The lush hills and premier wine country surrounding charming downtown San Luis Obispo, CA will provide an aptly green-themed backdrop for the City’s inaugural San Luis Obispo Marathon + Half, slated for Earth Day on April 22, 2012.
Recently designated the “Happiest Place in the USA” by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, San Luis Obispo, or “SLO,” offers visiting racers a happy setting in which to experience a runners’ high: scenic views, clean air, crisp ocean breezes, and before and after-race farm-fresh wine tasting, dining, and live entertainment at the event’s three-day “SLO Life Expo.”
Founded by Get Off the Couch Potato Sports Productions LLC, with Title Sponsorship from the City of San Luis Obispo’s Tourism Business Improvement District, the inaugural event will feature a full and half-marathon benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training and a 5K race benefiting the local Special Olympics Chapter.
Honoring Earth Day, the event coordinators plan to take extra measures to ensure a “green” race environment by asking racers to participate in the “BYOB” (bring your own bottle) initiative and by using recycled paper and plastic for marketing and vendor materials.
Packet pick-up is scheduled for Friday, April 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SLO Life Expo at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. On Race Day, the SLO Life Expo will open at 7 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Each finisher receives a technical t-shirt, medal, inaugural commemorative program, as well as a “green” virtual goodie bag.
San Luis Obispo, CA hotels offer the ideal home-base for vacationing runners to experience the area’s lively downtown shopping district, endless outdoor adventures, and one-of-a-kind historic and cultural attractions such as Hearst Castle, Mission San Luis Obispo, world-class wine country, and the famous Thursday Evening Farmer’s Market.
For more information and updates on the inaugural San Luis Obispo Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, visit www.SLOMarathon.com.
Lindsey Miller
lindseyinslo
