Where will you run your next marathon ?

GO! St. Louis Marathon is a marathon with a purpose. Jeff Trammel, the Director of Marketing & Communications of the GO! St Louis organization is our guest on the blog this week.

GO! St. Louis is a non-profit organization which encourages individuals and families in the region to adopt a healthy lifestyle by getting fit, staying active, and eating a nutritional diet year round. The organization accomplishes this through school based programming, outreach to senior/retirement centers, community collaborations and the creation of new and unique fitness opportunities. The GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is the organization’s signature event.

Hello, on April 19st 2009, you’ll be organizing the GO! St. Louis Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The GO! St. Louis Marathon starts and finishes in the historic St. Louis downtown area. St. Louis, known as the Gateway to the West is a city rich in history, which is evident in the architecture rich buildings along the course.
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One of the first interviews I wrote on this blog was with Sandi Heal for the Royal Victoria Marathon.

We’re comming back on the Vancouver Island in British Colombia - Canada to learn a little more about the Edge to Edge Marathon. Danielle Stothers kindly accepted to answer my questions.

Danielle is working for the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce as the Special Events Coordinator focusing primarily on the Edge to Edge Marathon. She arrived in Ucluelet 3 years ago, coming from Ontario and fell in love with the scenery and local charm of the area. She is also passionate about the outdoors, fitness and community.

Hello, on June 14th 2009, you’ll be organizing the Edge to Edge Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The Edge to Edge Marathon is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, BC.

The marathon starts in the small town of Tofino and ends in the small town of Ucluelet. A perfect 42.2 km apart from each other through the beautiful Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

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Clark Zealand will be our guide this week to present the Terrapin Mountain Marathon. And when talking about endurance running, Clark is an expert. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada and is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also has the fifth fastest time in Canadian ultra-marathon history for a 100 mile trail race in 15:03.

Hello, on March 29th, you’ll be organizing the Terrapin Mountain Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The race is held in Sedalia, Virginia USA about 15 minutes from Bedford, Virginia.
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Winter seems to be a good time season to run a marathon in Arizona. I recently receved a mail from Debra Undhjem informing me that next year, a new marathon would be organized in Arizona. Debra, the race director of the new IMS Arizona Marathon, answered my usual 9 questions to present her new race.

Photo by courtesy of j.arsenault

Hello, on February 15th, you’ll be organizing the first edition of the first IMS Arizona Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The IMS Arizona Marathon (IMS stands for Integrated Medical Services) is held in Arizona. It will run through 4 west valley cities  (ie. cities just to the West of Phoenix, AZ). The Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is approximately 15 minutes away.

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This week, we will visit Italy. Simone Lamacchi, the organizer of the Maratona Internazionale del Custoza has accepted to answer my usual 9 questions to present the race he has the charge of.

Simone and his wife

1) Hello Simone, on May 10th 2009 you’ll be organizing the Maratona Internazionale del Custoza. Can you tell us where it is located?
The Maratona Internazionale del Custoza will take place in Sommacampagna (near de Verona in Italy). The start and the finish line are located in the city and the race runs through the Morniche hills.

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Maxime Breton, a member of the Pays Viganais Endurance Nature association has accepted to answer my questions to present the Marathonion. His marathon association whose members are trail and raid runners decided to organize a mountain marathon in the valleys of the Cévennes (in southern France).

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Theo Peters, accepted to answer my 9 questions to present the Spark Spijkenisse Marathon.
Theo is fifty and has been living in Spijkenisse since 1983. He ran the Spark Marathon Spijkenisse in 2006 and 2007. And now has joined the organisation.

1) Hello Theo, on December 7th, you’ll be organizing the Spark Marathon Spijkenisse. Can you tell us where it is located?
The marathon is located in the city Spijkenisse, 12 km west of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The start and finish are at the athletics court of Spark.
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Julien Hatton accepted to answer my few questions about the Laguna Phuket International Marathon a few days ago. Julien is a member of the Go Adventure Asia team who is organizing the marathon.

1) Hello Julien, on June 15th, you’ll be organizing the Laguna Phuket International Marathon. The marathon will celebrate it’s 3rd anniversary this year. Why was it created in the first place? How has it evolved the past 3 years ?
This project came up a few years ago from Go Adventure Asia which was approaching Phuket island resort owners to encourage them to be involved in a marathon. Actually the Phuket Triathlon has known a steady success in the past years and is now considered as Southeast Asia’s premier triathlon event, but a marathon was missing.

The marathon has been established and welcomed by Laguna Phuket a bit after the Tsunami disaster as en event to revive its famous tourist destination attractiveness and attract a new target of customers via sports tourism.
Celebrating its 3rd anniversary, the Laguna Phuket International Marathon is increasing and growing up through the years, from about 2 000 participants in the first edition to over 3 000 runners the year after, this event is really getting on a good track after this successful start. For this next edition, we expect more than 4,500 participants including 2,000 international runners from more than 45 countries.
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The Lewis & Clark Marathon is the brainchild of David and Debby Spetnagel.
David Spetnagel was a life-long runner who worked as an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center and McDonnell Douglas. David was a 400/800m meter specialist in high school and at the University of Michigan. After moving to St. Louis, David coached at St. Charles West High School and Lindenwood University and has continued to participate in and direct local races. A former President of the St. Louis Track Club and the St. Charles Runners Club, David is now a Senior Writer for Running Times Magazine, responsible for all of the magazine’s road shoe reviews.
Debby Spetnagel is a former Mallinkrodt CPA who began running after meeting David in college. She gravitated towards the longer distances and has run over twenty marathons and ultramarathons, including the Boston Marathon. Debby has coached charity marathon teams for the Arthritis Foundation and The Wellness Community. She can also be found in the field of many local triathlons.

 Hello David, on September 14th, you’ll be organizing the Lewis & Clark Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?
The FLEET FEET SPORTS Lewis & Clark Marathon is located in the Midwest region of the United States. More specifically in St. Charles, Missouri – finishing at the very campsite where the Lewis and Clark Expedition began their epic journey to explore the Missouri River Valley and western territories.
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Back to France where I did my first interview with Nicole Rouvet for the inception of the marathon de Clermont-Ferrand. We are heading to Villeneuve lez Avignon, in Provence where the Marathon des vendanges (Vintage marathon) is organized. Alain Castel, head of communications for the marathon has accepted to answer a few questions to present the race.

Hello, on September 28th, you’ll be organizing the 12th edition of the Marathon des vendanges. Can you tell us where it is located?
The marathon is ran around Villeneuve lez Avignon in Provence. The race starts at Saze, continues to Rochefort du Gard, Pujaut, Les Angles and finishes in Villeneuve lez Avignon at the Laune Stadium.

Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances?
With this marathon, we offer a half marathon (by team of two) and a 4*10 km relay. Our goal is to open up this competition to as many runners as possible.

What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?
The route of the marathon wanders through villages and vineyards.

How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?
We expect 65 marathoners, 30 to 40 teams for the half marathon and 60 to 80 teams for the relay.

At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?
In the past year, weather conditions have varied from magnificent sun to storm. It is very difficult to forecast the weather. !

Have you planned festivities around the marathon?
One the race is over, a big free pasta party is offered to the runners. Friends and family can join with a small fee of 3 euros.

The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Villeneuve lez Avignon before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?
I encourage runners to visit Avignon after the race. It is only 3 kilometers away from the stadium. The small villages in the neighbourhood are also worth visiting.

In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Marathon des vendanges?
This race if very well organized (safety is managed by medical doctors, red cross, firemen and security bikers). Volunteers are placed at all the 93 crossroads to manage the traffic and the for the bigger ones, the local police take charge.

After the finish line, physical therapist provide massages.

The route is very varied (vineyards, trails, roads, village crossing …)

Thank you very much Alain

More information :

• Official Website of the marathon des vendanges
• Marathon des vendanges on 42k195.com
• Book a hotel room in Avignon