Two-Time Reigning Champion Deena Kastor To Return To New York For MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon On April 19
Press Release
March 24, 2015
New York—Deena Kastor, the two-time reigning champion of the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon, will return to New York to defend her title on Sunday, April 19, at the 12th annual running of the event, it was announced today by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Kastor will be leading an expected 10,000 runners through the race, which takes place in Central Park.
“Deena’s return to New York for the third straight year at the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon demonstrates the empowerment this event brings to women’s running,” said Wittenberg. “Deena is an amazing athlete, wife, mother, and a role model to each person she reaches through her participation in this sport.”
Kastor, 42, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, is the event’s reigning champion and course record holder. In 2014, she crossed the line in 1:11:38, smashing the course record—which she set the year before—by nearly two minutes. With her victory and winning time, Kastor also broke the American masters (age 40+) record by 12 seconds. At the Philadelphia Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon in September, she placed third in a masters-world-record time of 1:09:36. Less than two months later, Kastor finished 11th at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, crossing the line in 2:33:18. Kastor is an Olympic medalist in the marathon and one of America’s most decorated distance runners, holding nearly a dozen U.S. open and masters road-racing records.
“I am thrilled to return to New York for the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon,” said Kastor. “This event has a rich history of empowering women, and for the third year in a row I look forward to celebrating fitness and health through running with the ladies in Central Park. For the health of it—grab your girlfriends and book your tickets for a great weekend in New York City for this race!”
The MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon is one of the largest all-women’s half-marathons in the country. The 13.1-mile race attracts women runners and walkers of all ages and is an inspirational day of fun, fitness, and female camaraderie. In celebration of Earth Day, the 2015 race will raise awareness for the importance of sustainability and the impact of climate change. This year’s Women Run the World™ program will recognize women who are making a difference in this field. Online registration is still open; runners are encouraged to apply here as soon as possible, as the event is nearing capacity.
NBC’s TODAY will serve as the media partner. Natalie Morales, TODAY News Anchor and Third-Hour Co-Host, and Erica Hill, Weekend TODAY Co-Host, will host the event. Healthfull® by Arnold/Brownberry/Oroweat®, Hoka One One, MorningStar Farms, and Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co. are Product Sponsors. CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that empowers women and girls around the world, is the Charity Partner. The MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon has also teamed up with Athletes for a Fit Planet to enhance our efforts to produce an environmentally responsible event by taking their Pledge of Sustainability.
The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, on Central Park’s West Drive near 63rd Street. For more race details, please visit here.