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              MAJOR MARATHON TO BE HELD IN EUGENE, OREGON 


Eugene OR -- It has returned.  And it's big. 

The first major destination marathon since the early 1980s, the inaugural 
Eugene Marathon will be held in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. 
In a city that many runners consider the mecca of their sport; the course 
will take runners along the hallowed roads and trails used by such legends 
as the late Steve Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar and Mary Decker Slaney. 
"Eugene has long been a magic name in running circles. Now, at last, after 
an absence of more than 20 years, our city will again have a major marathon 
where runners come from around the country and the world to experience its 
magic," said Eugene Marathon board member Joe Henderson, local author, 
columnist for Marathon and Beyond magazine, and running coach. 

The event is the brainchild of Richard Maher, a longtime Eugene resident 
and veteran marathoner who has completed 19 marathons, including Boston, 
Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Paris and Victoria and his 
nephew, Andy Heily, who was a high school All-American and 11 time 
letterman in track and cross-country at Georgetown University.   Joining 
Maher, Heily and Henderson on the board are a who’s who of U.S. distance 
running including: 

Cathie Twomey Bellamy, 3 time U.S. Olympic trials veteran and former 
world-record holder in the 20k 

Frank Gagliano, Nike Farm Team head coach 

Andy Downin, former US 1,500 meter Champion, four-time All-American in 
cross-country at Georgetown, and founder of New Hampshire’s largest road 
mile the Millennium Mile race 

Matt Downin, former All-American at the University of Wisconsin who set a 
personal best of 2:14:28 at the 2005 New York Marathon and was ranked # 5 
at the 26.2 distance by U.S. Track and Field

"It is not often one can feel like an elite athlete within a relatively 
small city," Twomey Bellamy said. "Taking part in the Eugene Marathon 
allows everyone to become Prefontaine for even just a few hours."   

The music-filled family event will include a marathon, half-marathon,
5-kilometer and kids runs.  The course will begin Read More