2013 GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend Headed for Early Sell-Out

ST. LOUIS, Mo. –  GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, announced that entries for the 2013 GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, set for Saturday-Sunday, April 6 & 7, are trending significantly ahead of last year's event, when many of the races sold out in advance.

The popular event features 10 different race distances, and more than 25,000 total participants.  The event includes a marathon; half-marathon; marathon relay; 5K; GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon®; children's fun runs and a mature mile.

Among the many exciting offerings this year, is a campaign to highlight the event as A St. Louis Original, while partnering with other St. Louis Original companies or brands to add to the participant's race experience. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Crown Candy and Yurbuds are three such brands that have signed on to partner this year.

Participants will receive frozen ice cream sandwiches from Ted Drewes at the finish line, while the top three age group winners on Holy Hill (Mile 6-8) will receive a large commemorative chocolate bar from Crown Candy and a unique finisher medal from Yurbuds. Planning will continue to add more St. Louis Original partners in the coming weeks.

In cooperation with the St. Louis Original promotion, a series of videos are being produced to highlight local celebrities and attractions, and their connection to the event and the race course.

Previously announced was a substantial increase in prize money for the popular half-marathon race – presented by PNC Bank, which has aided in increasing interest among the nation's elite athletes. The top men's and women's winner in the half-marathon will each receive a $10,000 top prize, while second place receives $5,000 each and third place $2,000. The $10,000 half marathon prize is one of the largest awards in the United States, only three other races (NYC Half Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half and Aramco Houston Half) currently have awards that equal or exceed the value.

Registration opened in early September with the next entry fee price increase set to take effect on Tuesday, January 1. Entry fee prices currently range from $10-$240 (4-person relay).

Source: GO! St. Louis Date: December 17, 2012

For additional information, visit www.gostlouis.org