News Center: Franciscan Health - Indianapolis, Carmel, Mooresville, Indiana

Franciscan St. Francis Health sets pace as title sponsor

INDIANAPOLIS – Runners and walkers take to the city streets for the premier Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon & 5K race set for 7 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3.

The event is the first of its kind in this area featuring a field of female-only participants.

This unique race is being spearheaded by Ken Long & Associates (KLA), which has organized running/walking events in the Indianapolis metropolitan area for more than three decades.

“Some time ago, it occurred to me that we have women’s basketball, soccer, golf and other sports exclusively for women, but we didn’t have anything dedicated to running,” Long said. “This event showcases and honors the contributions women have made to the sport.”

More than 2,000 from 33 states are expected to participate in this year’s race, Long estimates.

Title sponsor of the race is Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Sports Medicine Center and Women’s Health Services. The hospital has been a long-time partner with KLA on similar events, providing volunteer medical and training experts.

“Promoting health and wellness benefits our entire community, particularly our women,” said Robert J. Brody, St. Francis chief executive officer and president. "Truly, the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon is a boon for the community and Franciscan St. Francis is proud to be its chief sponsor.”

Other key sponsors are the local Paul Mitchell enterprise (salons and school of cosmetology) and BlueMile, a running specialty retailer formerly known as The Running Company.

The 13.1-mile-long course begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and winds by a variety of local landmarks and parks with the finish line at the City Market. The shorter 5K portion of the race steps off at the same location but progresses west of the downtown area with runners returning east to the same finish line.

While the race honors women runners, it also pays tribute to women who have served in the U.S. military. American flags will be handed to participants as the finish line comes into their view.

Cash prizes of more than $6,200 will be awarded to the winners in the open, masters, seniors and Indiana divisions.

To register or to learn more about the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon & 5K, go to http://www.indywomenshalfmarathon.com.

More information about Franciscan St. Francis Health’s sports medicine program and women’s services can be found, respectively, at http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/Ortho/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=54 and http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=134.