New York, March 24, 2015—Deena Kastor, the two-time reigning champion of the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon, will return to New York to defend her title on Sunday, April 19, at the 12th annual running of the event, it was announced today by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Kastor will be leading an expected 10,000 runners through the race, which takes place in Central Park.

“Deena’s return to New York for the third straight year at the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon demonstrates the empowerment this event brings to women’s running,” said Wittenberg. “Deena is an amazing athlete, wife, mother, and a role model to each person she reaches through her participation in this sport.”

Kastor, 42, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, is the event’s reigning champion and course record holder. In 2014, she crossed the line in 1:11:38, smashing the course record—which she set the year before—by nearly two minutes. With her victory and winning time, Kastor also broke the American masters (age 40+) record by 12 seconds. At the Philadelphia Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon in September, she placed third in a masters-world-record time of 1:09:36. Less than two months later, Kastor finished 11th at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, crossing the line in 2:33:18. Kastor is an Olympic medalist in the marathon and one of America’s most decorated distance runners, holding  nearly a dozen U.S.  open and masters road-racing records.

“I am thrilled to return to New York for the MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon,” said Kastor. “This event has a rich history of empowering women, and for the third year in a row I look forward to celebrating fitness and health through running with the ladies in Central Park. For the health of it—grab your girlfriends and book your tickets for a great weekend in New York City for this race!”

The MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon is one of the largest all-women’s half-marathons in the country. The 13.1-mile race attracts women runners and walkers of all ages and is an inspirational day of fun, fitness, and female camaraderie. In celebration of Earth Day, the 2015 race will raise awareness for the importance of sustainability and the impact of climate change. This year’s Women Run the World™ program will recognize women who are making a difference in this field. Online registration is still open; runners are encouraged to apply here as soon as possible, as the event is nearing capacity.

NBC’s TODAY will serve as the media partner. Natalie Morales, TODAY News Anchor and Third-Hour Co-Host, and Erica Hill, Weekend TODAY Co-Host, will host the event. Healthfull® by Arnold/Brownberry/Oroweat®, Hoka One One, MorningStar Farms, and Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co. are Product Sponsors. CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that empowers women and girls around the world, is the Charity Partner. The MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon has also teamed up with Athletes for a Fit Planet to enhance our efforts to produce an environmentally responsible event by taking their Pledge of Sustainability.

The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, on Central Park’s West Drive near 63rd Street. For more race details, please visit here.

About NYRR

Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.

About MORE Magazine

Launched in September 1998, critically acclaimed MORE is the only lifestyle publication that celebrates women of style and substance. MORE is the smart, stylish guide for women of influence, sharing the latest on beauty, fashion, health, career, finance, home, travel and culture. MORE serves a community of affluent, professional women interested in reinventing themselves and their world. MORE is published 10 times a year by Meredith Corporation [NYSE: MDP], with a rate base of 750,000 and readership of 1.5 million. MORE won the 2014 Clarion Award for Best Overall External Magazine, was named 2006 Magazine of the Year by Advertising Age and also landed on the publication’s “A List” of Top 10 magazines in 2007, 2005 and 2003. Also, Adweeknamed MORE to its 2006 “Hot List,” Capell’s Circulation Report honored More as one of the Top 10 Newsstand Performers in 2006, while Media named MORE the “Best Women’s Lifestyle Magazine” of 2004. Visit us online: www.more.com | Facebook: Facebook.com/moremagazine | Twitter: @moremag | Pinterest: Pinterest.com/moremagazine | Instagram: Instagram.com/moremag.

About FITNESS Magazine

Launched in 1992, FITNESS fuels women with strategies, motivation, and ideas for living healthy, active lives. Whether the aim is to lose weight, get strong, or eat more nutritiously, FITNESS gives its readers the tools to achieve their goals. Through its vibrant pages, tablet enhancements, and online tools, the brand delivers fun and effective workouts, easy and delicious food, and the latest health and beauty information with one result in mind: Bring success to every body. FITNESS is published 10 times a year by Meredith Corporation [NYSE: MDP], with a rate base of 1.5 million and an audience of 9.1 million readers. Fitnessmagazine.com is a destination that inspires more than 4.5 million unique visitors per month to live healthier every day. Visit us online at: www.fitnessmagazine.com | Facebook: Facebook.com/fitnessmag | Twitter: @fitnessmagazine | Instagram: Instagram.com/fitnessmagazine.

About SHAPE Magazine

Launched in 1981, SHAPE helps women achieve the best versions of themselves while understanding that healthy living is more than an endgame—it’s a source of personal joy and lasting reward. SHAPE connects with women throughout their daily lives, and gives her the tools to look as good as being healthy and fit make her feel. SHAPE is published 10 times a year by Meredith Corporation [NYSE: MDP] with a rate base of 2.5 million and an audience of 11.8 million, and reaches her across all platforms, including 7.9 million readers on SHAPE.com, award-winning consumer events, and innovative brand extensions. Visit us online at: http://www.shape.com/ | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHAPEmagazine | Twitter: @Shape_Magazine | Instagram: http://instagram.com/shape_magazine.