Air France To Be A Partner Of New York Road Runners' First Ever France Run (8K) And Festival

New Yorkers are invited to experience French culture in Central Park

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Aug 19, 2015, 09:05 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Air France will be the lead partner of New York Road Runners' (NYRR) first-ever France Run on Saturday, August 29, 2015 in Central Park. The France Run is inspired by the dynamic French culture of running and Air France's history of providing its passengers with the unique opportunity to fuel their passion for the sport through its Flying Blue Running Club.

The 8K (approximately a five-mile distance) run will begin at 8 a.m., and will be followed by a kid's race for children ages 2-12 years old at 9:30 a.m. A festival showcasing the best of French culture will be set up throughout the event, open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The France Run is a qualifier for the TCS New York City Marathon through the NYRR 9+1 Program, but visitors don't have to run to enjoy the French festival on race day.

The France Festival will be at the Naumburg Bandshell, located mid-park between 66^th and 72^nd Streets, throughout the duration of the event for runners and visitors to enjoy. The festival will feature a variety of complimentary offerings by French vendors, including delicious refreshments like crepes, biscuits, fruit teas and fun activities to learn more about the country, culture and language. There will also be opportunities for runners to enter raffle drawings and win prizes, such as a trip to Paris, FIAF language learning course gift certificates and a 5-piece Le Creuset signature set. Runners who want to participate in the raffle may do so by removing the raffle part of their bib and putting it in a designated NYRR container onsite. Dedicated Air France tents will be set up at the festival featuring free massages for runners, a children's area with face-painting and an interactive photo booth. There will also be a tent dedicated to the Flying Blue Running Club where participants can enroll in Flying Blue for a chance to win a trip for two to the Paris Marathon on April 3, 2016.

"Customers who fly Air France have always shown a strong interest in running, which is why we have the Flying Blue Running club, and sponsor many races around the globe including Paris, Vancouver, Santiago, Milan, Rome, Venice, Malibu and Nice," said Marnix Fruitema, Senior Vice President, Air France-KLM North America. "We wanted to promote the lively spirit of a race and help create a unique experience for our US customers, so we are proud to be a part of the first-ever France Run in New York's iconic Central Park. Whether you are a runner, foodie, travel enthusiast, or Francophile, the France Run will be an interactive exhibition of French culture and a celebration of the historic relationship between France and the US - including Air France's 69 years connecting Paris and New York."

"We are excited to host our first-ever France Run," said Michael Capiraso, President and CEO, New York Road Runners. "The entire event, from the nearly five miles in Central Park, to the interactive French festival at the Bandshell with activations by Air France and their partners, will bring our diverse running community together to celebrate their health and fitness alongside French culture, while having a whole lot of fun with family and friends."

To find out more about the France Run and festival, visit bitly.com/FRANCERUN and follow #FRANCERUN.

Air France in New York
On July 1, 1946, Air France started direct flights between Paris and New York, with refueling stops in Ireland and Canada, covering the route in just under 20 hours. Today, Air France makes six trips a day between New York and Paris, with an average flight time of 7.5 hours. In 2003, Air France merged with KLM Royal Dutch to become the largest airline in the world in terms of operating revenues, and is recognized in the industry today as a leader in sustainable development.

About Flying Blue Running
Created in 2011, Air France's Flying Blue Running club set out to take its passengers' passion for running to the next level. Flying Blue members can join the free Flying Blue Running club to access a variety of benefits, including: