New name, benefiting charity to debut for next year’s race  

COLUMBUS, Ohio – OhioHealth and M3S Sports announced today that OhioHealth has signed on to become the title sponsor for the Capital City Half Marathon, one of central Ohio’s largest running and walking events. M3S Sports announced OhioHealth’s sponsorship August 14 at The Morning Sports Report, an annual breakfast held by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

The sponsorship takes effect immediately, with the event now known as the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon. A new event logo was also unveiled. More than 15,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate when the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon is held on May 2, 2015, in downtown Columbus. A record 14,000 runners and walkers and more than 35,000 spectators took part in this year’s event. The race caps off a three-day event that includes two expo days.

 “This is an exciting opportunity for OhioHealth to partner with a premier road race that shares our mission to improve the health of the community,” said Laura McCoy, vice president of Marketing and Communications, OhioHealth. “The Capital City Half Marathon is about more than running; it’s about practicing a healthy lifestyle full of physical activity, good nutrition and fun.”

The agreement elevates OhioHealth’s previous sponsorship of the half marathon and names the OhioHealth Foundation as the event’s “Official Benefiting Charity.”

”We’re excited that some proceeds from next year’s race will support neuroscience programs and services,” said Karen Morrison, president of the OhioHealth Foundation. “This affiliation makes it possible for patients with a variety of neurological conditions to receive high-quality, compassionate care through expanded patient programming.”

M3S Sports, which produces the Capital City Half Marathon, and OhioHealth have been partners since 2012. M3S Sports produces two other OhioHealth races: the OhioHealth Emerald City Half & Quarter Miler at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital in August and the First on the First 5K in Westerville on New Year’s Day.

“The Capital City Half Marathon has always been a celebration of the healthy active lifestyle and we couldn’t ask for a better partner than OhioHealth,” said race director David Babner, president of M3S Sports.  “This takes our partnership to the next level.  OhioHealth is a remarkable community leader in health and wellness, and we are proud to have them as our title partner.”

Babner sees OhioHealth’s involvement as a chance to expand access to race-related wellness tips and training. “They have a lot of expertise they can deliver to our running and walking communities,” he said.

The half marathon is the fastest growing standard distance race among U.S. road racers, according to Running USA, an industry trade group. Nearly two million people finished half marathons in 2013, compared to 303,000 in 1990.

The OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon will host the 2016 and 2017 Men’s and Women’s USA Half Marathon National Championships. “The eyes of the running word will be on Columbus, and we are proud that OhioHealth will be a big part of that with the rest of Columbus,” McCoy said.

The Capital City Half Marathon was named the “Best Half Marathon in Ohio” in January 2013 by DailyBurn, a national health and fitness company that provides workout and nutrition information to more than 2.5 million members.