The ING Georgia Marathon has been named the 2009 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Southern Region Marathon Championship. This designation casts a spotlight on outstanding road races across the country and awards top runners in three categories: open male/female, masters male/female (40 years and older), and grandmaster male/female (50 years and older). The region designation covers 11 southern states and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

"It's been a goal to have RRCA recognize our race as the Southern Region Marathon Championship. We're honored, that in only our third year, RRCA has selected the ING Georgia Marathon as the region's marathon championship race," said Victoria Seahorn, race director of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. "It's a tribute to the race team that builds a safe, fun and memorable race on a certified course. It's a tribute to the sponsors and the community that support the race. And, it's a tribute to the marathoners themselves, who astounded us last year with a 98 percent completion rate on this course."

The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, which starts and finishes at historic Centennial Olympic Park, will run on Sunday, March 29, 2009. Registration for the 2009 race is now open online and the race is on track for another sell out at 15,000 participants. Of the total field, about 40 percent will run the full marathon course. For this race, all marathoners are automatically eligible for the RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship awards.

"The goal of the RRCA Championship Events is to help the races selected to recruit top performing runners, attract sponsors, improve civic and media support, and promote fitness through running" said Ken Bendy, RRCA's Southern Region Director. "We encourage marathoners from across the Southeast and the country to register now for the 2009 ING Georgia Marathon and participate in RRCA's Southern Region Marathon Championships."

The RRCA designation is another accolade for one of America's most popular and beautiful springtime races. In 2008 the ING Georgia Marathon was awarded by RRCA the designation of State Marathon Championship. The 2007 inaugural marathon and half marathon earned its way to the record books: According to Running USA, the 2007 race was the second largest inaugural combo running event of all time. The combined inaugural event boasted a completion rate of nearly 97 percent. It was also voted "Best New Event" by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.

RRCA Regional Championship races are open to all and RRCA club membership is not mandatory although runners are encouraged to join a local running club. RRCA is the oldest and largest grassroots distance running organization in the country. The organization annually designates national, regional, and state championships in standard distances of 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon, and marathon. Since 1958, RRCA has awarded championships for the state, regional and national levels through a competitive bidding process.

About the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

The 2009 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, to be held on Sunday, March 29, is Georgia's picturesque, springtime, neighborhood-based distance combo event. Beginning at Centennial Olympic Park, it will travel through 26.2 miles (and 13.1 miles for the half marathon) of Metro Atlanta area's most interesting and historic areas including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Midtown, Downtown and the city of Decatur. Along the way it will pass landmarks including the King Center, and Carter Center, before returning to Centennial Olympic Park for the finish. A limit of 15,000 registrations will be accepted for the 2009 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. The event is managed by US Road Sports of Georgia and owned by its parent company, US Road Sports & Entertainment Group. More information is available at ING Georgia Marathon