It feels like it was just yesterday 17,000 Marathoners and ½ Marathoners crossed the finish line of the 2011 Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon. Well, in the three months since that exciting day, we’ve been hard at work planning for the 2012 marathon. (Mark your calendars for Oct. 21, 2012.) In fact, in case you forgot, registration opens Saturday! As we gear up for the 33rd Columbus Marathon, we have some exciting pre-registration news to share:
FIRST: The Columbus Marathon and Nationwide Insurance announced Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the title beneficiary for the event. We’ve also given the race a new name, The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon.
SECOND: It may have a new name, but it is still the same great race, and this year the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon will have a very special focus on engaging the community to gain corporate and participant support of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s non-profit mission.
The Columbus Marathon has always had a strong focus on supporting charities, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, the Hospice Foundation’s Run to Remember, The Susan G. Komen For the Cure’s Marathon for the Cure and the American Cancer Society’s Team Determination. These and other charities will be encouraged to continue their fundraising efforts alongside the Nationwide Children’s Hospital goals.
THIRD: To kick-off the spirit of charitable giving, we’re issuing a “call to commit.” We’ll match the first $100,000 in donations made to Nationwide Children’s Hospital raised by our participants in the 2012 race.
FOURTH: To pay tribute and honor the millions of patients Nationwide Children’s Hospital cares for annually, each of the 26 miles, called “Miracle Miles,” will be dedicated to a “Patient Champion” – a current patient of Nationwide Children’s.
You will have the opportunity to nominate a child as a Patient Champion (stay tuned as we’ll share more details about nominating a child soon!). Patient Champions will also be involved in other aspects of the event, from cheering participants on at the finish line, to presenting the marathon medals. Also, each Miracle Mile can be sponsored by a corporate or community organization.
Today at the press conference, we introduced Alison Hile as the very first Patient Champion who will represent the “Nationwide Insurance Miracle Mile.” Alison, 11, has been a patient of Nationwide Children’s since she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis just days after being born. Alison and her family lead an active lifestyle and love to run. Running is a very healthy activity for Alison’s lungs and is an important part of her continued treatment as a patient living with cystic fibrosis.
FIFTH: In celebration of the Columbus Bicentennial, there will be commemorative activities and recognitions at the Race Expo, Start Line and Celebration Village, including hundreds of runners and walkers holding up large Bicentennial banners at the start line, and more. Also, every 200th finisher will receive a special award.
SIXTH: Our race field has increased! Now even more of you can participate in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon. We have the capacity for 7,000 full Marathoners and 11,000 ½ Marathoners.
We are honored to continue to make an impact on the community, and to use running and walking to not only make a difference in the lives of our participants’ health, but in the lives of others, too. Join us in supporting Nationwide Children’s Hospital and register for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon or ½ Marathon this Saturday!
With 17,000 participants and tens of thousands of spectators, it’s safe to say the 
