Geist Half Marathon & 5K “Race Around the Reservoir”

Financial Center to host water stop on Fox Road near 9 mile marker

(January 29, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS: Organizers of the Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast (www.GeistHalf.com) today announced Financial Center as a Water Stop sponsor of the inaugural race around Geist Reservoir on May 17th, 2008. Financial Center (www.FCFCU.com) joins Old National Bank, Geist Harbours Property Owners Association and Jones Orthodontics as Water Stop Sponsors of the inaugural “race around the reservoir” to benefit local children’s’ health and wellness programs.

“We just opened our Geist location and found out it was on the Geist Half Marathon route,” said Leslie Gary, District Retail Sales Manager of the Geist’s newest credit union. “Our employees are very excited to be a part of such a great benefit race.”

“Having the support of businesses along the race route is important to us,” said Tom Britt, President of the Geist Half Marathon Inc., an Indiana non profit corporation. “With their sponsorship, Financial Center is not only encouraging Half Marathon runners to keep going, but they are showing their commitment to our Geist area kids.”

Financial Center will host the water stop on Fox Road near the entrance to Back Bay. Credit Union personnel and volunteers will hand out cups of water and encouragement to half marathon participants as they pass the 9 mile marker of the course.

About the Geist Half Marathon & 5K
The Geist Half Marathon Inc. is an Indiana non-profit corporation organized to inspire health and wellness in the children surrounding Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis, Indiana. Working closely with the Lawrence Township School Foundation and Hamilton Southeastern School Foundation, the Geist Half Marathon will raise funds to benefit area fitness programs in Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Registration is $40 for half marathon entrants, $20 for 5 K participants. To register, go online to www.GeistHalf.com.

About Financial Center
With over $345 million in assets, Financial Center has been providing financial services to the people who live, work, worship, attend school or volunteer in Marion County since 1953. Financial Center’s nine Marion County locations and its 145 employees deliver the credit union’s philosophy of “we succeed only when you succeed” to nearly 37,000 member-owners worldwide.

Fall Creek Road and 79th Street Branch will hydrate and encourage runners for inaugural “Race Around the Reservoir”

(January 22, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS: Organizers of the Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast (www.GeistHalf.com) today announced Old National Bank as a Water Stop sponsor of the inaugural race around Geist Reservoir on May 17th, 2008. Old National Bank (www.OldNational.com) joins Geist Harbours Property Owners Association and Jones Orthodontics as Water Stop Sponsors of the inaugural “race around the reservoir” to benefit local children’s’ health and wellness programs.

“We heard about this great cause-related race to help fight childhood obesity and knew right away that we wanted to be a part of it,” said Molly Wilson, Old National Bank personal banking manager.

“We wanted to involve as many local businesses along the route as possible and Old National didn’t even hesitate to help out,” said Tom Britt, President of the Geist Half Marathon Inc., an Indiana non profit corporation. “Old National has been a part of our Geist community since they opened for business in October of 2006.”

Under the terms of their agreement, Old National Bank will host a water stop in front of their branch on Fall Creek Road near 79th Street. Bank personnel and volunteers will hand out cups of water and encouragement to half marathon participants as they pass the 7 mile marker of the course.

About the Geist Half Marathon & 5K
The Geist Half Marathon Inc. is an Indiana non-profit corporation organized to inspire health and wellness in the children surrounding Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis, Indiana. Working closely with the Lawrence Township School Foundation and Hamilton Southeastern School Foundation, the Geist Half Marathon will raise funds to benefit area fitness programs in Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Registration is $40 for half marathon entrants, $20 for 5 K participants. To register, go online to www.GeistHalf.com.

About Old National Bank
Old National Bank, the largest community bank headquartered in Indiana, has 10 financial centers in the Indianapolis area, including the Geist location at 9901 Fall Creek Road. As a true community bank, we partner with the entire community. Our state-of-the-art financial centers are about more than banking. They’re about making your life easier with services you always hoped for, but never expected from a bank. Come in and experience something different. Enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee. Surf the ‘net in our cyber café. Sit down and talk with your banker – there are no teller lines here. Discover banking delivered with genuine Hoosier hospitality.

