Blue Ridge Marathon coming to Roanoke

Runners take your mark, and get set for a marathon to come to Roanoke.

6th District Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R) announced the first Blue Ridge Marathon at a news conference Wednesday morning.  The race is scheduled for April 24, 2010.

The marathon will start and end in Downtown Roanoke, but most of the 26.2 mile course will be run on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The route will include a difficult trek up Roanoke Mountain.

Congressman Goodlatte believes the event will help promote both the Parkway itself, as well as the appeal of the Roanoke Valley to visiting marathoners.

Goodlatte said that assisting the marathon organizers in their request to have the marathon course cover part of the Parkway was a bipartisan effort.  Support came from 9th District Congressmen Rick Boucher (D), 5th District Tom Perriello (D), as well as North Carlina Congressmen Virginia Foxx (R), Patrick McHenry (R), and Heath Shuler (D).

All proceeds from the marathon will benefit the group “Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.“