ING Georgia Marathon named RRCA State Championship

ING Georgia Marathon Named RRCA State Championship Course

Designation Brings Special Awards for More Categories of Marathoners

(Oct. 18, 2007, ATLANTA) –The ING Georgia Marathon has been named the 2008 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) State Marathon Championship for Georgia. Qualified runners of the 26.2-mile course now have an opportunity to compete for special awards, presented by the RRCA and Gatorade - top open male/female; masters male/female (40 years and older) and grandmaster male/female (50 years and older) winners from Georgia.

“The State Championship designation recognizes our efforts to create a memorable race with a certified course that balances the runner experience with security and safety,” said Victoria Seahorn, race director of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, set for Sunday, March 30. “We expect another sell out of 15,000 participants for our second annual event. And once we are established, our goal is for the RRCA to name the ING Georgia Marathon as a regional championship.”

All 2008 marathoners from Georgia are automatically eligible for the RRCA State Championship awards. The RRCA State Championship designation is another accolade for one of America’s most popular springtime urban races. According to Running USA, the 13,730 runners who participated in the inaugural 2007 marathon and half marathon (15,000 registered) were part of the second largest inaugural combo running event of all time. The combined inaugural event boasted a completion rate of nearly 97 percent, with 4,340 completing the marathon and 8,918 completing the half marathon within the 7-hour time limit. Nearly 70 percent of race participants were Georgia residents.

The Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest grassroots distance running organization in the country. RRCA membership in Georgia includes 29 clubs throughout the state representing nearly 7,000 runners. RRCA annually designates state championships in each state in standard distances of 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon and marathon. Since 1958, RRCA has awarded championships for the state, regional and national levels through a competitive bidding process. “The goal of the RRCA Championship Events is to help the host club or event recruit top performing runners, attract sponsors, improve civic and media support, and promote fitness through running” said Marlene Atwood, past RRCA state representative in Georgia. “The championship designation communicates to race participants and the community that the race organizers follow approved RRCA safety standards and guidelines for the race.”

About the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

The 2008 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, to be held on Sunday, March 30, is Georgia’s picturesque, springtime, neighborhood–based distance combo event. Beginning at Centennial Olympic Park, it will travel through 26.2 miles (and 13.1 miles for the half marathon) of Metro Atlanta area’s most interesting and historic areas including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Midtown, Downtown and the city of Decatur. Along the way it will pass landmarks including the King Center, Carter Center, Margaret Mitchell House, before returning to Centennial Olympic Park for the finish. A limit of 15,000 registrations will be accepted for the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. The event is owned and operated by Georgia Marathon LLC.

The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon includes a full weekend of activities for athletes, families and spectators – Health & Wellness Expo, Tot Trot, Neighborhood Challenge, and the ING Run for Something Better. A full list of weekend activities, volunteer opportunities and registration information are available at www.inggeorgiamarathon.com,

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 120,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand. In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.

About Georgia Marathon LLC

Based in Decatur, Ga., Georgia Marathon LLC was formed in 2005 to bring a springtime, neighborhood-focused, long-distance running event to metro Atlanta. The president of Georgia Marathon LLC, Victoria Seahorn, also serves as the race director for the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. She is a veteran of 29 marathons and numerous half-marathons. In addition to her personal experience completing races, Seahorn has created training programs to guide more than 10,000 people to achieve their goal of completing a marathon. Georgia Marathon LLC is responsible for all branding, logistics, and sales and marketing for the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon.

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Key Web Address:

ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon: www.inggeorgiamarathon.com

RRCA of Georgia: www.rrca.org

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