Jennifer Wilson, Public Relations Manager · November 1, 2013
West Columbia, S.C. – Lexington Medical Center is pleased to be the title sponsor of the 41st annual Governor’s Cup Road Race, a half marathon, 8K run, 4-mile walk and Kids Run scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 2013 in Columbia. With more than 2,000 people registered, this year’s race will be the largest in event history.
The field of participants includes 20 highly competitive runners from around the world, including a man and a woman from Kenya, Africa, who will both run the half-marathon. There are also several elite runners from around the Carolinas who will take part. In addition, more than 500 children from 15 elementary schools in the Midlands will race in the one-mile Kids Run.
“Lexington Medical Center enjoys participating in partnerships in our community that encourage healthy lifestyles and work toward educating people about the importance of exercise,” said Mark Shelley, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Lexington Medical Center.
The Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup Road Race is one of the oldest continuously operated road races in the Southeast. The race begins at the corner of Main and Gervais Streets in Columbia at the South Carolina State House. The course takes runners through Columbia neighborhoods and finishes at the historic and picturesque Horseshoe on the University of South Carolina campus.
The Fort Jackson Army Band will provide music entertainment at the starting line. There will be a live band playing at the finish line. This year’s prize money totals $7,500, the largest in the history of the race. Trophies will be produced by a local potter.
“We are so excited by the many enhancements that have been incorporated into the 41st Annual Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup Road Race,” said Russ Pate, event director. “We expect a record turnout, a wonderfully supportive Spirit Corps distributed around the course, and the most competitive field of invited athletes in the long history of the event.”
The Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup Road Race half-marathon will begin at 8:00 a.m.; the 8K starts at 8:20 a.m.; the 4-mile walk at 8:30 a.m. and Kids Run at 8:30 a.m. Registration for the half-marathon is $80; the 8K is $30; and the 4-mile walk is $30.
Proceeds from the Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup will benefit Girls on the Run, a program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade that inspires girl to be joyful, healthy and confident using a curriculum that creatively integrates running.
For more information on the Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup and to sign up for the race, visit www.governorscupsc.org.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
