For release April 20, 2005             For more information, contact Jay Wind 703-505-3567 / 703-218-2726

Arlington Cooperation Foundation and Greater Washington Sports Alliance proudly present

The 2nd Annual Potomac River Run Marathon and Half-Marathon Sunday, May 1

Runners from four countries and 24 states make history at 7:00 am on Sunday, May 1, when they run the second annual Potomac River Run Marathon and Half-Marathon at Belle Haven Park, a mile south of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

For information and a map, see www.pvtc.org/marathon.html.  Conducted by Arlington Cooperation Foundation, Greater Washington Sports Alliance, and local running clubs, the scenic, historic course starts at Belle Haven Park and heads down and back on the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River through the woods of George Washington Memorial Parkway.  At sunrise, runners see herons, cranes, geese, and perhaps deer.  May 1 is "World Laughter Day" (www.worldlaughtertour.com, Time, Jan. 17, 2005, p. A26), and the marathon will celebrate with 26 miles of smiles. The marathon is also the first Presidential Partner event of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

"Our committee has worked hard to create a great new marathon," said director Jay Jacob Wind. "We thank National Park Service, our committee members, sponsors, supporting clubs, volunteers, and participants.  In 2004, we overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to make this marathon a success. We're proud of our international micro-marathon -- last year, runners came from 14 states, Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, and Switzerland, and this year, from 24 states, China, Kenya, and two veterans returning from Iraq for their first race back." 2004 winners were John Piggott of Williamsburg VA and Tracy Stewart of Colorado Springs CO. Piggott returns this year but faces stiff competition from Kenyan star John Kibet Boen.

"This event shows why the Washington DC region is so great for sports," said Robert Sweeney, executive director of  Greater Washington Sports Alliance.  "A group of runners had a vision, and we supported it to demonstrate how inspirational sports can be for our community." MarathonGuide.com gave the 2004 race a double five-star (top) rating.

Finishers get reflective SportScience t-shirts, reflective RunnersID.com PRsonality armbands, medals by Dan Kain Trophies, and finisher certificates. Cash prizes go to the top 3 overall in the marathon ($250 1st, $150 2nd, $100 3rd). Gift certificates and merchandise awards go to the top 4 by 10-year age-group male/female and to first over 4 hours and first over 5 hours Awards begin 11:00 am at Belle Haven Park.

Packet pick-up is the day before the race, Saturday, April 30, from 12 noon to 6 pm at Courtyard by Marriott, 2700 Eisenower Avenue, Alexandria VA.  At packet pick-up, the marathon's College of Running is free and open to public on Saturday, April 30, at Courtyard by Marriott, and all attendees earn a certificate.  Speakers include:

12:15 pm: Dr. Bernard Etherly, "Running with Proper Form"   (Dr. Etherly is a sprinter, distance runner, and chiropractor)

1 pm: Michael Wardian & Jay Jacob Wind, "How To Train for a Marathon"   (Wardian, a 2:21 marathon, finished 25th at Boston Marathon last week. Wind, a 2:27 marathoner, coaches marathon charity training programs)

2 pm: Dr. Bea Carson, "Savor the Journey -- Non-Physical Changes that Occur During Training"   (Dr. Carson is a researcher and recently published a scientific study on first-time marathoners)

3 pm: Dr. Gabe Mirkin, "Eating for Competing: Food and Fluids, the Last Three Days Before, the Last Supper, the Pre-Race Meal, and Eating and Drinking during the Marathon" (Dr. Mirkin is a widely-published expert in health, fitness, and nutrition)

4 pm: Ben Cooke, "The Latest Running Technology"   (Cooke is a champion runner and Georgetown Running Company assistant manager

5 pm: Scotty Scott, "Warm up for the Marathon with Laughter"   (Scott is a certified laughter leader on the World Laughter Tour)

6 pm: Pasta dinner, featuring open mike and kick-off of Marathon Charity Partners' 2005 training program ($11 -- open to the public). Honored guest: five-time U.S. Olympic Trials marathoner and two-time Marine Corps Marathon winner Darrell General.

The event is supported by Capitol Hill Runners, Chesapeake Bay Running Club, IDB Runners Club, Marathon Charity Partners, Northern Virginia Running Club, Potomac Runners, Reston Runners, and Potomac Valley Track Club. Race proceeds benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Capital Hospice, Special Olympics DC, and Marathon Charity Partners.   The 2004 marathon donated $2,500 to various charities, and race organizers hope to donate even more in 2005.

Potomac River Run thanks sponsors on pre- and post-race publicity, website, t-shirt, banners, and race day. To sponsor, see www.pvtc.org/marathonsponsor.html or call Jay Wind (703-218-2726, racedirector@att.net) or Bob Sweeney (202-857-5990, robertsweeney@bot.org).  Sponsors include The Christopher Companies, E*TRADE Financial, Georgetown Running Company, Ferris Baker Watts, Glory Days Grill, Carvel Ice Cream, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Gold's Gym, Honest Tea, Kiehl's Since 1851, Mario's Pizza, RunnersID.com, Sunny's Executive Sedans, Whole Foods Market, Walsh Colucci, Dr. Myles Schneider, XS Energy Drink, Dunkin Donuts, Falls Road Running Store, and McDonalds.

2004's inaugural Potomac River Run Marathon followed a long tradition of DC area distance races. For 60 years, the Alexandria-based Potomac Walk (later called Alexandria Volkslauf) attracted hundreds to the Mount Vernon Trail. In 1964, the original Washington's Birthday Marathon (now in Greenbelt and Beltsville MD) ran from Mount Vernon to the Washington Monument. The Marine Corps started its marathon in Arlington and DC in 1976. In 1979, Dannon sponsored Two Bridges 36-Miler up and down the trail; now that event is National Capital 20-Miler. D.C. Parks and Recreation organized a hometown marathon from 1981 to 1986; a private company conducted Washington D.C. Marathon in 2002; and some of Potomac River Run's organizers picked up the pieces and ran anyway after Washington D.C. Marathon was cancelled in 2003. Potomac River Run Marathon is proud to follow that long tradition.