to the sport

AKRON, Ohio - (March 23, 2006) - Athletic shoe manufacturer Etonic has jumped back into the running shoe market with both feet landing in Akron. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Etonic Worldwide of Waltham, Mass., has inked a deal with the Road Runner Akron Marathon to provide a free pair of shoes to all runners who finish the marathon on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006.

Jim Barnett, executive race director of the Road Runner Akron Marathon, said a premium such as the Etonic shoes not only validates the Akron race with world-class runners who have participated, but also will keep the event on the radar screen of running enthusiasts worldwide.

"Our marathon is the first race where marathon finishers will take home a free pair of shoes along with the hats, t-shirts and various running supplies that are customarily in runners' goodie bags," he said. "We're trying to create an overwhelming incentive for runners to be in our event because, once we get them, we know we'll keep them for a long time. We hope this becomes a long-term partnership with Etonic."

Running experts say the premium is unheard of in any other marathon.

"I have not heard of anything like this, where every finisher in a marathon receives a pair of shoes. It's a novel, innovative idea," said Ryan Lamppa, spokesman for Running USA, the national industry organization. "The shoe give-away should boost the percentage of finishers."

Pete Woodward, Etonic's coordinator of walking and running, said the company's reasoning for becoming involved in this particular event is two-fold: To be among the first major shoe companies to reach a talented pool of runners, and to re-introduce its line of running shoes after a brief period of being out of the running shoe market.

"Our slogan phrase is 'First one there.' Etonic is the first one there to do this type of thing," Woodward said. "We're doing this just to get our product out to a solid group of runners that obviously are quality runners, to create a relationship with that city as well as that area of the country, and we're trying to increase awareness of our products and technology."

Etonic executives say this event will serve as a welcome back party of sorts for Etonic's running and walking shoe business, which was licensed from 2000-05 by former owner Spalding Sports Worldwide to Kinetic Sports. Spalding, which is known worldwide for producing professional athletic equipment, jettisoned the running and walking shoe division because it did not have the expertise and background in athletic shoes, said Etonic spokesperson Karen Pitts.

"We have had a great heritage in the running shoe category since the late 1960s," Pitts said. "We are very excited to be back."

A $75 Etonic coupon will be made available to all marathon runners who cross the finish line. The coupon can be exchanged for a variety of new shoes or applied towards the purchase of more expensive Etonic shoes.

"The shoe give-away is a sign that the Road Runner Akron Marathon is living up to its name as one of the 50 great U.S. Marathons," said Steve Marks, founder of the Road Runner Akron Marathon. "Runners can truly appreciate what the value is for this. If you look at what you get for being in our event, for what you pay, you've run the race for free."

Close to 1,000 marathon runners participated in the Road Runner Akron Marathon last year.

Registration deadlines for this year's race are midnight Wednesday, Sept. 27 online, and between 11:00am and 9:00pm Friday, Sept. 29 at the official marathon Expo, held at the University of Akron's new Athletics Field House. Discount registrations are available online and by mail if postmarked before Sept. 19.

Additional information on the Road Runner Akron Marathon and Team Relays is available at AkronMarathon.org or by calling (330) 375-2786 (2RUN).

The marathon is organized by the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation, a nonprofit group that is dedicated to promoting health and fitness

Contact: Jim Barnett, (330) 657-2224 or jbk1@mac.com.

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.

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