| Besides the Olympic Games and the World Cup in | | | | Secondly, you have all the functional staff surrounding |
| Soccer, there is no more internationally branded | | | | the Marathon working on arrangements and |
| sports event than the traditional Marathon. This is an | | | | coordination. Official staff counts in the thousands |
| excellent, untapped opportunity for marketers and | | | | and many of the officials are media spokes people |
| brand builders. | | | | who will be getting face time with film cameras and |
| At 42.195 kilometers, or 26 miles and 385 yards, the | | | | journalists. |
| Marathon is usually run as a road race and was born | | | | Thirdly, Marathons are major tourist and crowd |
| as a commemoration of a Greek Soldier who ran | | | | magnets. For some of the larger Marathons, |
| with a message from the Battle of Marathon to | | | | spectator crowds count in the hundreds of |
| Athens. The first marathon in modern time occurred | | | | thousands lining up along the streets and taking part |
| in 1896 at Olympics and today over 500 Marathons | | | | of the festivities. There is a high level of street |
| are arranged around the world. | | | | vendor culture surrounding a Marathon and often |
| Five of the most prestigious races in the Marathon | | | | times merchandise is being sold to commemorate the |
| world are Boston, New York City, Chicago, London | | | | event with T-shirts such as "I was there, Chicago |
| and Berlin. These races attract hundreds of | | | | 2006 Marathon". |
| thousands of people and are media staples running up | | | | Besides from T-shirt the most important aspect of a |
| significant news coverage, media coverage, footage | | | | Marathon is staying hydrated. In the average |
| and print for weeks at a time. Marathons are often | | | | Marathon time of 4 hours, 32 minutes and 8 seconds |
| isolated events from city to city, so a local | | | | runners will have to replenish their water supply |
| coordination of sponsorships and marketing efforts is | | | | several times to be able to finish the race. Water |
| often possible. | | | | stations are placed throughout the Marathon route |
| Most participants of a Marathon race are not running | | | | with Water Bottles. While the drinking of water from |
| to win, but running for the accomplishment. The | | | | Water bottles has to be leveled out with intake of |
| strategy is often to run from water stop to water | | | | salt to prevent hyponatremia, a Marathon runner will |
| stop where water bottles are available. | | | | drink about 4-6 ounces of liquid every 20-3o minutes |
| The brand building opportunities surrounding a | | | | of the race. |
| Marathon are many. Firstly, you have the runners | | | | Often times, the water stations are also covered by |
| themselves, who are in fact walking, jogging or | | | | media and a large on watching crowd so the stations |
| running as billboards and could be wearing your brand | | | | are ideal for promotional branding and branded Water |
| or slogan on their backs. | | | | Bottles. |