41st Space Coast Marathon Under Way Today

By  //  November 25, 2012

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Florida’s Oldest Marathon Also Among USA’s Most Scenic

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On Sunday, the Running Zone Foundation and Space Coast Runners will hold the 41st running of the Space Coast Marathon and Half-Marathon – Florida’s oldest marathon.

Runners and walkers alike will experience one of the most beautiful USA Track & Field certified waterfront courses in the country, which will follow the beautiful Indian River in Cocoa and Rockledge, Florida.

“We’re expecting approximately 4,000 – 4,500 participants to compete in this event, and our beneficiary this year is Team in Training,” said race director Denise Piercy.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training is the world’s largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides

SPACE THEME, GREAT AWARDS

Denise Piercy

“This is one of the most unique running and walking events in the country, as the race is held within the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center, and the entire event revolves around a space theme that delights and energizes our participants,” said Piercy.

Unique awards will be given to the top three overall male and female winners, top male and female master (over 40), top male and female grand master (over 50), top three finishers in each of the five-year age groups, (starting with 15-19 and ending with 75 +.

HEALTH FIRST HEALTH PLANS HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO

The Health First Health Plans Health & Fitness Expo, and the pre-race pasta dinner, will be held at the KSC Visitor Complex on Saturday, Nov. 24.

The pre-race pasta dinner will be held at the KSC Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The Health First Health Plans Health & Fitness Expo will be run from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Exhibitors will feature the newest designs in running gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports, fitness and nutrition.

The pre-race pasta dinner will be held at the KSC Visitor Complex Apollo/Saturn V Center beginning at 5 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer at Runner’s World magazine and author of the book, My Life on the Run.  Yasso has completed the toughest races on the planet and influenced thousands of people to improve their lives through running. He is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon.

AWARDS CEREMONY

The Half Marathon Awards Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. and the Marathon Awards Ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Riverfront Park Pavilion in Cocoa Village. Former astronaut Mike McCulley and Yasso will be part of the Sunday morning ceremonies. McCulley flew on STS-34 in 1989. n

THE RACE HEADQUARTERS is at the Running Zone, located at 3696 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida. For information call 321-751-8890 or email info@spacecoastmarathon.com