2 Days – 5 Marathons… It’s Madness!
Every year millions of viewers tune in to the NCAA Basketball Tournament dubbed March Madness and thousands of people pack gyms across the country to watch the tournament basketball games live. This year, thousands of people will be packing the streets of North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia in March – to run! On the weekend of March 20 – 21, North Carolina will host three marathons while other regional markets in Atlanta and Virginia Beach will each host their own races. The weekend kicks off on March 20 in High Point, NC, at 8 a.m. for the UnitedHealthcare of the Carolinas North Carolina Marathon. Two new marathons, the Quintiles Marathon at Wrighstville Beach and the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary will start on Sunday. The ING Georgia Marathon in Atlanta and The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach will also take place on Sunday. Whether you like your marathons flat and fast or hilly and scenic, there’s definitely a race for all runners the weekend of March 20 – 21!
UnitedHealthcare of the Carolinas North Carolina Marathon
Location – High Point, NC
Date – March 20, 2010
Start – 8:00 a.m.
Course – Gently Rolling Hills. The marathon course starts and finishes in High Point at Showplace in the center of High Point’s International Furniture Market and incorporates 26.2 miles of scenic and historic sites and neighborhoods.
Other Races – Half Marathon 8:00 a.m. & Family 5K 9:00 a.m.
Get Maps & Register – www.ncmarathon.org
About High Point – High Point is home to over 50 retail furniture outlets, offering a variety of manufacturers with every style imaginable. Discover the wonder of miniatures, as well as collectible and antique dolls at the Doll & Miniature Museum of High Point or revisit civil war history at a local plantation. Hike with a friend on the nature trails at Piedmont Environmental Center. Spend an afternoon at an art gallery or an evening at the theatre, concerts by the lake or festivals at the park..throughout the year High Point invites you to be a part of our heritage. For more information about the City of High Point and Showplace, please visit www.highpoint.org and www.showplace-highpoint.com.
Quintiles Marathon at Wrightsville Beach
Location– Wrightsville Beach, NC
Date – March 21, 2010
Start – 6:30 a.m.
Course – Flat. Runners will enjoy the scenic coastal views during their journey. They will wind through Landfall Community, an exclusive development in Wilmington for much of the course, and will finish in Mayfaire Town Center.
Other Races – Half Marathon 6:30 a.m.
Get Maps & Register – www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=1360
About Wilmington – Wilmington provides all crucial urban conveniences such as charming historic districts, excellent restaurants, extensive shopping, stimulating cultural offerings, outstanding medical facilities, superb educational institutions, and even an international airport. The family-oriented barrier island of Wrightsville Beach on the city’s easternmost border is an enticing alternative to the bustling lifestyle of downtown with its pristine white sand and aquamarine blue waters. For more information about the Town of Wrightsville Beach, the Landfall Community, and the Mayfaire Town Center, please visit www.visitwrightsville.com, www.landfall.org, and www.mayfairetown.com.
Tobacco Road Marathon
Location – Cary, NC
Date – March 21, 2010
Start – 7:00 a.m.
Course – Flat. The Tobacco Road Marathon will be the first of its kind in NC to embrace the town of Cary and country roads of Western Wake County. The marathon will also feature over 18 miles of the American Tobacco Trail and the Half Marathon over 7 miles on the American Tobacco Trail.
Other Races – Half Marathon 7:00 a.m.
Get Maps & Register – www.tobaccoroadmarathon.com
About Cary: Cary has more than 20 public parks, 20 miles of trails, cultural arts programs as well as concerts and other special events throughout the year. The Amphitheatre at Regency Park is the Town’s state-of-the-art performance center nestled in the trees by a lake, featuring N.C. Symphony concerts and other performances. The Triangle boasts major league hockey, Triple A baseball and other professional and college sports teams, including N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. For more information about the Town of Cary and the American Tobacco Trail, please visit www.townofcary.org and www.wakegov.com/parks/att.
ING Georgia Marathon
Location – Atlanta, GA
Date – March 21, 2010
Start – 7:04 a.m.
Course – Rolling Hills. This urban course is a showcase of Atlanta’s and Decatur’s diverse neighborhoods. Highlights along the course include the birthplace of MLK, historic houses, eclectic Little Five Points, tour of 4 college campuses, Piedmont Park and much more.
Other Races – Half Marathon 7:04 a.m. / Publix 5K 8:30 a.m. / Publix Kids Run 10:00 a.m.
Get Maps & Register – www.inggeorgiamarathon.com
About Atlanta – As the “New Capital of the South”, Atlanta has more to offer than Southern hospitality. With fine dining, museums, theater, attractions and world-class shopping, Atlanta has something for everyone. Why not enjoy a performance of the Atlanta Ballet, tour the Georgia Dome or the CNN News Studio, visit Fernbank Museum, catch a concert at the Fox Theatre, view extraordinary exhibits at the High Museum of Art, learn about the World of Coca-Cola or visit the Pandas at Zoo Atlanta? For more information about Atlanta, please visit www.atlanta.net.
The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
Location – Virginia Beach, VA
Date – March 21, 2010
Start – 8:00 a.m.
Course – Flat. Enjoy the course as you pass by the beautiful resort area of Virginia Beach and then continue through Fort Story where you will pass Cape Henry Light House, the oldest in the country.
Other Races – Half Marathon 7:00 a.m. An 8K will take place the day prior (March 20) at 8:00 a.m. and will be followed by the Children’s Marathon at 10:00 a.m. and Operation Smile Final Mile at 11:00 a.m.
Get Maps & Register – www.shamrockmarathon.com
About Virginia Beach – Whether you are looking for an old fashioned pinball arcade, a creepy haunted house or maybe Busch Gardens – there are lots of fun things to see and do in Virginia Beach! There’s putt-putt golf, water parks, parasailing, boat cruises, and more. Virginia Beach features an award winning boardwalk that includes a bicycle path that runs along the entire length. Most boardwalks don’t allow bicycles at all, and the ones who do usually restrict their use to early morning hours or certain restricted areas, but in Virginia Beach you can ride all day long. For more information about Virginia Beach, please visit www.vbfun.com
