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April 24, 2013
RunVermont
1 Main St, Suite 304
Burlington, VT  05401
802.863.8412
Contact: Leandre Waldo-Johnson, Communications Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KEYBANK VERMONT CITY MARATHON OPENS DOOR TO BOSTON MARATHON PARTICIPANTS

Runners unable to finish the Boston Marathon last week are invited to run The KeyBank Vermont City Marathon for free on May 26.

Burlington, VT – On April 15, 2013 over 5000 Boston Marathon participants runners were denied the opportunity to finish a race for which they had trained long and hard. KeyBank Vermont City Marathon officials are offering those runners the opportunity to run New England’s second largest marathon for free.

“Our entire community comes together race weekend to create an atmosphere of celebration,” said KeyBank Vermont City Marathon race director Peter Delaney. “We’re opening our doors to anyone who was unable to finish Boston, so that they can realize the results of their training and continue the healing process.”

There are a limited number of slots left in the marathon. Race officials are offering 150 of the remaining spaces to Boston Marathon participants. 

The KeyBank Vermont City Marathon is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year. The event draws 8000 participants, 1700 volunteers and 30,000 spectators to downtown Burlington each Memorial Day Weekend.

Boston Marathon participants interested in running the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon can register at www.runvcm.org with code “BOSTONSTRONG”.

KBVCM officials will spread the word about the offer via their social media channels and also through running clubs and their database of runners.

In addition to welcoming Boston runners who were unable to finish, KeyBank Vermont City Marathon officials will honor those affected by the tragedy Boston with a moment of silence at the start of the race. “Sweet Caroline” will also play at the start and all runners and volunteers will receive blue and yellow “Boston Strong” pins.

“Our hearts go out to all those that were affected by the events in Boston, including the runners, spectators, race organizers, volunteers and families.” Delaney said. “We hope that running here in Vermont will give participants an opportunity to celebrate an incredible accomplishment and continue their healing.”

 About the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon:
Celebrating its 25th year, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay annually attracts 8000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators. Embraced by the community and supported by over 1700 volunteers, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon is a small city race with a big city feel. Learn more at www.RunVCM.org.

About RunVermont:
RunVermont is a not-for-profit business focused on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The organization offers competitive and educational programs for adults and children including the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay, the MVP Health Care YAM Scram , FirstRun, Ready, Set, Run! and the Half Unplugged. For more information, visit www.runvermont.org.

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Late in the day on Monday, as the RunVermont team and I tried to understand what happened in Boston, one of the many questions we asked ourselves was, “how will runners react?” It wasn’t our first thought, but as runners and race organizers it was a natural question. We questioned the collective community’s desire to run and we wondered out loud what it would mean to organize a race in what had, in an instant, become a changed world.

Tuesday morning, if you are like this team, you put your sneakers on and went for a run. Because that is what runners do, we keep running. We persevere, we reach the top of Battery Street, we work through the pain. Our friends at BAA have already announced that the 118th Boston Marathon will take place on Patriot’s Day in 2014.  And on May 26th, no matter how painful it may feel at times, we will run the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. Yes, we will be running with the victims and their families in our hearts and on our minds. But we will run together. We will celebrate our community, the 25th anniversary of our race, and our common bonds with runners all over the world. Whether as a runner, spectator or volunteer, I hope you will join us on May 26, 2013.

Peter Delaney

KBVCM race director, RunVermont executive director

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Burlington, VT: RunVermont’s 12-week youth fitness, nutrition and citizenship program, Ready, Set, Run! announced today that it received a Saucony Run For Good grant. The grant will allow RunVermont to offer a RSR! program for first graders at Burlington's Sustainability Academy this spring.

Each year RunVermont’s youth programs engage over 1200 Vermont children in Ready, Set, Run!, the annual MVP Health Care YAM Scram event, Junior Youth Relay and seasonal fun runs. The youth programs are supported by proceeds from RunVermont’s signature event, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, as well through the generous donations of runners.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Ready, Set, Run! to members of our community who are at greatest risk for obesity,” said Joy Dubin Grossman, RunVermont’s youth director. “It’s an honor to work with Saucony and to be a part of their national efforts to combat obesity.”

The Saucony Run for Good Foundation was established to help combat childhood obesity by providing financial support to community-based youth running or athletic programs. Since 2006, the Saucony Run For Good Foundation has awarded over one million dollars to nearly 120 schools and community organizations−all dedicated to preventing childhood obesity through running and an active lifestyle.

The running community can help double the brand’s donation to Ready, Set, Run! and the other selected kids’ running programs by logging miles run or walked on Saucony Run4Good™, the running industry’s first-ever iPhone app dedicated to battling childhood obesity. Over the next six months, grant recipients will each be a monthly feature on the app. When a predetermined community mileage goal is reached during the recipient’s featured month, Saucony will double its contribution to the selected organization, inspiring individual runners to both unite over their passion for running and combat the childhood obesity epidemic. The free Saucony Run4Good app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or at: saucony.com/run4good. The Ready, Set, Run! program will featured for the month of March, 2013.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 30 years. One of five children age 6 to 11 is now considered obese. “On behalf of the Saucony Run For Good Foundation’s board, I am excited to announce the organizations that have been selected to receive a Run For Good grant and feel proud that these efforts will directly help combat childhood obesity,” said Richie Woodworth, president of the Saucony Run For Good Foundation Board of Directors and Saucony.

