March 13, 2015
For immediate release

New course crosses river, returns to state Capitol

The Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run celebrates its fifth anniversary by adding a five-mile race, offering a new course going through downtown Sacramento and West Sacramento and delivering another exciting finish near the state Capitol.

The race, put on by the Sacramento Running Association and sponsored by local credit unions, is set for April 12. The event helps raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which includes Sacramento’s UC Davis Children’s Hospital. The SACTOWN event emulates the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run held in Washington, D.C. on the same day.

Credit Unions for Kids is the brand under which America’s credit unions and affiliated organizations fundraise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. To date, credit unions have raised more than $100 million since the introduction of the CU4Kids program back in 1996.

“The Credit Union SACTOWN event is one of the most unique running events in California because of its place as a part of the “family” of races that take place internationally on April 12th that together have raised nearly $7 million for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” SRA Executive Director Scott Abbott said.

“As Sacramento’s only local non-profit organization committed to the sport of running, the SRA is proud to put on this event that is part of such a magnanimous cause spearheaded by the philanthropic efforts of the Credit Unions for Kids.”

Abbott said adding a five-mile race, and expanding the Miracle Mile from a kids’ race to an event open to anyone, makes the SACTOWN event more accessible to runners and increases the chances of raising more money to help children.

“We continue to make efforts to expand the profile of the event to increase its growth and aid in the cause,” he said. “In honor of the event’s fifth year, we are very excited to add the new five-mile race distance and the UC Davis Children’s Hospital Miracle Mile fun run/walk to the slate of events.

“We feel that these new additions make this event more accessible to everyone in the region that wants to participate in this event and support such a great cause.”

The new course retains a start and finish near the state Capitol, goes through downtown Sacramento and crosses the Tower Bridge into West Sacramento before re-crossing the bridge back into Sacramento.

“The 2015 edition will feature a newly designed course which we believe will allow for greater spectator engagement by allowing spectators, as well as the five-mile and one-mile finishers, a chance to watch some of the world’s best distance runners in action in the 10-mile championship event,” Abbott said.

“We also designed the course to incorporate the iconic Tower Bridge as well as a spectacular final half mile finish down the Capitol Mall towards the State Capitol building.”

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is an affiliation of children’s hospitals throughout the country. Each year these non-profit hospitals provide state-of-the-art care, cutting edge research and preventative health education.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treat more than 17 million patients each year, including 98 percent of all children needing heart or lung transplants and 88 percent of all children with cancer.

The SACTOWN 10-mile race begins at 8:25 a.m. and the five-mile run at 8 a.m. The UC Davis Children’s Hospital Miracle Mile is set for 7:30 a.m.

Registration is available at www.sactown10.org. Cost for the 10-miler is $50 online through April 5, $60 from April 6-11 and $65 on race day. The five-miler costs $40 online through April 5, $50 from April 6-April 11 and $55 on race day.

The Miracle Mile is free to kids 12 and under until April 11 and $10 at packet pickup and on race day. The cost for adults is $10 until April 11 and $15 on race day.

The five-mile race includes the Credit Union Team competition, with the lowest combined time for all three team members determining the winner.

The event serves as USA Track & Field’s Pacific Association Ten-Mile Championship.

The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.

Other SRA events include the Gold Rush 50k on May 9, the California International Marathon on Dec. 6 and the recently concluded Super Sunday Run.