Ryan Hall Joins Nissan's Innovative Line-Up At ING New York City Marathon 2011

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall will share insights with runners to take performance to the next level at the ING New York City Marathon 2011 as part of the Innovation for Endurance program with Rodale, Inc and Nissan North America. Official automotive partner for the second year, Nissan will also provide the official vehicles on the course, display vehicles throughout the event and have the new 100% electric Nissan LEAF as pace vehicle for the marathon, Sunday, November 6.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO )

Hall, the fastest American marathoner on the road today, achieving 2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon in April, will not compete but will have prominent involvement in the ING New York City Marathon 2011. In addition to training videos and running tips he will share leading up to the event on the Innovation for Endurance Facebook page, he will greet runners at the Innovation for Endurance display at the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on November 4 from 1-2pm, and on November 5 from 12-1pm.

Named "World Car of the Year" at the New York International Auto Show in April, the Nissan LEAF is the first and only 100-percent electric, zero-emission vehicle available to the mass market. On display at the Health and Fitness Expo from November 3-5, the electric vehicle will serve as pace car for the second year in a row.

In addition, the Nissan LEAF will be on a "Breathe Easy Tour" of New York City from October 24- Nov.5, making stops at various high-traffic locations including Times Square, Battery Park and the New York City Marathon finish line. Individuals interested in learning about the LEAF and picking up some free merchandise from event sponsors such as Poland Spring, ING, PowerBar, Emerald Nuts, Unilever and NYRR that will be distributed at each stop can keep track of the Nissan LEAF Breathe Easy Tour on Twitter. At each stop consumers can enter a sweepstakes to win a new LEAF.  

"The comradery, excitement and inspiration around ING New York City Marathon provide a receptive backdrop for Nissan to share about our innovation," said Jon Brancheau, Vice President, Marketing for Nissan North America. "We are glad to be back as exclusive automotive sponsor to showcase the all-electric LEAF at the world's most high-profile marathon event."

The Innovation for Endurance program by Nissan and Rodale Inc. connects with active lifestyle enthusiasts at a series of high-profile running and cycling events nationwide. Centered on a Facebook page, the program utilizes five healthy living enthusiasts and athletes including actor Ryan Reynolds, cyclists Chris Carmichael and Levi Leipheimer, yoga instructor and author Tara Stiles and Ryan Hall.

Hall will sign autographs, pose for photos and offer "insider" training tips to running enthusiasts during his appearances at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.  Runners are invited to the interactive display by Nissan at the ING New York City Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, where they can design a t-shirt, participate in a bike challenge, and check out the 100% electric Nissan LEAF and enter to win one. The Innovation for Endurance program connects Nissan LEAF with a series of high-profile running and cycling events nationwide. The program aims to help athletes take their performance to a new level through health and fitness "Innovators" who offer state-of-the-art tips on the "Innovation for Endurance" Facebook page.  

To learn more about the Innovation for Endurance program, stay up to-date on fitness tips and check out other upcoming events, visit www.facebook.com/InnovationforEndurance.

About Nissan North America

In the Americas, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

About Rodale Inc.

Rodale is a global media company with a heritage, mission, and authority dedicated to the health and wellness of the individual, community, and planet. Rodale reaches more than 70 million people around the world through multiple distribution channels, including magazines, books, online, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer, and video. The company publishes some of the best-known health and wellness lifestyle magazines, including Men's Health, Prevention, Women's Health, Runner's World, Bicycling, Mountain Bike, Running Times, and Organic Gardening, and is the largest independent book publisher in the United States, with a collection of bestselling titles, including Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, and Flat Belly Diet!. To learn more about Rodale, visit www.rodaleinc.com.

New York Road Runners

Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners is dedicated to advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and meeting our community's needs. Our goal is to use the expertise acquired in our 53-year history to empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives through participation in our races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other events draw more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York City Marathon, NYRR's premier event, is the largest and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting the world's top professional runners every year and raising $30.8 million for charity in 2010. NYRR's running-based youth programs, which currently serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and community centers, promote children's health and fitness, character development, and personal achievement in underserved communities. For more information, visit nyrr.org.

The ING New York City Marathon

The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing some 140,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the $650,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and a worldwide broadcast reach of 330 million. As any one of the more than 875,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information, visit www.ingnycmarathon.org.

SOURCE Nissan North America, Inc.