TUSTIN, Calif., Feb. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Inaugural Tustin Hangar Half Marathon kicks off on March 12, there will be more than pride and a medal at stake for the ultimate winner. Race organizers have announced that a $100,000 prize is up for grabs for the runner who can smash the current world record finishes for the half marathon: 58:23 (male) and 1:05:09 (female).

"We're hoping this will be an extra incentive to attract world class elite runners from across the globe to the Tustin race," said Mark Holmes, race director. "For other top-tier runners, it can also be a great point of pride to be able to say you've competed among the best and fastest – on the planet."

Winners of the half-marathon (both male and female) will each win a 1/2 carat round brilliant cut diamond (retail value: $1,250 each) from Ballard & Ballard Jewelers.  

The world record for the half marathon was set by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea in 2010, when he ran the Lisbon Half Marathon in Portugal and recorded the fastest time for a male. Florence Kiplagat of Kenya set the world record for females in 2015 when she ran the Mitja Marató de Barcelona in Spain. 

The Tustin Hangar Half Marathon will take place at 7 a.m. Sunday, March 12 at The District at Tustin Legacy, a popular entertainment and shopping center. Runners will also proceed through one of Tustin's iconic blimp hangars. Standing at more than 17-stories high and stretching past 1,000 feet, the hangar is one of the largest wooden structures ever built and is rarely open to the public. The race course continues through The Market Place in Tustin, in addition to Old Town Tustin, with its tree-lined streets and historic buildings dating back to the 1800s. Runner's World, the premier magazine for runners in the U.S., highlighted the Tustin Hangar Half as one of the top new and notable races in the world to run this year.

Additionally, a minimum of 15-percent of all race registration fees will go directly to the nonprofits and charities that the runners can personally select during the registration process. No other major road race in the country does this, making it one of the most charity-forward marathon events.

The Tustin Hangar Half Marathon & 5K is being presented by the City of Tustin and Primo Fitness.

Runners are encouraged to visit www.TustinHangarHalf.com for more information or to register. Interested sponsors are welcomed to contact Ned Smith at sponsorship@tustinhangarhalf.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/organizers-of-the-inaugural-tustin-hangar-half-marathon-announce-100000-prize-for-the-runner-who-can-beat-world-record-300410892.html

SOURCE The Tustin Chamber of Commerce

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