ING MIAMI MARATHON® ENTRIES CLIMB TOWARD 25,000

South Florida's premier running event is about to celebrate its 10th Anniversary by hitting the 25,000 runner milestone.

Entries for the 2012 ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon®, which will be held January 29 through the streets of downtown Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove, have eclipsed the 16,500 mark eight weeks before the race, a trend toward that magical 25,000 total. There is a strong chance that race entries will be capped at that level for 2012 to accommodate existing operations.

There were about 12,500 entries at this point last year, the growth serving as a definitive sign of the expanding stature of the largest long distance running event in South Florida history. A field of 21,116 participated in 2011, so the projected number of 25,000 is about an 18% increase and comes on the heels of an 18% increase last year over the 2010 race.

"Why is this happening? The ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® has earned its niche as a premier running event," said Race Director David Scott. "We have become known as a can't miss race for runners throughout the U.S., South America and the Caribbean.

"You are coming to Miami. It has become that South Florida big event that Miami is noted for. We have Super Bowls, NASCAR Championships, National Championship football games, Tennis on Key Biscayne, PGA TOUR Golf, even Wrestlemania. Now the the ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® has gained national appeal and I think we have an International appeal now as well."

The race has come a long way since 3,400 runners participated in the first Miami Marathon 10 years ago. Several official hotels are already sold out and the Expo which precedes race day is close to being sold out for vendors.

In addition to the 25,000 runners, more than 5,000 South Florida middle school students will also participate in the Run For Something Better, a 1.2 mile run from the county courthouse on Flagler Street that culminates a 15-week program designed to promote fitness to kids.

The Tropical 5K, a great family event annually held the morning before the marathon, will also have approximately 3,000 runners. The race, expanded from a sellout of 2,100 runners in 2011, will start at Watson Island and end on South Beach.

"There is continued growth of the running industry as well as a trend in our country toward a more active lifestyle and that return to activity includes running," Scott said. "We are more health conscious today. Corporations are rewarding their employees with wellness centers and offering rebates on their health insurance for leading healthy lifestyles.

"And if you are a runner, the ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® is the race you want to be a part of because it is one of the more scenic courses, if not the most scenic, in the country."

2012 Fact Sheet

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012

Year Founded: 2003

Start Time: 6:05 AM for wheelchair
6:15 AM for ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon®

Participants: 25,000 in marathon and half marathon; 5000 children in the ING Run for Something Better program; and 3,000 runners in the Tropical 5K held one day prior.

Race Ratio: 25/75 (marathon/half marathon)

Registration:

Marathon:
$100 through December 8, 2011
$110 December 9, 2011 through January 20, 2012
$125 Walk up at Expo (if available)

Half-Marathon
$75 through December 8, 2011
$85 December 9, 2011 through January 20, 2012
$125 Walk up at Expo

(If Available)



Timing: ChronoTrack B-Tag timing system, administered by Splitsecondtiming.com

Weather: The average start time temperature is 61° F

Start Location: American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33131

Finish Location: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33131

Race Route: The USATF-certified course and Boston qualifier starts at American Airlines Arena, travels over the MacArthur Causeway to South Beach, through the Venetian Islands, Arts District, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Brickell Avenue, and finishes at Bayfront Park.

ING Cheering Zones & Community Fun Zones: The race course comes alive with five areas that provide runners, residents and spectators with entertainment, refreshments and giveaways. Thousands of spectators are expected at the ING Cheering Zone, Omni Center on NE 15th Street and Biscayne Boulevard (Mile 10.5).

Pace Team: The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® will provide experienced pacers to help runners and walkers finish at expected times. Racers can choose from several pace groups: 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 7:00.

Course Records: Marathon
Men's: David Ruto 2:12:22 (2003)
Women's: Hiromi Ominami, 2:34:11 (2006)

Half Marathon
Men's: Brian Sell, 1:03:46 (2008)
Women's: Aziza Aliyul, 1:15:06 (2011)

2011 Winners: Marathon
Men's: Tesfaye Alemayehu 2:12:57
Women's: Alena Vinitskaya 2:44:39

Half Marathon
Men's: Kumsa Adugna 1:07:04
Women's: Aziza Aliyu 1:15:06

Race Accolades: "Top 10 U.S. Marathons" USA Today 2009; "Cool Runs" Runner's World Magazine 2009, "2008 Races to Run" by Runner's World Magazine; "2008 Top Winter Destination Race" by USA Today; Competitor Sports Southeast "Best Event of the Year and Best Running Race."

Title Sponsor: ING has been the title sponsor for seven years. ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million residential, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries.

Other Events:
Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 - The Nissan Health & Fitness Expo presented by The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald is one of the largest health expos in the region (expected attendance of 35,000). The Expo will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and will be open 12 Noon to 7 PM Friday and 10 AM - 6 PM on Saturday.

Saturday, January 28 - Tropical 5K, 7:30 AM

Sunday, January 29 - Finish Line Celebration at Bayfront Park for participants, families and friends from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Call (305) 278-8668 or visit www.ingmiamimarathon.com.