New Half Marathon to Feature Finish at Ralph Wilson Stadium 50 Yard Line

BUFFALO, N.Y. – June 25, 2012 – Today, officials from the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, the Town of Orchard Park and Eclipse Multi-Sport announced the creation of a new running event, named the “50 Yard Finish,” that will begin at Ralph Wilson Stadium, loop through the Town of Orchard Park and finish at the stadium’s 50 yard line. It will take place this Saturday, June 30 at 7 a.m.

Runners can choose from the following formats:
•    Half Marathon: Saturday, June 30, 7 a.m.
•    5K: Saturday, June 30, 7:15 a.m.
•    1 Mile Kids Fun Run: Saturday, June 30, following the completion of the half marathon and 5K races (children will run in a loop inside Ralph Wilson Stadium)

Following the race, there will be light refreshments for the participants.

The announcement comes on the heels of last week’s postponement of the Rapid Running Buffalo Half Marathon – a similar, but different, race operated by Rapid Running that was originally slated to follow an identical course on the same date. Rapid Running is not affiliated with the 50 Yard Finish.

Over the past weekend, 50 Yard Finish organizers and members of the Western New York community came together and worked furiously to ensure that runners would still have the exciting experience of running across the Ralph Wilson Stadium 50 yard line. However, due to the short time available for planning, some of the Rapid Running Buffalo Half Marathon race elements, including live bands along the race course, a health expo and a post-race party with beer, will not be included in the 50 Yard Finish. The 50 Yard Finish will be a USA Track & Field sanctioned event, while the Rapid Running Buffalo Half Marathon would not have been.

The 50 Yard Finish registration fee will be waived for any runner who previously registered for the Rapid Running Buffalo Half Marathon. Runners must re-register at www.50yardfinish.com and provide proof of Rapid Running registration.

Registration for all other 50 Yard Finish runners will be as follows:
•    Half Marathon: Through June 29: $50; day of race: $60
•    5K: Through June 29: $20; day of race: $25
•    1 Mile Kids Fun Run: $8

While the community has stepped up with support of the 50 Yard Finish, organizers are still seeking volunteers to assist on June 30 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Information is available at www.50yardfinish.com.

“With the 50 Yard Finish, hundreds of runners will have the incredible experience of crossing the finish line at the Ralph Wilson Stadium 50 yard line,” said Dottie Gallagher-Cohen, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, parent organization of the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission. “I would like to commend the staff of the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, the Town of Orchard Park and Eclipse Multisport – without their hard work and the generosity of the Buffalo Bills organization, this event would not be possible.”

“So many people dream of standing at the 50 yard line of Ralph Wilson Stadium. Whether you’re a kid or a seasoned runner, the 50 Yard Finish will bring those dreams to life,” said Dan Horan director of Eclipse Multi-Sport. “Eclipse Multi-Sport is excited to be a partner in creating this exciting USA Track & Field sanctioned event.”    

“We at USATF Niagara are proud to support Eclipse Multisport through the sanctioning of the 50 Yard Finish. Eclipse Multi Sport has shown their commitment to providing a safe and fair event for their participants by sanctioning this event,” said Bill Quinlisk, president of the USATF Niagara Association. “USATF Niagara is committed as well to the protection of the running community through well-organized, safe running events. We stand by Eclipse Multisport to support them in providing a great event on June 30th. For more information on USATF and USATF Niagara please go to www.USATF-Niagara.org.”

The Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission is a subsidiary of Visit Buffalo Niagara that promotes Buffalo and Erie County nationally and internationally as a premier sports tourism destination for the economic benefit of the community by boosting hotel occupancy and encouraging visitor spending.
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