Event Announcement

What could be the largest indoor marathon in the world will take place next January at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The event, officially to be called the InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon, is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2009. It will take place on the 443-meter running track around the Olympic Ice Oval at the Pettit Center. The Pettit Center is one of three indoor ovals in North America and one of just 11 in all the world; making for one unique venue for this unique event. Runners will have to lap the oval just over 94 times to cover the official 26.2-mile marathon distance.

The InStep Icebreaker will be limited to 100 runners. Registration will open on Monday, September 8. More information will be posted on the Pettit Center and InStep websites regarding the registration process. Organizers are anticipating the field to fill quickly due to the limited field size and the uniqueness of the event.

The Pettit Center, which first opened December 31, 1992, is home to many ice sports and a training site for US Speedskating and its athletes. The Pettit Center also hosts thousands of users annually on its indoor track, which is believed to be the largest in Wisconsin.

InStep Running & Walking Centers, the race sponsor, has four locations in the Milwaukee area and offers a full line of running and walking shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as physical therapy and message therapy.

PT Timing of Milwaukee, Wis. will handle the timing for The InStep Icebreaker. PT Timing will use a radio frequency chip timing system that is similar to what they use for high school and collegiate indoor track meets. Runners will attach the chip to their shoe or ankle, and laps will be automatically recorded by PT’s computer system.

Profits from The InStep Icebreaker will be earmarked toward resurfacing the running track at the Pettit Center. It will also serve as a publicity event to promote the Pettit’s indoor running track, which has increasingly become a popular destination for area runners during the long winter months.

The organizers of The InStep Icebreaker are also hoping to generate some fan interest. The bleachers around the oval can accommodate up to 3,000 spectators. Unlike outdoor marathons, fans will be able to keep track of the runners during the entire event.