Contact: Sabine Gillert The Berkeley Half Marathon 415.373.7252 [email protected] Jenny Radloff Outside PR 916.605.6129 [email protected] Inaugural Berkeley Half Marathon Kicks Off November 24th City of Berkeley’s First Half Marathon Celebrates Community, Partners With Local Charities San Francisco, CA-­‐ October 21, 2013 – Producer of the iconic San Francisco Marathon, Bay Area-­‐
based production company Jumping Fences, Inc. announced today an exciting roster of course entertainment, charity partnership opportunities, and a San Francisco Marathon/Berkeley Half Marathon Challenge for the first-­‐ever Berkeley Half Marathon. The inaugural race is scheduled for Sunday, November 24, 2013. Fun, fast and flat, the 13.1-­‐mile point-­‐to-­‐point course will start in downtown Berkeley at Civic Center Park, wrap around the west side of the UC Berkeley Campus, and continue straight on University Ave, showcasing quintessential Berkeley cityscape. At mile 4, runners will be treated to the gorgeous sights of the Berkeley Marina, eventually turning runners around to head north toward historic Cesar Chavez Park. From there, the course makes a loop around the park, exposing incredible views of San Francisco Bay, finally directing runners north towards the finish line celebration – complete with DJ, runners’ lounge, yoga and beer garden – at Golden Gate Fields. Additional course distances are available including the Bearable 10-­‐Mile race, as well as a 10K option. “Berkeley is such an amazing and diverse city. We felt it was high time individuals had an opportunity to tour this beautiful community and enjoy all of the elements that make Berkeley the unique place it is,” said Peter Nantell, Executive Producer of the Berkeley Half Marathon. “We’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support and excitement from the City of Berkeley since we announced our intent to hold this race. Everyone from Mayor Bates, to local artists and Cal Berkeley students have a hand in making this inaugural race an event to remember.” This year’s event will welcome world-­‐class runners competing in the half marathon including Anna Bretan, winner of the women’s field at this year’s San Francisco Marathon. A Berkeley resident, Bretan also won the 2012 Oakland Marathon. Another noteworthy face is East Bay resident Ian Sharman, who won the 2013 Leadville Trail 100, along with running notables Bernard Jones and Chafik Azerik. -­‐ more -­‐ Berkeley Half Marathon to Commence November 24th/pg 2 Along the course runners can enjoy lively and fun entertainment including: the UC Berkeley Cello Ensemble, who will be performing pop songs, Tex Allen and the “Why the Nose” crew will be handing out red noses and smiles, Elephant Bird Camp and the Funky Ones will be rocking out on the Grahama’s House Art Car, and Berkeley-­‐based Max Performance Yoga and CorePower will also be out on the course pumping runners at two separate cheer stations. All mile markers will be unique designs by local artists Cora Hardin and Sonny Kay. In another motivating twist for runners, the Berkeley Half Marathon is partnering with The San Francisco Marathon (TSFM) to launch a new challenge for Bay Area-­‐loving runners on race day. Individuals who participated in the 2013 TSFM, including the full marathon, 1st Half, 2nd Half, or 5K/Progressive distances, then complete one of the three Berkeley Half Marathon distances – Half, Bearable 10 Mile, or 10K – will receive a special San Francisco/Berkeley Challenge medal. Runners must complete these events consecutively, and have official finish times for both events. The race isn’t just for the benefit of the runners; the Berkeley Half Marathon Charity Program creates an opportunity for non-­‐profit organizations to connect with Berkeley Half Marathon registered runners to raise money for their cause and gain exposure through the Berkeley Half Marathon event. Registered runners have eleven participating charities to choose from including three official charities, the Berkeley Public Schools Fund, Berkeley Partners for Parks, and Berkeley Food and Housing Project, just to name a few. -­‐ more -­‐ Berkeley Half Marathon to Commence November 24th/Page 3 Registration for all events is open, and is already over 60% full for the half marathon. Half Marathon registration pricing is $85, while the Bearable 10-­‐Mile race registration is $60, and 10K race registration is $50. Teams of 15 or more can register as a group and will be given a 15% registration discount. For more information visit http://berkeleyhalf.com/ or contact Jenny Radloff at [email protected]. To register for any of the distances, please visit http://berkeleyhalf.com/the-­‐race/registration/ About the Berkeley Half Marathon: Projected to draw 8,000 runners in the inaugural year, the Berkeley Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 24, 2013. Designed by the production company that puts on the iconic San Francisco Marathon, the Berkeley Half will show off Berkeley’s favorite spots-­‐ from the city center to UC Berkeley Campus and the beautiful waterfront marina. The race starts at Civic Center Park in downtown Berkeley, wraps around the UC Berkeley Campus, and continues straight through the heart of funky Berkeley on University Ave, passing local shops and parks on the way to the marina. The course follows the bay along the waterfront and Berkeley Marina, heads north to loop around Cesar Chavez Park, exposing breathtaking sights of the SF skyline and the bay before finishing at Golden Gate Fields. Events include a Half Marathon, Bearable 10-­‐Mile race, and a 10Krace. For more details, please visit www.berkeleyhalf.com. ###