Runner's World and Blue Ridge Outdoors Recognize Virginia Beach as a Premier Destination for Half-Marathons.

Virginia Beach has proven to be a favorite destination for runners to lace up and strive for the finish line, while running parallel with one of the East Coast's most beautiful beaches. Home to several nationally and internationally renowned marathons, half marathons, and other racing events - including the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Shamrock Marathon, and Neptune Festival Sandman Triathlon - the East Coast resort city was recently applauded for its appeal as a premier destination for marathon enthusiasts.

In a recent online survey conducted by Runner's World magazine, Virginia Beach's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon was named the 5th favorite half marathon in the country. The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon also received praise from Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine as #2 in the Top 10 Half Marathons in the United States. In addition, Virginia Beach's Shamrock Marathon was named by Blue Ridge Outdoors as the #9 in the Top 10 Marathons. The magazine also named Neptune Festival Sandman Triathlon as the Most Favorite Triathlon and #1 in the Top 10 Triathlons.

Approximately 20,000 runners and walkers from around the world gather to test their strength and endurance at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon held annually Labor Day weekend. The race, known as a premier athletic competition, consists of a 13.1-mile oceanfront course. The Shamrock Marathon takes runners through the resort area of Virginia Beach and continues through Fort Story to the Cape Henry Lighthouse. The event is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The annual Neptune Festival Sandman Triathlon in September tests the endurance of athletes in a grueling test of physical conditioning that includes a 1K (.62 mile) open ocean swim, 14-mile bike ride, and 5K (3.1-mile) run. The event hosts more than 700 participants and thousands of spectators each year.

Virginia Beach is gaining national attention recently for its overall healthy lifestyle. Other athletic accolades that Virginia Beach received include:

Men's Fitness magazine listed Virginia Beach as the 3 rd Fittest City in the United States for 2006. (January 2006)

The American Podiatric Medical Association and Prevention magazine named Virginia Beach as one of the 10 Best Walking Cities in America for 2006. Judging criteria included such factors as percent of population that walk for exercise, total square miles of parks, miles of trails, points of interest per square mile, percent of the population that golf, pet ownership and sports participation. (May 2006)

Fit Pregnancy magazine ranked Virginia Beach as the Most Stroller-Friendly City in the country, and one of the Best Cities to Have a Baby (Virginia Beach was ranked #30.)

Reader's Digest named Virginia Beach one of the "Best Seaside Strolls" in America. Virginia Beach is a wonderland for those who desire physical adventures. More than 18,600 acres of state parks and wildlife refuges, more than 121 navigable miles of waterways and 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches give visitors a variety of landscapes for exploring. Whether it is walking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, or camping, Virginia Beach entices visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.

Virginia Beach entices visitors to "Live the Life" every season of the year! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car and within a day's drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit the Web site for online trip planning and more information about Virginia Beach's new $202.5 million convention center.