LAS CRUCES, NM - Dust off your running shoes and rinse out your favorite wine glass for the inaugural Run Then Wine MarathonSeptember 20, 2014 in Las Cruces.
The 26.2 mile race begins at 6:30 a.m., with men and women competing for cash prizes (must be USATF member to collect cash prize) of $500.00 for 1st Prize, $300 for 2nd and $100 for 3rd place. The race starts and ends at the at the Lunarossa Winery & Pizzeria, located at 1321 Avenida de Mesilla.
The marathon is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association and is designated as the official 2014 New Mexico Association Marathon Championship Course. Runners will face a flat, speedy course that traverses the farmlands of the Mesilla Valley between the Organ Mountains and the Rio Grande River. The course is rated as the fastest in New Mexico, and certified as a qualifier for the 2015 Boston Marathon.
The event's focus is health and fitness, and organizers expect to draw runners from all over the Southwest. A Health and Fitness Expo with booths and vendors will be on site to provide the latest in running and sports gear, health food, and other related health/fitness services.
Mark Rojas, owner of 9Round Las Cruces Kickboxing 30 Minute Fitness Center is sponsoring the Run Then Wine Marathon. He says the marathon will attract people from all fitness levels. "Running is very popular in Las Cruces. We have beautiful weather throughout the year, and there are plenty of running trails around the city. People can run the flats of the Mesilla farmlands, or tackle the hilly terrain of our desert mountains," said Rojas." A lot of my client's cross-train and running is part of their personal training routine. This upcoming marathon has a lot of people thinking about their health and fitness. It motivates them to exercise, workout in the gym, and get outdoors to run, and walk. I encourage people to participate in some way, whether it's running in one of the events, supporting the runners, or enjoying the festivities with their families."
The event will also feature a half marathon and 5K Fun Run beginning at 7:30 a.m., and all participants can enjoy live entertainment and fun-filled activities during the day.
The marathon will also benefit the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to this organization. Representatives from various military installations in the area (Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range and Ft. Bliss and the New Mexico National Guard) will be participating or volunteering at the event.
9Round member Valeria Rincon is an avid runner and has family in the military. "I support all veterans and this is an awesome way to show support for our Wounded Warriors, my father is a Marine and this will be my first run where both of us are running together, it's going to meaningful," said Rincon. "To run for a hobby is one thing, when there is a purpose and a community behind any event, it becomes more!"
An evening award/celebration ceremony with pizza, wine and live entertainment is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Lunarossa Winery & Pizzeria. For more information visit lunarossawinery.comor call (575) 526-2484. Tickets for the evening's headliner are available for the general public, and can be purchased online at runthenwine.com.
Registration is now open with an early-bird discount available through the end of June at runthenwine.com. For a map of the course click here.
For more information contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at 575-541-2444 or cvb@lascrucescvb.org
Information from: Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau