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Monday, October 18, 2010

Record roster of runners poised to pound pavement at Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

INDIANAPOLIS – More than 7,000 have registered for the 2010 running of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon – presented by St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers – and the number of participants surely will soar higher as organizers prepare for the Saturday, Nov. 6 event.

“The response and depth of enthusiasm among runners is truly impressive,” said IMM Executive Director Julie Patterson. “I think our venue, coupled with the time of year and course layout, continues to stir interest in the international running community.”

Runners from 47 states have signed up, and so have participants from Australian, Brazil, Ecuador, Kenya, the Philippines, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Last year’s IMM registered 6,000; the inaugural event in 2008 attracted 3,100 runners

The race features a full marathon (26.2 miles) a half marathon (13.1 miles). An inaugural 5K run – sponsored by local engineering architectural firm HNTB – also is on tap.

All courses begin near Washington and West streets and finish on Robert D. Orr Drive to the finish line, just steps away from the Indiana State Capitol building.

The urban courses are sanctioned and certified by the standards of USA Track and Field, the national body of road racing, with the marathon course serving as a qualifier for the 2011 Boston Marathon.

St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers continues in its role as title sponsor of the IMM. The hospital provides a variety means of support, but perhaps the most significant is providing a full medical team ready to assist runners along the course and at a St. Francis Sports Medicine-staffed area near the finish line. Jeff Peterson, M.D., leads a team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists and trainers.

Several lndianapolis-area educational institutions will get a leg up on their programs. The IMM donates its proceeds to those organizations. Last year’s donations exceeded $51,000.

To register for the IMM go to http://monumentalmarathon.com.

More information about the St. Francis Sports Medicine program is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/Ortho/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=54.

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