About the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon:
Celebrating its 25th year, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay annually attracts 8000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators. Embraced by the community and supported by over 1700 volunteers, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon is a small city race with a big city feel. Learn more at www.RunVCM.org.

About RunVermont:
RunVermont is a not-for-profit business focused on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The organization offers competitive and educational programs for adults and children including the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay, the MVP Health Care YAM Scram , FirstRun, Ready, Set, Run! and the Half Unplugged. For more information, visit www.runvermont.org.

About Saucony®:

Saucony, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, is a leading global running lifestyle brand that fuses performance, innovation and style to create compelling footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony continues to inspire runners everywhere with its award winning innovations, including the “Geometry of Strong™, ProGrid™, PowerGrid™ ViZiPRO™ and AMP PRO2™ apparel. At Saucony, a good day is when we get to run. A great day is when we inspire someone else to run. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.

About the Saucony® Run For Good Foundation™:

The Saucony Run For Good Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children by helping to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. The Foundation acts to inform the public about its cause and prevention and provides funding to optimize the impact and success of community organizations that promote running and healthy lifestyle programs for youth. Since the Foundation launched in 2006, it has awarded over one million dollars in grants to nearly 120 organizations nationwide. For more information, visit www.sauconyrunforgood.com.

About the Saucony® Run4Good™ App:

The Saucony Run4Good™ app is a powerful, personal app that opens the door for runners everywhere to join the fight against childhood obesity by doing what they love-running. When a predetermined mileage goal is reached, Saucony will double its donation to selected youth running programs featured monthly, inspiring individual runners to both unite over their passion for running and combat the childhood obesity epidemic. The free app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or by going to saucony.com/run4good.

PRESS RELEASE: KEYBANK VERMONT CITY MARATHON OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY PLANS, CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY

BURLINGTON, VT: To commemorate the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon’s 25^th Anniversary this May, the organization announces celebratory events, special recognition of volunteers, and appearances of notable running legends. The marathon and relay is scheduled to take place on May 26, 2013, and athletes Jeff Galloway, Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Bart Yasso have all confirmed their attendance to help mark this milestone year.

“We want to celebrate everyone that has played a part in making the past 25 years successful ones,” said Peter Delaney, RunVermont’s executive director. “We’re doing this by making the race special for runners, volunteers and the community by hosting volunteer events and including notable runners in the race and events leading up to it.”

Special appearances of several running legends will allow athletes and their families to celebrate with the runners that have been an inspiration to many throughout the years. Jeff Galloway is a world-class athlete and member of the 1972 Olympic team, with victories including the Peachtree Road Race, Honolulu Marathon, Atlanta Marathon and top place finisher in many prominent U.S. races such as the Boston Marathon. Author of the best-selling running book in North America, “Galloway’s Book on Running”, Mr. Galloway will speak at the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon pasta dinner on Saturday, May 25 and will also host “Jeff Galloway’s Running School” the same day.

Jeff Galloway, along with Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers and Bart Yasso, will be present at the two day Sport and Fitness EXPO and are expected to participate in the 25^th running of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon & Relay. Frank Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics, and his victory is credited with igniting the running boom in the United States of the 1970s. Bill Rodgers is a four-time winner of both the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon. Runner in Chief of Runner’s World Magazine, Bart Yasso, is credited for creating the Yasso 800s, a very popular marathon training plan.

The 25^th Anniversary event will celebrate the community that has so generously supported the marathon over time. “The marathon relies on the energy of over 1700 volunteers each year,” said Delaney, “and this year we’ll honor that dedication in style.” To recognize the greater community, the organization is planning a volunteer event at a July 7 Lake Monsters game, which will be open to anyone who has ever volunteered for the event.

Proving that runners all across New England and beyond are looking forward to the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, registration is ahead of pace for 2013. “With 2100 people registered, we’re experiencing our strongest registration since 2006″. “We fully expect to sell-out this year,” noted Delaney, “the only question is how soon.”

One factor contributing to the Marathon’s strong registration is the race’s inclusion in the January, 2013 Runners World annual marathon guide. The KeyBank Vermont City Marathon was included as one of only four Readers’ Choice selections. Michael Wardian, who has run over 150 marathons, describes the event as a fast race your family will love and is quoted in the article, “the competition at Vermont is great and [my sons] love it there.” Wardian also dispels the myth that the course is hilly. Rather, he contends, “there are plenty of straightaways and downhills to get your legs turning.”

About the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon:

Celebrating its 25th year, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay annually attracts 8000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators. Embraced by the community and supported by over 1700 volunteers, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon is a small city race with a big city feel.

Learn more at www.RunVCM.org

About RunVermont:
 
RunVermont is a not-for-profit business focused on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The organization offers competitive and educational programs for adults and children including the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay, the MVP Health Care YAM Scram , FirstRun, Ready, Set, Run! and the Half Unplugged.  For more information, visit www.runvermont.org.