Nationwide Insurance Offers “Make It Count” for Across the Bay 10K

Race officials of the Across the Bay 10K, which sold out last month, announced today that Nationwide Insurance will sponsor a “Make it Count” program that will encourage runners to use this historic event to make an impact on participating charities, personal goals and overcoming fears of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which was recently named by Travel + Leisure magazine as “one of the 10 scariest bridges in the world”.

The program will offer the 20,000 entrants feedback on connecting with charities, how to raise funds for great causes just by running, training tips on Facebook from legendary Race Director Dave McGillivray, “selfie” postings of runners doing inspiring things as they get ready for the bridge, online video sharing and a culminating event race week.

McGillivray is the longtime race director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, author of “The Last Pick” and a hero for many people, runners and non-runners alike, for his feats of endurance and overcoming obstacles.

The six-month training program entitled “Nationwide Presents: Make it Count” is free to entrants who can start the program by going to the Across the Bay 10k’s Facebook page. The program is designed to help participants with messages of inspiration, giving, conquering and training. The race plans to use You Tube and social media and offer contests and giveaways. McGillivray will help pick the most inspiring submission who will be awarded with an invite to a VIP party hosted by him and race co-founders Sparrow Rogers and Peter Paris on race weekend.

Each month involves a different social media activity. This month, in honor of the Boston Marathon and McGillivray’s first “selfie” posted recently on his Facebook page, participants can post a selfie that shows who they are and why they run, using #runthebridge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Beginning in May, participants can ask questions of McGillivray regarding how to train for the bridge course, conducted primarily through Facebook.  And in future months, runners will submit videos of up to 30 seconds through the race’s YouTube channel, sharing stories of inspiration to help others dig in and make the event meaningful.  The program will culminate with an onsite workshop during race week focusing on running in partnership with a charity. 

“Nationwide believes, as we do, that participating in our event is a wonderful opportunity for runners or walkers to tap into that mysterious, life changing feeling that comes with crossing a finish line after giving all they’ve got,” said Sparrow Rogers, who is organizing the Across the Bay 10k with co-founder Peter Paris. “And so far all of our race sponsors have been great – they’re hands on, which is fantastic. This kind of support from the community is going to make this race phenomenal.”

As part of their sponsorship, Nationwide is also supporting the Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Research and has charity entries available for those who may not have gotten into the race and want to support the cause. Interested runners should contact Kelley at the Across the Bay 10K, Kelley@bridgerace.com. In addition, Nationwide will be showcasing a NASCAR race car at their exhibition Nov. 7 and 8 at the pre-race expo and packet pick up at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

“Like many runners, Nationwide believes in supporting causes and events that improve the well-being of the communities that we serve. This event allows us to do both,” said Michele Lombard, Nationwide Marketing Director. “By sponsoring the ‘Make It Count’ feature, we are helping participants connect with Race Director Dave McGillivray to improve their times, prevent injuries on the uphill climb and find an individual way to connect their run with a cause that matters to them.  We look forward to meeting everybody on race week and seeing 20,000 smiling faces on the bridge this November 9^th!”

For more information about joining Team Nationwide in support of pediatric brain cancer research, check out the Lilabean Foundation on Facebook or email the event organizers at info@bridgerace.com.
 
In addition to Nationwide, other major sponsors of the Across the Bay 10k include: Holabird Sports, Loews Hotel, Queen Anne’s County, KRM Development Corporation, Michelob Ultra, Kelly Distributors, Katcef Brothers Inc., Fleet Feet Sports, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company and the Baltimore Sun.

For more information about sponsorships, visit the race website at www.bridgerace.com or contact Sparrow Rogers at sparrow@bridgerace.com.

Race organizers also have selected four official charity partners to benefit from the event – The Yellow Ribbon Fund, Bosom Buddies Charities and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Maryland Chapter and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Each charity partner receives a $50,000 package that includes 25 race entries for fundraising, space at the pre-race expo on race weekend and inclusion as an official partner on the race registration platform.  If interested in joining one of the charities’ teams, email info@bridgerace.com

The Across the Bay 10k is set for Nov. 9, 2014, and will take 20,000 runners across the iconic, 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which reaches 186 feet at its tallest point. The inaugural event will mark the first organized crossing of the historic bridge since 2006.

Race organizers Peter Paris and Sparrow Rogers, both of St. Michaels, Md., founded Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run LLC, a Maryland-based partnership behind Across the Bay 10k. Paris and Rogers tapped renowned race director Dave McGillivray to head up the inaugural event. McGillivray, along with his team at DSME Sports, will oversee the highly anticipated race.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run LLC is a Maryland-based partnership founded by Peter Paris and Sparrow Rogers, both of St. Michaels. The Across the Bay 10k will be hosted by Live Work Play in QA, the State of Maryland and the Annapolis Visitors Bureau. More information is available online at www.bridgerace.com. Across the Bay 10k is on Facebook (facebook.com/10kAcrossTheBay) and on Twitter (@10kAcrosstheBay).