Volunteers propel efforts in staging Indy Women’s Half Marathon

INDIANAPOLIS – It takes an all-hands effort to help run a marathon. And that’s why Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon & 5K organizers are looking for volunteers.

Volunteers are needed for Friday, Sept. 2; and Saturday Sept. 3 – the day of the event. Their roles would be providing information to marathon participants, “goodie bag” distribution, greeters and to assist dinner and fashion show hosts.

Available positions for Saturday’s events include providing information to participants, “goodie bag” distribution, course water stops, course direction, gear check, start and finish line control, U.S. Flag distribution, and refreshment help.

To volunteer for the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon and 5K visit www.indywomenshalfmarathon.com and click on the “volunteer” tab.

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.

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.

Franciscan St. Francis Health medical volunteers will be led by Robyn Fean, MD, a sports medicine specialist who practices at St. Francis Plainfield Family and Sports Medicine.

The 13.1 mile course begins at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, at Monument Circle, 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.

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

For more information about Franciscan St. Francis Health’s sports medicine program and women’s services visit St.Francishospitals.org.