St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network sponsors region’s premier running event; now called St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. – The Lehigh Valley’s premier running race has partnered with the region’s premier health care provider for a collaboration intended to encourage physical activity and celebrate healthy lifestyles.
St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network is the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, the region’s largest single-day participatory athletic event. Sunday, April 25, 2010, will mark the inaugural running of the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon. A new race logo has been developed to reflect the involvement of St. Luke’s. It will appear on all race materials, including the website (lehighvalleyhalfmarathon.com), embroidered fleece vests for runners, race bibs, signage, apparel and other items.
The 13.1-mile race, which starts only a block away from the recently expanded St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus, draws more than 4,000 entrants each year from nearly 40 states and several countries.
“St. Luke’s is proud to be directly involved with this great community event,” said Frank Ford, President and COO of St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus. “As a runner myself, I understand the role exercise can play in your life. It makes perfect sense for St. Luke’s to be partnering with the Lehigh Valley Road Runners for the half marathon. We look forward to bringing a great event to the participants. ”
Building on its dedication to health education and outreach, St. Luke’s involvement with the race will include seminars and screenings at the race expo to be held on Saturday, April 24 and forthcoming web content to help race participants lead healthier lives. As a new addition to the pre-race pasta dinner, St. Luke’s will present “Shining Star” awards to two remarkable runners who have overcome extraordinary odds to participate in the half marathon.
“St. Luke’s is a perfect organization to help us continue our mission of providing a top-quality, health-oriented race for the everyday runner,” said Neal Novak, co-race director of the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon.
The companion 5k race will be sponsored by St. Luke’s affiliate Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s for the second consecutive year. The Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s 5k draws nearly 750 entrants for a 3.1-mile race on the same morning as the half marathon.
In addition, the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon will be a key event for Team in Training (TNT), a program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. TNT offers group training sessions, entry fees and transportation in exchange for the participants raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Team in Training program hopes to have 100 runners in the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon and raise $170,000.
Amenities for runners in the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon will include personalized bib numbers, hydration stations, more than a dozen live bands along the race route, a unique finisher’s medal, stadium finish, complimentary bus travel for spectators, extensive post-race lunch, shower facilities, and much more.
“With Allentown’s parks in full spring bloom, it’s one of the nicest half marathon courses in the country – flat, fast and scenic. We continue to offer incredible value to runners in terms of amenities, live entertainment and friendly volunteers. We’re proud that it remains one of the ‘must-do’ races on the East Coast every year,” said Novak.
This year’s guest speaker at the pasta dinner on Saturday, April 24, is author Christopher McDougal. He will discuss his personal running experiences as well as his New York Times bestseller, Born to Run. The book discusses the history and culture of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, their techniques of effortless distance running and McDougal’s own experiences with ultra distance running. The pasta dinner and speech will take place at the Allentown Brew Works.
The entry fee for the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon is $55 until January 6, 2010, when the price increases to $60. The 5K entry fee is $35. In 2009, both races sold out two months before the race date.
Runners can now receive updates about the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon on Facebook by becoming a fan or on Twitter.com @LVHalfMarathon.
The St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon is produced by the Lehigh Valley Road Runners. It is one of the largest races in the country with an all-volunteer staff. Proceeds from the race benefit youth running and fitness programs in the Lehigh Valley.
St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus is committed to providing its patients and visitors with excellent quality clinical care, delivered with outstanding customer service. Recently expanded, the campus includes a new Emergency Depertment, new Mother/Baby unit, as well as a Community Education Center. For more information about St. Luke’s, visit www.slhn.org
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