Tucson Marathon and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Team Up to Reduce Childhood Obesity

(TUCSON, ARIZ.) June 26, 2012 – The Holualoa Tucson Marathon, in its 19th year, announces the Alliance for a Healthier Generation as the official national charity of the 2012 Tucson Marathon and Tucson Marathon Family Fitness Fest.  This collaboration will promote health, fitness and education with a focus on childhood obesity.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity.  Team Healthier Generation, a fundraiser of the Alliance, will join with the Tucson Marathon to support the Alliance’s efforts to increase access to physical activity and nutritious food for young people in Tucson and across the country.  Proceeds will benefit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, not the Alliance’s founding organizations.

Saturday, December 8th – 2nd Annual Tucson Marathon Family Fitness Fest 

A great event for the whole family, the Tucson Marathon Family Fitness Fest will be held on the University of Arizona campus Mall on Saturday, December 8.  Running events will include a 5K and 1 Mile run.  The 5K is for runners of all abilities, including walkers and wheelchairs. We expect youth from 3 to 100 years old to share the excitement of completing the race. 

With support from the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health and partnerships with the College of Agriculture and many other UA entities, this day of family fitness promises to provide all the necessary fun to make everyone excited about a healthy lifestyle.  The 1 Mile event was created in 2010 to encourage school age children to get outside and move.  Working with the College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, the Tucson Marathon Fitness Fest is engaging with 160 Tucson area schools to deliver a four-month running and physical fitness training program, culminating with running the 1 Mile event.  The 1 Mile is appropriate for runners and walkers of all ages.  Families are encouraged to participate with their kids and everyone is welcome. 

Sunday, December 9th - Marathon, Marathon Relay and Half Marathon

The Holualoa Tucson Marathon, Marathon Relay, and Damascus Bakeries Half Marathon will be held on

Sunday, December 9.  The Old West historical town of Oracle marks the start line of the full marathon and relay. The marathon is heralded in Runner’s World this year as one of the nation’s top qualifiers for the Boston Marathon.  The course winds through the desert on paved roads and finishes at the Coronado Middle School, just off of E. Wilds Road. 

The Half Marathon is one of the fastest point-to-point courses in the country.  The course, which starts on Biosphere Road, approximately ½ mile outside the Biosphere 2 gates, follows the last 13.1 miles of the marathon course. 

Both courses are scenic, fast, mostly downhill and certified by USATF.  All of the Tucson Marathon events tailor to runners of all abilities, from walkers to elites.  The host hotel is the Hilton El Conquistador.

Pam Reed, founder and race director, Tucson Marathon: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Alliance For A Healthier Generation.  As the largest running event in Southern Arizona, we expect nearly 5,000 people to participate in our various race distances. This collaboration represents a shared passion for reducing the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity and to inspire young people to develop lifelong, healthy habits.” 

Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, Alliance For A Healthier Generation:
 “We are honored to join forces with the Tucson Marathon and proud of all the Team Healthier Generation athletes who will dedicate their time and sweat to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic. The support of the marathon and our team members will help us support healthier schools and empower young people to make healthy choices in Tucson and across the country.”

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. To learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, visit www. HealthierGeneration.org. 

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Contacts:

Lynn Astalos       
Tucson Marathon Family Fitness Fest
astalos@charter.net
www.tucsonmarathon.com 
(408) 483-2421 mobile

Megan McIntyre
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
megan.mcintyre@healthiergeneration.org
917.399.5250
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthiergeneration
Twitter: @HealthierGen