The William and Mary athletics department and new presenting sponsor Sentara Healthcare are proud to announce the 33rd running of the Sentara Colonial Half Marathon and 5K this Sunday, February 26th.  The two-race event starts on the campus of the nation's second-oldest university, and finishes inside Kaplan Arena at W&M Hall after runners have toured throughout Williamsburg.  The half-marathon begins at 1 p.m., starting from the corner of Landrum Drive and Jamestown Road, while the 5K will start behind W&M Hall at 1:10 p.m.

With the generous support of Sentara, the races this year will include significant enhancements to the participant and fan-experiences.  All runners will receive a commemorative long-sleeved "technical" shirt made of advanced materials, and each finisher of the half marathon will receive a beer mug, courtesy of the Green Leafe.  Out on the trail, Powerbar will be providing complimentary powergels midway through the half marathon, in addition to the standard water and Gatorade stops placed throughout the full 13.1-mile route.

Prizes for top finishers include medals to the top-three finishers in each age group of the half-marathon, and trophies to the top-10 overall half-marathon finishers as well as the winners of the masters divisions as well as the 5K.  The top three finishers in the half-marathon for both men and women will split a $2,000 purse ($500 to the winners, $300 to second, and $200 to third).

In addition to the races, there will be an all-day Running Expo held on the concourse level of W&M Hall.  Exhibitors will include Sentara, Colonial Sports, the W&M Bookstore, PowerBar, Chair Massages, and numerous area restaurants.  Following the races, competitors will have access to locker rooms and hot showers, as well as a reception and awards ceremony on the arena floor including water, hot drinks, bagels, bananas, and beer.

Registration is still open until 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, and is $65 for the half-marathon and $40 for the 5K.

About Sentara Healthcare: Sentara is a not-for-profit health system including 10 acute care hospitals and more than 100 care-serving sites across Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.  Sentara has been ranked by Modern Healthcare magazine as the No. 1-ranked most integrated health care system in the nation for the past two years, and among the country's best for the past decade.  For more information, please visit www.sentara.com

About the Colonial Half Marathon: Now in its 33rd year, the Sentara Colonial Half Marathon has been one of the nation's top half marathons for the full length of its run, marked by exceptional performances both on the course and in support of the runners.  The race regularly attracts top international and national talent, including Olympians and numerous Olympic Trials qualifiers.  The current course records are 1:05:22 for men (set by Azat Rakipov in 2005) and 1:15:02 for women (Anna Pichrtova, 2002).  The half marathon is annually organized by the W&M men's and women's track and cross country teams, along with the Special Events department of the W&M Athletic Department, and proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for the track teams.