The Running Company, 8965 E. 116th Street, Fishers, is offering a half marathon training program for the 500 Festival Min and/or the Geist Half Marathon. The program begins Jan. 19, but you can sign up any time in January. Just stop by the store or use the attached registration brochure. For more information, call 579-0909 or click here.

We train walkers and runners of all ages and fitness levels for the Geist Half Marathon! Our program starts at the Fort Benjamin Harrison YMCA on Tuesday evening, January 8, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. Cecil Whitaker and Lesley Stoeffler are the trainers. Our sessions are held Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Please go to www.indyymca.org for more information. We will meet on Tuesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. with guest speakers on various topics including:

Running & Walking Gear – cold weather wear and the right shoes for you and the way you run/walk

Chiropractic – stretches to use to prevent and repair injured joints and muscles. How to use chiropractic to heal and prevent joint issues.

Nutrition – optimum diet and strategies for best race day performance.

Weight Training – using weight training for strength and endurance

Yoga – using yoga for training and stress relief

Hills – how to train for the hills that come our way “Hills are our friend” to quote one of our trainees who ran two half marathons and a full marathon her first year of training!

Cold weather training – how to use cold weather for more than building snowmen!

Warm weather training – how to use the heat to your advantage

Supplements – how to use Water, Gatorade, Nutrition bars and Gels to maximize your running and walking experience.

Speed training – learn to run faster with our concise weekly speed intervals.

Mental toughness – how to get it and keep it to keep training fresh and exciting.

We use the book “Run Faster Run Less” by Bill Pierce as the basis of our program. We take beginners, intermediate and experienced runners and work with you at your level to maximize your work outs and develop a plan for race day. We utilize cross training so running is done 3 days a week and other activities take up 2-3 days per week to not only make you stronger but help you run faster and recover more quickly than strictly running alone. This method prevents injury and helps maintain your entire body, not just your legs and feet!

We are committed to walkers and runners – we will work with you on your personal plan and you will be able to do the Geist Half Marathon and fulfill your dream of participating in this inaugural event.

If you have specific questions about our training program – please email Cecil Whitaker at cwhitaker@whitakerengineering.com or Lesley Stoeffler at lstoeffler@genesisre.net.

January 23 through April 30, 2008 (plus two week individualized training plan for Geist Half Marathon participants)

My experience can be summed up in one word: Professionalism, with a capital ‘P.’ From the staff leaders to the volunteers, and your state-of-the-art facility at NIFS. Thanks for your great program!— Brian Kidwell

I have participated in other training programs in the past and in my opinion the NIFS program beat theirs hands down.
— Jennifer Means

Whether you will be participating in your first half-marathon or you‘re a seasoned racer, in the NIFS program you will:

• Set a goal and reach it!
• Improve your health and fitness!
• Meet people who move at your speed and motivate you!

This comprehensive program has been developed by exercise physiologists, fitness specialists and registered dietitians to optimize your performance in a spring half marathon.

The NIFS 14-week program provides an in-depth, personalized and interactive training approach. Features include:

• Two convenient locations: NIFS (downtown Indy) and Cherry Tree Elementary School (Carmel)
• Weekly group training runs and walks on Wednesday evenings
• The Absolute Beginner‘s Guide to Half-Marathon Training, that can be purchased by participants, published by Que Publishing and written by program coordinator Heather Hedrick Fink, MS, RD, CSSD at almost 50% OFF the cover price at NIFS, via www.amazon.com, or at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble bookstores
• Training program and logs designed for your level of training, experience and goals
• Cross training on a variety of aerobic and strength training equipment at the NIFS Fitness Center
• Mini-educational presentations covering essential information that take place before some of the training walks/runs
• Weekly snacks and refreshments
• A celebration post-event dinner party

For more information or to register, visit www.nifs.org or call 317-274-332, ext. 222.