First news release
Eisenhower Marathon 2010

Runner entries are coming in from across the United States for the eighth annual Eisenhower Marathon, April 10, with runners currently traveling from 21 states.

“We would expect, based on results from previous years, that the number of states represented would grow to 35-38 by April 10,” race director Joyce Viola Dana said. “The quality of runners continues to be impressive, with all backgrounds of experience represented, from the beginning marathon runner to one individual who has run 408 marathons.”
Eugene DeFronzo, 74, from Cheshire, CT, has run a marathon in all 50 states six times and will run his 409th marathon in Abilene, joining an expected 650 total participants in the 2010 Eisenhower Marathon activities.
William Christopher will enter the marathon, coming from Geneva, IL, having run 40 marathons including two prestigious Boston Marathons and Don Wright will come in from Lake Elmo, MN, running his 42nd marathon in his 26th state.
“The Eisenhower Marathon has numerous activities in addition to the 26.2-mile race,” Dana said. “The Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K and 5K races and Community Walk (2 miles) plus children’s activities complete a busy slate for participants.”
Added assistance is gained from the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum administration in promoting the annual event with race registration and awards being held at the Eisenhower Visitors’ Center for 2010.
"We want to show all the support possible for Abilene's marathon which carries the Eisenhower name," said Karl Weissenbach, director of the Eisenhower Presidential Center. "This event has a great deal of importance to us and we plan to assist with its promotion wherever we can."

The Eisenhower Presidential Center is offering museum tickets to event participants and volunteers at a tremendously reduced price this year and will keep the museum, library and gift shop open until 9 p.m. on Friday, April 9, so everyone can enjoy the entire presidential complex including the Quilts of Valor exhibit in the library.
 “We appreciate the assistance of the Eisenhower Presidential Center director and staff most sincerely!” Dana said. “Likewise, the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church administration has given a great deal of support in allowing us to use their facilities in Parish Hall annually.”
The Daughters of Isabella and Knights of Columbus will provide the Friday evening pasta dinner at Parish Hall from 6-8 p.m. In addition local Kiwanis Club members will provide the race-day pancake and sausage brunch Saturday morning from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Tickets are available at the door for both meals.

Three hundred plus volunteers join in helping with the day’s events, with most of the nonprofits who gain financial resources from the event serving at different work stations on marathon day.
“Our Eisenhower Marathon volunteers are simply the best,” Dana said. “They receive glowing compliments on Marathon Guide’s runner-comment web page and they really are what makes this event shine.”

Corporate sponsors for the 2010 Eisenhower Marathon include Brierton Engineering, Central National Bank, DS&O Electric Cooperative, Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc., Eisenhower Foundation, KABI/KSAL Radio, Land Pride (a division of Great Plains Manufacturing), Pinnacle Bank, Warren Wilson Hay, Inc. and Wilson Transport, Inc., in addition to the R.H. Viola Family.

“These sponsors provide tremendous support for all of us involved in developing this event,” Dana said. “The Eisenhower Marathon has been conservatively estimated to have brought in $1,500,000 to the Abilene area since its beginning in 2003. That wouldn’t have happened without the fabulous assistance of those corporate sponsors, and members of the Viola Family appreciate them tremendously!”
Numerous additional local businesses provide donations to cover supplies for runners, runner prizes, finish-line costs and other areas.  All donors will be recognized in race-day handouts and in a local newspaper ad the week of the race.
Runners will follow the same course as in previous years, winding through territory cattlemen followed when bringing herds to Abilene on the Chisholm Trail in the 1800s.  The race begins on Buckeye between the Eisenhower Center and St. Andrews Catholic Church goes south on Highway 15, through Brown Memorial Park, south to Rural Center and west on 1400 Avenue for 2.2 miles to the turnaround point, then returns to Abilene on the same route in reverse.

All races are out-and-back races, following the same route on the return as was run on the way out to the turnaround point.

Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Dickinson County Sheriff’s office, Abilene Police, Abilene City Commissioners, Dickinson County Commissioners and Central Kansas Amateur Radio Operators all join in meeting marathon needs as traffic is detoured from Highway 15 for a 6-hour period on marathon day.

The Eisenhower Marathon is hosted by the R.H. Viola Family with family members volunteering at numerous work stations throughout the event.
“Our Viola grandparents taught us as grandchildren to give back to our community in a positive manner and help those less fortunate than we,” Dana said. “Creating an event which annually provides some revenue to 24 nonprofits, which are assisting individuals and families throughout Dickinson County, accomplishes our family mission.”