Registration Opens for September’s Lewis & Clark Marathon and Half Marathon

By Kristen Murphy
St. Charles—On Sunday, Sept. 19, participants in the 8th Annual Lewis & Clark Marathon will explore territory on both sides of the Missouri River. The event, hosted by Fleet Feet Sports, includes a marathon and half marathon. Both race courses start at Riverport’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, cross over the Missouri River via the Discovery Bridge, and finish at the historic Lewis & Clark campsite in St. Charles’ Frontier Park. Those running or walking the full marathon will leave the roads at the halfway mark and complete their journey on the Katy Trail, a converted railway that runs along the Missouri River’s bank.
In 2009, the race directors are focusing on making the event easier for the predicted 5,000 participants. First, the event start has been moved back by 30 minutes (to 7:15 a.m.) and the start area has been completely redesigned so that the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater team can efficiently manage parking using the same plan used for sold-out concerts. Second, packet pickup will be offered throughout St. Louis at the Fleet Feet Sports stores in Chesterfield, Fenton and St. Charles. A “mail my packet” option has been added, as well.

In a nod to last year’s untimely arrival of Hurricane Ike, which caused the race to be shortened to 10 miles, the race directors are offering “Hurricane Insurance” for the 2009 event. If a National Weather Service—named storm results in a shortening or cancellation of the race, all participants will receive a full refund.

Fleet Feet Sports and the Lewis & Clark Marathon and Half Marathon are proud supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the St. Charles Humane Society. Both organizations will receive a portion of the event’s proceeds.
Fleet Feet sports opened in St. Louis in 1993. Retail stores in Chesterfield, St. Charles and Fenton specialize in providing runners, walkers and multisport athletes in the St. Louis area with shoes, apparel and accessories that meet their specific needs. Their event management division is involved in more than 50 running and walking events each year.