Mayor Nutter to Kick Off Philly Marathon Weekend

Opening event to welcome race participants and announce weekend of activities, beginning with free community Health Expo Friday and Saturday.

 WHO:                    Mayor Michael Nutter; City Representative and Marathon Executive Director Melanie Johnson; Bart Yasso of Runner’s World magazine; runners; sponsors; representatives from official charities; spectator Cheer Zone entertainers as well as Marathon volunteers and staff.

WHAT:                  – Marathoning’s best-host city kicks off the 17^th Annual Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend and welcomes record-high 23,000 runners to the weekend’s three races.
– The Mayor will present a Philadelphia Marathon race bib to local and top-seeded runner Karl Savage (a top-3 male finisher in the 2010 Full Marathon), and unveil this year’s official race medal.
– In addition, the Mayor will give the first-ever High Five Award, recognizing a runner whose inspirational journey to the starting line is as much a victory as crossing the finish.  
– Bart Yasso, of Runner’s Worldmagazine, will make a special announcement about next year’s race.
– Mayor Nutter also officially will cut the Marathon race ribbon to open the Health & Fitness Expo, which is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday of Race Weekend.

WHEN:                  Friday, November 19 at 1 p.m.

WHERE:               Pennsylvania Convention Center, outside Hall D, 12th & Arch streets

EXCELLENT VISUALS AND AUDIO: Mayor Nutter will unveil the official race medals and shirts, as well as present a 2010 race bib to a 2009 Marathon top winner, cut the ribbon on the Health & Fitness Expo. As runners line up to go into the Health & Fitness Expo to get their race packets, local bands HENNESSEY and Leana Song will perform (performing at spectator Cheer Zones on Race Day).

Marathoning’s best-host city welcomes 23,000 athletes to Philadelphia for a family-friendly series of events over Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend –always held on the weekend before Thanksgiving — November 19-21, 2010. Produced and hosted by the City of Philadelphia, Marathon Race Weekend features four races in a city “born to run” — the 17^th annual Philadelphia Marathon and Philadelphia Half Marathon, preceded by Saturday’s Rothman Institute 8K and the Verizon Kids Fun Run. Other activities to welcome runners, families, friends, spectators, businesses and residents include a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo; a free course map complete with retail discounts and promotions; more than 20 spectator cheer zones; and a pre-race pasta party. Runners pass many of Philadelphia’s famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier. Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and excitement by visiting www.philadelphiamarathon.com.