Posted: August 10, 2006

Athletics: Philly Half Turns Up The Music

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Elite Racing, whose series of "musical marathons" have made them an industry leader in on-course entertainment, announced today that the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, a half-marathon scheduled for Sept. 17, would have 20 bands along the course to help keep their runners moving. The bands will plan on 11 stages, including the finish line festival at Eakins Oval. "Genres such as jazz, reggae, alternative rock, classic rock, and country will be presented along the run creating a block party atmosphere," Elite proclaimed in a press release. Elite founded the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in San Diego in 1997, the first major marathon to be marketed based on on-course entertainment. The original edition featured 26 bands along the course. The Distance Run is also one of the most competitive half-marathons in the United States. In its 28 previous editions, men have set three world records (Michael Musyoki, 1982; Mark Curp, 1985; and Dionicio Ceron, 1990) and women twice (Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1983 and 1984). Khalid Khannouchi (1:00:27, 1997) and Deena Kastor (1:07:53, 2005) are the course record holders. Kastor's time was an American record (since surpassed at Berlin earlier this year).

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