New ING U.S. Social Media Program Aims to Inspire ING New York City Marathon Runners

NEW YORK, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ING U.S., title sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon, has invited five running and social media enthusiasts to share their personal stories and training tips as they prepare for the big race, which takes place on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Their posts will be featured on ING Runner's Nation, an online interactive forum developed by ING U.S. for running enthusiasts everywhere. 

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(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120726/MM46407 )

The four hosts and one inspirational coach will serve as the faces and voices for the entire "ING Class of 2012," which represents all registered runners in this year's ING New York City Marathon. With varied backgrounds and running experiences, each host will document their own training journey through video diaries and social media updates on the ING Runner's Nation Facebook page, YouTube page and Twitter channel. They will also share ideas on a variety of topics including training, nutrition and hydration, injury prevention, gear and apparel, and motivation. Their updates will encourage all members of the ING Runner's Nation audience to share their thoughts and experiences, thus enhancing the marathon experience for all.

"This program represents social media at its best, and the potential power and creativity that can be harnessed to unite thousands of people from across the globe in a shared experience," said Ann Glover, chief marketing officer at ING U.S. "The ING New York City Marathon is already known as the 'World's Race.' We hope these 'ING Class of 2012' members and their efforts through ING Runner's Nation can further expand the magic and allure of this great event." 

The "ING Class of 2012" includes:

Pat Croce (Philadelphia)
After spending years training professional athletes and pioneering the field of sports medicine, Croce built a physical therapy/fitness empire and took the struggling Philadelphia 76ers all the way to the NBA finals. Through his books, media appearances and speaking engagements, he's motivated tens of thousands of people around the world. Croce delivers a series of motivational quick hits leading up to the marathon. 

David DeNeire (Grimsby, Ontario, Canada)
At 6'2" and 235 lbs, DeNeire is a big guy. In fact, he calls himself a Clydesdale. While he started running to become fit, he believes that living the marathon lifestyle involves enjoying the entire experience, not just shaving seconds off his finish times. In 2011, he ran 28 races, and he hopes to almost double that number in 2012. When he's not running or writing a popular blog (www.runlikeaclydesdale.com) for Clydesdale runners, DeNeire helps people purchase their dream home as a mortgage broker.

Steve Mackel (South Pasadena, Calif.)
Running allows all athletes to set and accomplish their own personal goals, which means something different to all runners. Steve Mackel is an experienced runner and elite coach, who runs marathons all over the world while training athletes of every skill level. His training philosophy has been greatly influenced by the body-mind-spirit connection. His coaching/training philosophy is "Train Smart! Not Hard!"

Monica Olivas (Lake Forest, Calif.)
Foodie and personal trainer Monica Olivas is a running — and eating — fanatic. On her popular online site RunEatRepeat.com, she tries to balance her love for food and her love for running. Like many, she started running to control her weight and ended up becoming an avid marathoner.

Jennifer Turner (New York City)
After struggling with weight, this Chicago native embraced fitness in business school and developed a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle and good health. She has gone on to compete in marathons and triathlons and earned certification as a Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant. In addition to her life as a busy television executive, she is a self-proclaimed "fitness activator," inspiring regular people to be active. Not originally an athlete, she is passionate about running and helping new runners with gear, training and techniques to prepare for and enjoy a great race.

Press inquiries:
Phil Margolis 
ING U.S.  
Office: (860) 580-2676 | Cell: (860) 805-7642 
Twitter: @ING_US_PR 
[email protected]        

About ING

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, insurance and investment management operations of Dutch-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING). In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 13 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://ing.us.

About the ING New York City Marathon

NYRR's premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners racing four laps of Central Park. Now, almost 50,000 participants from all over the globe flock to New York City every November for an adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators and a TV audience of 330 million.

SOURCE ING U.S.