Courtesy: event press release

Now in its 14th year and recognized as the fastest marathon course in the world by the Association of Road Race Statisticians (ARRS), the Freescale Marathon (formerly called the Motorola Marathon) is set for Sunday morning, February 13, 2005.

The USATF certified (TX03022JF) 2005 course will mirror the lightning-fast race route that has been used since 2001 and resulted in 7 new event records in the past 4 years. With a 400 foot net drop over a gently-rolling 98% asphalt roadway, the Freescale Marathon course is responsible for more qualifiers to the 2004 Boston Marathon than any other marathon in Texas.

The Association of Road Race Statisticians considers the Freescale Marathon course to have the greatest "race-time bias" [RTB] of any marathon in the world. The RTB is an "objective way to determine which marathon (course) is the fastest", according to ARRS statistician Ken Young. Using a formula that controls for factors such as money incentives and weather, runners competing in the Freescale Marathon may enjoy as much as a minute and a half advantage on this course.

In addition to the speed of the course, runner supports such as water and PowerAde(R) stations at every mile, port-o-lets at every mile and over 25 bands along the way provide fuel and motivation for exceptional performances. With an 8-Hour course time-limit, the Freescale Marathon is appealing to the racer, the runner, the jogger and the "urban trekker".

The Freescale Marathon weekend kicks off on Friday, February 11 with the two-day Freescale Health & Fitness Expo and packet pick-up at the Palmer Events Center in downtown Austin. International running celebrities Jeff Galloway and Dick Beardsley will speak at the Expo. There will be close to 90 exhibitors and plenty of entertainment for the entire family.

A Parade of Nations from the Texas State Capitol to the marathon finish-line will commence on Saturday morning, February 12. The parade will celebrate participation in the marathon by athletes from nearly 30 countries. A pre-race dinner is planned for Saturday evening featuring a varied menu for runners wanting to fuel up before the race.

After the marathon, a post-race party is planned in the atrium of the Hyatt Hotel on Town Lake. The race winners will be introduced and a drawing for two airline tickets on American Airlines will be held.

Rounding out the weekend is the 2nd Annual Hill Country Race Director's Conference scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13. This conference provides an opportunity for persons involved in race organizing and management to network and learn about the latest trends and ideas in the road running industry.

For more information on the Freescale Marathon or the Hill Country Race Director's Conference, contact John Conley, 420 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704, visit www.freescaleaustinmarathon.com or call (512) 478-4265 or toll-free at (877) 601-6686.