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

Inaugural event fills field three weeks before first running

Race Director Jeff Graves announced today that the Inaugural Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast on Saturday, May 17th is sold out. The new month of May tradition in racing has filled the field for both the Half Marathon and 5K three weeks before Indiana’s First Lady Cheri Daniels waves the green flag to start what has been called the “Race Around the Reservoir”.

“Selling out the Inaugural race with 4,500 participants is a great accomplishment for any event, especially a first time race,” said Race Director Jeff Graves with Vision Event Management.  “Indianapolis has a great running community and they are coming out in full force to support this new event.”

Along with the Geist-area locals, participants are coming from over 25 states and 60 Indiana schools. The event benefits local children’s health, wellness and fitness programs in Hamilton and Marion counties.

“We have worked very hard marketing the event and putting all the details together for race,” added Graves. “This will be a first-class event that runners will want to make part of their annual tradition.”

Being deemed the largest single day event ever hosted at Geist Reservoir, the “Race Around the Reservoir” is a point-to-point race utilizing shuttle buses to transport runners, walkers, and spectators to the start line near 116th & Olio and from the finish line at the Geist Marina off of Fall Creek Road. This event will provide one of Indiana’s most scenic run/walks by circling Geist Reservoir, crossing five bridges, and finishing at the water’s edge.

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 now closed for the 2008 race. Next year’s race will be on May 16, 2009. For more information, go online to www.GeistHalf.com.

Hundreds of Geist area students and parents in Mt. Vernon Community School district expected to participate

(February 11, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS: School officials with the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation and board members of the Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast (www.GeistHalf.com) today announced a health and wellness partnership. Students, parents, and staff within the Mt. Vernon Community School district will be invited to participate in an on-going fitness program with their culminating event being the inaugural “Race Around the Reservoir” on May 17, 2008.

“Our faculty has developed an after school walking club through the Mt. Vernon Intermediate School and the reception has been overwhelming,” said Dr. Bill Riggs, Superintendent of Mt. Vernon School Corporation. “The Geist Half Marathon fits in nicely with our fitness goals and with our recently adopted Health and Wellness Policy. All of the Mt. Vernon Schools will be participating in this activity to some extent. It should be a fun event for our students, staff, and any community members who want to participate. We are excited to be working with the Geist Half Marathon & 5K and look forward to seeing a healthier community.”

“Having the support and participation of our local schools is critical for us to fulfill our mission of ‘promoting health and wellness in local area children’,” said Tom Britt, President of the Geist Half Marathon Inc., an Indiana non profit corporation. “Through our Healthy Kids Incentive program we’ll be able to offer discounted registrations, in training t-shirts, blue wristbands, and most importantly encouragement to all the kids that sign up to participate in our race.”

Mt. Vernon Schools and the Geist Half Marathon Inc. are organizing a pasta dinner in conjunction with race packet pick-up to be hosted at the Mt. Vernon High School the night prior to the May 17th Race Around the Reservoir. Proceeds from this and other school fundraisers will benefit the newly formed Mt. Vernon Education Foundation.

“We are very excited to be partnering with the Geist Half Marathon. Any money donated by them will be earmarked to fund health and wellness initiatives within the Mt. Vernon Schools,” said Leanne Brown, Executive Director of the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation.

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. Registration is $40 for half marathon entrants, $20 for 5 K participants.

About Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation
The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation was formed in 1963 as a result of the consolidation of Mt. Vernon, McCordsville, and Mt. Comfort schools. Total enrollment is nearly 3,500 students in northwest Hancock County.

About Mt. Vernon Education Foundation
The Mt. Vernon Education Foundation is a non-profit public corporation created to support the students and teachers of Mt. Vernon Schools, K-12. The foundation raises funds to award teacher grants for classroom or grade-level projects as well as school corporation-wide initiatives like the health and wellness program.

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.

“Race Around the Reservoir” Changes it’s Name, Expands Presenting Sponsorship to Include Comcast

(December 19, 2007) INDIANAPOLIS: Organizers of the Geist Half Marathon & 5K (www.GeistHalf.com) announced the addition of Comcast as a co-presenting sponsor of the inaugural race on May 17, 2008, renaming the race to the Geist Half Marathon and 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast.

“Comcast is proud to be on the ground floor of what we believe will become a successful long-term event in the community,” said Mark Apple, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Public Relations. “Comcast is especially happy that proceeds from the event will go to support Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern schools. It will be exciting to see young students participating in the event, with the goal of curbing childhood obesity in their schools.”

Under the terms of their sponsorship, Comcast will be airing :30 second commercials and 3-5 minute interviews with Geist Half Marathon Inc. organizers throughout the Comcast Cable network statewide. Comcast will share top billing with Community Health Network, who earlier announced their participation in May, 2007.

“If families and runners haven’t heard about our race by now, they will soon,” said Tom Britt, President of the Geist Half Marathon Inc., an Indiana non profit corporation. “We have a great race and message to get out there. Comcast’s commitment to our race will go a long way towards inspiring the Geist Reservoir community to get and stay healthy.”

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.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 12.9 million high-speed Internet customers, and 4.1 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, Comcast SportsNet and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast’s Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

INDIANAPOLIS (December 3, 2007) - Runners and walkers locked out of the Mini Marathon or runners looking for another challenge in the month of May now have an opportunity to participate in a new tradition: The Inaugural 2008 Geist Half Marathon & 5K Presented by Community Health Network and Comcast. A benefit for local children’s health and wellness programs in Hamilton and Marion Counties, the “Race Around the Reservoir” will be held on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 7:30 am. Registration is $40 for the Half Marathon and $20 for the 5K. Register now!

