Falls marathon,Runaway success

Profile facts,that the Niagara Falls International Marathon has increased by about 20% in the number of registered runners isn't all that surprising, although the reason for the growth may not be the reason one might expect.

It's not the fact that the Falls race, set for Sunday, is the only marathon in the world to begin in one country and end in another. It's not the fact that it's held in one of the most well-known places on the 

Niagara Falls International 

Marathon 24 october,...... 

planet (although that undoubtedly helps). It's not even that the organizers have assembled a first-rate panel of running celebrities to address the marathon faithful over the weekend.

The reason the marathon is exploding in popularity? Common courtesy, race director Jim Ralston said.

"The reason our numbers are up, and we've got about 5,500 runners now, which is up about 1,000 over last year, is that we are all committed to providing the best experience possible for the runners," Ralston said of the event, now in its 13th year. "It must be working as we've got runners coming from all over the U.S., Mexico, New Caledonia -- which is in the middle of the Pacific -- and a relay team coming from Denmark.

"We cater to runners. When they come here, they aren't just a number. At the bigger events, they are just a number. Events like New York, the bigger races, they focus on the elite runners. We're here for everybody. The back-of-the-packers are just as important as the elites."

Equally important to the organizers is creating a weekend race experience for not only every ability of runner, but age of runner. To that end, in addition to the full marathon, a half-marathon run and walk are available, as well as 10K and 5K events. Also returning is an event that Ralston is thrilled with -- the Schools Marathon Challenge.

"The kids' event is great," he said. "This year, we have 38 schools participating with more than 1,000 kids running in it. It's great not just for the kids to get out and run, but for the event itself.

"The kids' event gives us such great community exposure through the children. We know have families that may be focused on hockey or soccer, but now that their kids are running, they come to know about the marathon, as well.

"We've had kids and their parents participate in the 5K and 10K, all from being involved in the Schools Marathon Challenge."

While Ralston and his team of four full-time assistants and more than 1,700 volunteers are focused on the big race day, that isn't their only focus. The organizers have e popular extra events, making it a full-weekend event.

The Skylon Tower Health and Fitness Expo is back, this year boasting an impressive lineup of keynote speakers including John Stanton, Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson.

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Stanton is the founder of the Running Room/Walking Room stores and is also a best-selling Canadian author of six books on running. Most recently, Stanton was appointed a member of the Order of Canada.

In 1967, Switzer was attacked mid-stride in the Boston Marathon by the race director who tried to force her out of the race because she was a woman. Using this negative incident for inspiration, Switzer went on to run 36 marathons and won the New York City Marathon. She is now an Emmy-winning TV broadcaster and the author of three books, including her memoir, Marathon Woman.

Roger Robinson is in worldwide demand this year because it is the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece. He is the leading expert on the dramatic story of how the marathon began, and what that old story means for millions of runners today.

(source:wellandtribune.ca)