LITTLE ROCK - (July 16, 2008) - The Little Rock Marathon was recently given two awards during the Arkansas Recreation & Parks Association (ARPA) annual conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Hobbit Singleton of Maumelle was selected at the 2008 Individual of the Year for the countless hours spent coaching individuals in the Little Rock Marathon Training Program.
The Little Rock Marathon Training Program was also selected as the 2008 Program of the Year for its positive impact health of Arkansans. The program is a free year round running / walking program offered by Little Rock Parks & Recreation and overseen by Hobbit and Tom Singleton.
Each year, the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) recognizes the state's outstanding individuals, programs and agencies who seek to improve the quality of life in their communities or for making significant contributions in the field of parks and recreation. ARPA is a non-profit organization for park, recreation and leisure services professionals that strive to broaden recreation, park and leisure opportunities for all Arkansans.
"Making friends and helping others conquer their fear is what it's all about and why I'm out there Saturday mornings," Hobbit said. "It's also part of why I trained for my first marathon."
In 2001, Hobbit completed her first marathon in Dublin, Ireland. Having learned first hand how important a support group and coaches can be to the success of a training program, she was eager to help others realize their dream of completing an endurance race. In the seven years since her first marathon, she has completed 11 marathons, 21 half-marathons and various trail races.
As one of the coaches, Hobbit spends most every Saturday of the year helping group member meet personal goals as the train for the early March race (March 15, 2009). She is a Road Runners Club of America certified coach. The 2009 training program will be the tenth group she and husband Tom have coached since they began coaching in 2002.
Her coaching goal is "to help people realize they can complete a marathon, no matter what their pace is and to help them continue to keep moving long after the race is a terrific memory".
Since its inception in 2003, the Little Rock Marathon Training Program has grown from 253 participants to 1,283 participants including many first-timers. Although official training begins in late September, the group trains together every weekend prior to the beginning of official training. Official training programs are offered in Little Rock, Bryant, Fort Smith, Conway and Northwest Arkansas.
"Each year, we successfully train hundreds of people who do not consider themselves athletic to finish a marathon," Gina Marchese Pharis, co-executive director of the Little Rock Marathon said. "Our coaches are the reason our training program is considered one of the best in the industry. Tom and Hobbit have tirelessly built the program from just a few participants to one with more than a thousand athletes at its completion. They take a sincere interest in each trainee and have the experience, as well as credentials to back it up."
Interested individuals may register for the 2009 training program online at LittleRockMarathon.com. For more information about the race, visit its website or contact the Little Rock Marathon office at (501) 371-4770.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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