The Geist Half Marathon & 5K will showcase the beautiful Geist Reservoir area with spectacular race views of the reservoir, tree-lined roadways, winding neighborhood roads, and a scenic finish near the water’s edge at the Geist Marina. This event will provide one of the Midwest’s most memorable run/walks by going around Geist Reservoir and crossing over the water five times, providing for spectacular views. (View Course Map)

“The Geist Half Marathon & 5K will be an event you won’t want to miss,” says Vince Auten, Marketing Director for the Geist Half Marathon Inc. “To insure a flawless event, we’ve hired Jeff Graves, President of Vision Event Management and former Executive Director of the Mini-Marathon, as our Race Director. We’ve also enlisted Don Carr of Tuxedo Brothers, the current Mini-Marathon course manager, to handle all the race course logistics. We want to make sure we create an annual May tradition that keeps runners and walkers coming back.”

Organizers are inviting area runners to participate in their inaugural Geist Half Marathon two weeks after the Mini Marathon, challenging them to join the new “May Marathon Club.”

“By running both the Mini Marathon and the Geist Half Marathon, runners will complete a full marathon in the month of May,” said race director Jeff Graves. “We will have a commemorative technical race shirt for all those that complete our ‘May Marathon Club’ challenge.”

The Geist Half Marathon Inc. announced a new outreach program designed to inspire local schools or not for profit groups to participate in the inaugural Geist Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk Presented by Community Health Network on May 17, 2008. Participants must be associated with a school or other not for profit group and have an adult organizer willing to administer the Geist Half Marathon approved fitness program.

To participate, the organizing adult must visit www.GeistHalf.com and click on the “Healthy Kids” link to submit an application online. Upon approval by the Geist Half Marathon, participating teams will receive discounted race registration fees, wrist bands, and a “team in training” t-shirt for each child. In addition, each child that participates in either the Geist Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk, or a new kid’s half marathon program will also receive the official race shirt and finishing medal upon completion.

“We want to reach out to school kids all around Geist and give them some motivation to run our benefit race next May 17th,” said Matt Troyer, Geist Half Marathon board member and liaison to the HSE Foundation.

Proceeds from the race will benefit local area health and wellness programs, including the Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

“Our board has been working closely with Lawrence Township School Foundation and Hamilton Southeastern Foundation to identify physical fitness needs in both school districts,” said Michael Turik, Geist Half Marathon board member and liaison to the LTSF board.

To offset the costs of the in training t-shirts, discounted race fees, and subsidized race fees for students on the school lunch program, Geist Half Marathon organizers are seeking corporate or individual sponsors of $500 per team. Sponsors have their name or logo on the back of each team in training t-shirt for their team.

“This gives area businesses a great way to show their support of local kids,” added Tom Britt, President of the Geist Half Marathon. “Kids love to compete in teams. This program allows them to train together as a team, build friendships, and find other things to do after school that will pay off their entire lifetime.”

If you would like more information on the “Healthy Kids” program, visit www.GeistHalf.com.

The Lawrence Township School Foundation has partnered with SeaMaster Cruises to raffle a 5-night Caribbean cruise to raise funds for the My Community Gets Healthy program. The initiative, designed to help students and parents attain a healthy lifestyle includes a measurable fitness program and marathon training for students who may want to participate in the inaugural Geist Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk Presented by Community Health Network, May 17, 2008. Proceeds from the marathon will be used to support the My Community Gets Healthy program.

The cruise drawing winner will receive a SeaMaster Cruises gift card valued at up to $2400. The card is redeemable toward the purchase of any cruise or cruise package offered by SeaMaster Cruises. SeaMaster Cruises are Geist-based cruise planners representing all major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney and many more. Tickets are $20 and the winner of the cruise drawing will be announced in the November atGeist.com community newsletter.

Raffle tickets and information about the marathon will be available at the following events:

9/22 Anchor of Hope 5K Run/Walk
10/4 Lawrence Township School Foundation Teacher Recognition Luncheon
10/25 Lawrence Township School Foundation Ladies Fashion Show/Lunch
11/10 Geist Half Marathon Tailgate

Organizers of the Geist Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk Presented by Community Health Network today announced Geist Jewelers as a $10,000 Captain’s Sponsor of the inaugural race around Geist Reservoir on May 17th, 2008. As a part of their sponsorship, Geist Jewelers will design and create the top three medals for the Half Marathon and 5K races as well as commemorative medals for all race finishers.

“We are excited to be a part of this great community event,” said Dennis Morton, co-owner of Geist Jewelers with his wife Beth. “Our designers will come up with unique custom designed medals that we will cast right here in our store near the start line at 116th and Olio. They will definitely be something that everyone will cherish.”

In addition to the medals, Geist Jewelers will provide free engraving on the back for medalists who come by their store after the race.

“An event like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community,” said Britt. “Area businesses partners like Geist Jewelers help make our mission of promoting healthy lifestyle choices to our area children possible.”

Designed to help kids get healthy and fit, the “My Community Gets Healthy” program will be phased into Lawrence Township schools starting this fall. Other health and wellness programs will be funded in nearby Hamilton Southeastern Schools as well.

Geist Jewelers joins Bella Vita Ristorante as a $10,000 supporter of the inaugural race. Sponsors and volunteers for the event are still needed.

About the Geist Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk
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.

Interested in seeing where the inaugural Geist Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk Presented by Community Health Network will take place? We’ve mapped both the Half Marathon and 5K routes on the USATF website, just click the links below and see if we are running through your neighborhood? View maps…