The best place for runners and the media to get updated news about the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, including traffic information and race day parking, is at www.richmondmarathon.com.

Two Dozen Affected Individuals Scheduled to Participate in the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and Ntelos 8K
In their first marathon, double lung recipient Len Geiger will run the SunTrust Richmond Marathon on November 13 with donor father Kevin Shroyer. Len's donor was Kevin's daughter, 14- year-old Korrine Shroyer, who died in a tragic accident in May 2002. This is just one of the many touching stories involving race participants whose lives have been touched by donation and transplantation. Donate Life, the official event beneficiary, is a partnership of the non-profit agencies UNOS and LifeNet, working to increase organ and tissue donation. Among the athletes interested in sharing their stories:

The Circle of Life
Len Geiger, 45, and Kevin Shroyer, 44, have a unique bond. After Kevin's daughter, Korrine, died in 2002, her lungs were transplanted into Len who was desperately waiting for a lung transplant in order to survive. Len and Kevin met for the first time in 2003. Their friendship quickly developed and they ran the NTELOS 8k in November 2003 in honor of Korrine's memory. "I think the thing that made the biggest impact on me was when he (Len) took a deep breath in and breathed back out, and it struck me that I am hearing him breathe with my daughter's lungs," said Shroyer. They will return to Richmond on November 13 to run the SunTrust Richmond Marathon together in support of organ and tissue donation and the gift of life. It will be the first marathon for both of them.

A Treasured Gift
Kala Dawson, 27, recently won two gold medals at the U.S. Transplant Games and celebrated his one-year anniversary of his kidney transplant. He will run the NTELOS 8k with twenty members of the Donate Life Team. During Kala's senior year on the basketball team at Norfolk State University, tests revealed he had renal disease. After three years of demanding dialysis and waiting on the list for a kidney, he finally received his second chance at life. "My life now has endless possibilities," says Dawson, "It's awesome." Kala is passionate about educating others about the gift of life and frequently shares the message with kids at the Boys and Girls Club, where he teaches math and mentors troubled youth.

A New Life
Born with cystic fibrosis, Donnie Green, 31, received a double lung transplant at UVA Medical Center in April 2002. "I wouldn't be alive today had he (my donor) not been so considerate." Donnie ran his first sanctioned race last year at the NTELOS 8k and is looking forward to running along side other recipients and donor families again as part of the Donate Life Team. Donnie, a rescue squad volunteer says, "I have had opportunities to do things I could never do before my surgery. I can run for miles without getting short of breath - for once my legs get tired before my lungs do."

A Transplant Team
Stephen Levine, 30, is running the NTELOS 8k for the second year with one of his transplant doctors - Dr. Mark Robbins, the medical director of lung transplant services at UVA Medical Center. Stephen had cystic fibrosis and received a life-saving double lung transplant in 2002. He competed in the World Transplant Games in France in 2003 and won a bronze medal in swimming. Last year at the NTELOS 8k finish line, Stephen gave Dr. Robbins a hug of appreciation and exclaimed emotionally, "I have never run five straight miles before. I owe it all to my donor."

A Heart of Gold
In 1987 Sam Stickley, 45, was burned over 30% of his body and then developed heart problems a few years later. Sam was barely able to function when he finally received a heart transplant at UVA Medical Center on April 27, 1991. The transplant saved his life, and he says he has been in "perfect health for 13 years" now. He has competed in the U.S. Transplant Games six times in numerous events including track and field, basketball, and volleyball. In June, Sam and Kala won a good medal in basketball as part of Team Virginias. Sam believes these Richmond road races and the transplant games help raise awareness about the need for organs and "provide inspiration for those fighting for their lives." He is running the NTELOS 8k.

Record SunTrust Richmond Marathon Field Continues to Grow
The SunTrust Richmond Marathon continues to register a record number of participants in its 27-year history. As of November 2, over 3,800 runners had registered for the marathon, shattering last year's record total of 3,595. With one and a half weeks left to register, a total field of over 4,100 is expected by race day on Saturday, November 13. This is the sixth consecutive year that the marathon has set a new entry record. The marathon's companion race, the NTELOS 8k, is on pace to match last year's record field of just over 4,000 participants.

Online entries for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, NTELOS 8k and Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will be accepted at www.richmondmarathon.com up until Thursday night, Nov. 11. After that, people can sign up in person at the Race Expo at the Omni Richmond Hotel on Friday, November 12 from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. There is no Race Day registration.

Spectator Party Zones
Friends or relatives wanting to spectate along the course will want to visit one of the special SunTrust/NBC 12 Party Zones. Each location will feature music, refreshments and an on-air personality. These Party Zones will serve as a hub for spectators to show their support and enthusiasm.
Party Zones will be located at:
1. Starbucks at River Road Shopping Center Party (Mile 7)
2. CVS on Forest Hill Avenue (Mile 13)
3. Buzz & Ned's BBQ on The Boulevard (Mile 19.5)
Detailed driving directions between Party Zones, aimed at avoiding road closures and traffic backups are available on the race website.

New Course for the Childrens Run
The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run will feature a new, longer course in 2004. The 1-mile run starts at 9th & Main Streets, heads west to 2nd Street, south to Cary Street and then east to the finish line that it shares with the marathon and 8k at 10th & Cary Streets.

The event is open to kids ages 6 through 12 and registration is available at www.richmondmarathon.com for $15. Many participants will be using the race to complete the final leg of their 26-mile "Kids Marathon" as part of the Sports Backers' Fit For Life running program. The program, which was launched in September and boasts over 3,700 participants, is offered through local schools and community organizations and strives to introduce elementary and middle school-aged participants to the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.

2004 SunTrust Richmond Marathon & NTELOS 8k Schedule

Friday, November 12
11 am - 9 pm      	Health & Fitness Expo, Packet pick-up and walk-up
 registration at The Omni Hotel
11:30 am - 3 pm 	Bus tours of marathon course 
4:30 pm 	        "How to Run Your Best Marathon" seminar with Bart Yasso
 of Runner's World at Expo
6 - 8 pm	        Pasta Dinner at the Omni Hotel



Saturday, November 13
6 - 8:30 am	        Packet pick-up
8:00 am             	Marathon start (7th & Broad Streets)
8:15 am          	Kids Run Start (9th & Main Streets)
8:45 am         	8k start (9th & Broad Streets)
9 am - 2 pm         	Finish Line Festival
11:00 am	        8k awards ceremony for overall and masters winners
12 pm           	Marathon awards ceremony for overall and masters winners