GO! St. Louis Marathon is a marathon with a purpose. Jeff Trammel, the Director of Marketing & Communications of the GO! St Louis organization is our guest on the blog this week.
GO! St. Louis is a non-profit organization which encourages individuals and families in the region to adopt a healthy lifestyle by getting fit, staying active, and eating a nutritional diet year round. The organization accomplishes this through school based programming, outreach to senior/retirement centers, community collaborations and the creation of new and unique fitness opportunities. The GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is the organization’s signature event.
Hello, on April 19st 2009, you’ll be organizing the GO! St. Louis Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The GO! St. Louis Marathon starts and finishes in the historic St. Louis downtown area. St. Louis, known as the Gateway to the West is a city rich in history, which is evident in the architecture rich buildings along the course.
How old is the marathon and why was it created in the first place?
The GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend started in 2000 and has grown from 2,500 participants to more than 18,000 in 2008. The original idea for the event was to create a weekend of family fitness events for all ages and fitness abilities. Although the Marathon and Half Marathon attract the majority of runners and walkers, the overall event is geared for the entire family.
What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?
The race course is one of the most popular attractions for participants. The course starts in downtown St. Louis and includes views of the famed Gateway Arch. The course also includes Busch Stadium, where the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals play, the Anheuser-Busch brewery, the expansive Forest Park (second only to Central Park in size), the Delmar Loop (voted one of the top streets in the U.S.) and the beautiful Washington University campus.
How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?
The Marathon and Half Marathon will attract close to 20,000 participants in 2009. Although a good portion of the participants are from Missouri and Illinois, we had competitors from 46 states and eight countries last year.
Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances?
In addition to the endurance race on Sunday, we coordinate various other events for all ages and abilities. On Saturday (April 18), we hold a Family Day with a 5K, Children’s Funs Runs, Diaper Dash and a Mature Mile for older adults.
At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?
April is a great time to visit St. Louis. Traditionally the weather at the start of the race will be in the 50-60 degree range, which is perfect running weather
Have you planned festivities around the marathon?
As part of the weekend, we have a local band that entertains in the post-race reunion area, along with food and drinks. The marathon course is lined with various entertainment and neighborhood gatherings.
The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to St. Louis before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?
In general, St. Louis is a city that has a lot to offer. Things to do while visiting St. Louis may include: St. Louis Gateway Arch, Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Gardens, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, City Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour, Forest Park, Saint Louis Science Center and the diverse restaurants located throughout the area.
The Central West End and Delmar Loop offer an array of restaurant choices.
In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the GO! St. Louis Marathon?
The GO! St. Louis Marathon is a race that prides itself on top quality runner amenities and services, from the special technical shirts, finishers hats and large finisher medals to the plentiful water/energy stations and experienced medical staff. Proof is in the increased participant registrations, which have increased 700% since the event debuted.
Thank you Jeff
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