New York, March 23, 2016 – Three-time Olympian Deena Kastor will return to New York on Sunday, April 17, in search of her fourth-straight victory in the MORE/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon, announced Peter Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. Approximately 10,000 women are expected to lace up for the 13.1-mile race – one of the largest women’s-only half marathons in the country – in New York’s Central Park, with Kastor expected to lead the way.

“Deena is one of the most recognized faces among American long-distance runners, and we are extremely grateful to have her return to Central Park for a fourth consecutive year to race the MORE/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon,” Ciaccia said. “As both a mother and a runner, she is a relatable role model that many women across the country can look up to.”

Kastor, 43, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, raced to a first-place finish in 2015 for a third straight year, completing the course in a time of 1:12:51. The mark fell shy of her own event record time of 1:11:38, which she set in 2014, but her victory followed a monumental year in which she shattered the world masters half-marathon record at the Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon at the age of 41. She is currently the American women’s record-holder in the marathon (2:19:36) and half marathon (1:07:34), and she won the bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon.

“Getting together with other women to celebrate health, fitness, and running fashion in New York City is always a highlight of my year,” Kastor said. “The MORE/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon inspires so many women to gain a fitness edge through running together and is truly represented by the publications that sponsor it. Through this race, New York Road Runners, SHAPE magazine and Meredith Corporation have created a platform for women of all motivations and abilities to thrive. Central Park on race morning is the most beautiful, diverse, and alive as I've ever seen.”

The MORE/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon attracts women of all ages and abilities, and is an inspirational day of fun, fitness, and female camaraderie. Around 10,000 participants are expected for the 13th edition of the event, which pays tribute to the Women Run the World™ theme, and this year will honor 13 notable female leaders with the Women Run the World Relay and Mentorship Program.

Honorees will be paired up with a mentee from the NYRR Run for the Future program, which helps New York City high school girls develop leadership skills, get fit, and earn money towards college. Each pair will run or walk a one-mile leg of the course as part of the relay team. For the mentorship element of the program, honorees will invite their mentees to spend a day with them at the office or participate in a Skype session.

“The MORE/SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon provides us the opportunity to recognize some of the most influential and inspirational female leaders, while also highlighting the importance of supporting and empowering the next generation,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “The Women Run the World Relay and Mentorship Program serves as the perfect platform to simultaneously showcase both our current and future female leaders in the running community alongside each other.”

The race, supported by official media partners in NBC’s TODAY and NBC Olympics, will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, on Central Park’s West Drive near 63rd Street. The public is encouraged to join the conversation surrounding the event on social media by using the hashtag #WomenRunTheWorld.

On race day, supporters and spectators are invited to cheer on runners along the course in Central Park, and visit the Race Day Festival at Naumburg Bandshell to enjoy live music, free samples, fun activities, and more. There will also be an awards ceremony following the race to celebrate the runners and Women Run the World™ honorees.

Online registration is still open for the race. Runners are encouraged to apply here as soon as possible, as the event is nearing capacity.

ABOUT NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS (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 SHAPE

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 magazine is published 10 times a year with a rate base of 2.5 million and an audience of 27 million, reaching women across all platforms, including the 8.5 million users on Shape.com and Fitnessmagazine.com, and through 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: @Shape_Magazine.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith Corporation has been committed to service journalism for more than 110 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print and digital – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners.

Meredith's National Media Group reaches 100 million unduplicated women every month, including 73 percent of American millennial women. Meredith is the leader in creating and distributing content across platforms in key consumer interest areas such as food, home, parenting and health through well-known brands such as Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Parents and SHAPE. Meredith also features robust brand licensing activities, including more than 3,000 SKUs of branded products at 4,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. Meredith Xcelerated Marketing is a leader at developing and delivering custom content and customer relationship marketing programs for many of the world's top brands, including Kraft, Lowe's and NBC Universal. 

Meredith's Local Media Group includes 17 owned or operated television stations reaching 11 percent of U.S. households. Meredith's portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation's Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis and Portland – and 13 in Top 50 markets. Meredith's stations produce approximately 650 hours of local news and entertainment content each week, and operate leading local digital destinations.