Cheryl reports on The Decatur Minute that Decatur is back on top in the ING Marathon Neighborhood Challenge, which provides cash rewards to the Atlanta neighborhoods with the most cheer along the marathon course.

The city will receive $3,000 hard cash for their first-place, orange-tinted enthusiasm.  Cheryl says the winnings will be used to “jump start” a new walking program called “Walk There Decatur!”.

I really hope this means I can finally begin earning money for walking my dog.   I keep telling him my time is money, but he just keeps nosing the doorknob and staring at me.

For the past three years, Decatur’s “official” cheering station for the ING marathon – i.e. the one that could win prize-money – was in front of Fellini’s on Commerce Drive.  But according to this year’s info, the station has been moved up into the heart of the city along Ponce in front of the Old Courthouse.

From 231 Sycamore…

New Cheering Section will be held on the square The ING Georgia Marathon will come through our city on Sunday, March 21, and Decatur invites you to participate as a hydration and/or cheering volunteer. As the marathon organizers say, “Volunteers are the heart and SOLE of the marathon.”

Hydration Station Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to staff two Hydration Stations, one at the East Lake MARTA station and one in downtown Decatur. Your duties will be to hand out water to the runners and to cheer them on. To volunteer for the Hydration Stations go to www.doitsports.com/volunteer/join-protected-group.tcl?event_id=174848.

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The city’s special events coordinator Cheryl Burnette let’s us know that marathon season is just around the corner…

The community is invited to attend an ING Marathon Community Information Meeting on Thursday, February 5^th from 6 – 7pm in the City Commission Room at Decatur City Hall. Organizers from ING will be there to answer questions as well as give information about volunteering, the Community Challenge, the race route and more. The event is scheduled, Sunday, March 29^th.

The City of Decatur will be staffing two water stations again this year, as well as have a cheering section. And of course, we will be competing to win once again!

The first year of the marathon, Decatur won 1st place in the neighborhood challenge (and $10,000 to boot!).  Last year, our cheering  ranked second behind Candler Park and we received a $5,000 prize.  So this year, we’ve gotta step it up and reclaim our title, showing Candler Park that we are the true champions when it comes to screaming and corny rhyming signs!

From Kim at Fleet Feet Decatur…

ING Georgia Half Marathon Training Program at Fleet Feet Decatur
WHO: You! Anybody looking for a fun group to train with for the ING Georgia Half Marathon on Mar. 29, 2009. First-timers welcome!
WHAT: 15-week training program with weekly group runs (long runs will take place on Saturday mornings)
WHEN: Training begins Dec. 13, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. In-store sign up has already begun!
WHERE: Three Fleet Feet locations – Decatur, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville
WHY: Because you can do anything!
COST: $75 (includes Saucony jacket and technical tee, coached training program, e-newsletter with training tips, $5 off race registration)
Sign-up is available in the store or prior to the program kick-off from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Dec. 13. Email [email protected] or visit our website for more information.
Discounted marathon and half marathon race registration will be available in the store through Mar. 13, 2008. Make sure you join the Fleet Feet Sports team when registering!

Cool idea!

After winning the ING Marathon cheering section competition and a cool $10k in the race’s 2007 inaugural year, Decatur finished second to peppy arch rival (apparently) Candler Park this time around. Full results here.

But we don’t go home empty-handed. A second place finish means the city will receive $5k, which will go to the Decatur Education Foundation to fund “the Athletic Booster Club and Carter Wilson for sports and fitness program for Decatur students”. (from the May Decatur Focus – now online here)

Next year Candler Park…we’re comin’ for ya.

From about 7:45a thru 11:30a tomorrow morning, Decatur will serve as the eastern point for the 2nd annual ING marathon. The race takes a different path through town than last year, coming east down W Ponce and veering off at East Lake, heading down to College, taking College past Agnus Scott to Commerce, going under the railroad bridge, up to Ponce and then a right on to Clairemont in front of the Courthouse. Outside the city limits it will then turn left onto N. Decatur and head on over to Emory.

If my shorthand instructions just don’t do it for you, check out the city’s ING page here or click on the marathon’s official map and street list w/ times.

Decatur’s “official” cheering section will again be the Fellini’s parking lot on Commerce, but the city is also trying to paint the entire route through Decatur the color orange. So get out along the route tomorrow morning decked out in orange and help the city cheer on runners and perhaps even win another cash prize like last year!

ALSO SEE: March’s Decatur Focus featured the winning “Burma Shave” entries (like the one in the AJC pic above) that will have this year’s runners gasping for air as the laugh their way through town.