2012 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon Announces Volkswagen As Official Automotive Partner & Sponsor Of The Volkswagen 26.2 Bike Tour

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Long Beach International City Bank Marathon & Half Marathon today announced that Volkswagen of America has signed as the Official Automotive Partner of Southern California's premier fall marathon event held Oct. 5 to 7, 2012.

Approximately 25,000 runners and cyclists are expected to participate in the full marathon, half marathon, 26.2 Bike Tour and Run Forrest Run 5K on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 along with 2,000 children taking part in The Aquarium of the Pacific Kids One-Mile Fun Run on Saturday, Oct. 6.  An estimated 50,000 people attend the two-day Health and Fitness Expo while an additional 50,000 attend the Finish Line Festival.  The event has raised and donated over $3.5 million to its official charities since 2005. For information on the Marathon events, please visit www.runlongbeach.com.

The two-year agreement with Volkswagen includes sponsorship of the Volkswagen 26.2 Bike Tour, a major interactive display in the two-day Health and Fitness Expo and a large Fan Festival at the Finish Line.  Volkswagen will also showcase their global "Think Blue" sustainability campaign, an initiative to promote eco-friendly mobility and progressive ideas for responsible action in everyday life.

"Volkswagen is proud to align with a world-class endurance event whose commitment to sustainability mirrors our own," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.  "Through this partnership, we look forward to both supporting those with a passion for active lifestyles and advancing our 'Think Blue' philosophy.  We are excited to join with Run Racing and the City of Long Beach to offer consumers unique sustainability experiences that not only showcase Volkswagen's fuel-efficient product range and innovative manufacturing practices, but also promote individual action to support eco-friendly behavior."

"We are honored and excited to have the world's leading automotive company actively involved in making Long Beach one of the premier marathon and cycling events in the nation.  Our partnership with Volkswagen reflects a shared commitment to innovation, healthy lifestyles and sustainability.  Running and cycling are the ultimate eco-friendly ways to get around and Volkswagen's 'Think Blue' campaign is right in line with the City's goals and the participants' interests," said Bob Seagren, CEO of Run Racing, the event promoter.

While part of the greater Los Angeles metro, Long Beach is the 7th largest City in California and 36th largest City in the Nation. The scenic course starts on Shoreline Drive and includes iconic locations like the Queensway Bridge, Queen Mary, Rainbow Harbor Lighthouse, Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Pacific Ocean.  It includes historic residential neighborhoods, 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, Marine Stadium, Colorado Lagoon, Blair Field and a leg through Cal State Long Beach where large groups of students cheer on the runners, then onto the finish on scenic Shoreline Drive.

The Long Beach International City Bank Marathon is an integral part of the "California Beach Cities Challenge" racing series, a unique alliance that includes the Surf City USA Marathon and the OC Marathon—all of which utilize a portion of Pacific Coast Highway.  Runners who participate in all events in the series (consecutively) are rewarded with a large medal in the shape of a surfboard depicting the symbols of each race they have completed in the series. 

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

About Run Racing
Led by Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Seagren, Run Racing specializes exclusively in the development, management and implementation of endurance, health, fitness and special events.  Run Racing events include Race on the Base held in February; the OC Marathon held in May; the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon held in October; the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K & 5K held on Thanksgiving Day and the Holiday Half Marathon held in December.  For more information please visit www.runlongbeach.com/.

SOURCE Long Beach International City Bank Marathon