news release

(New York) – Acoustiguide, in collaboration with Soundwalk and New York Road Runners, is launching the first series of downloadable audio guides to help runners train for the ING New York City Marathon, the largest one-day sporting event in the world. On November 5, the 2006 race will be run by 37,000 participants from more than 100 countries and witnessed by over two million live spectators and another 312 million television viewers worldwide.

The tours weave coaching, marathon history, personal stories, and preparation tips with a rich soundscape that captures the ambience of race day. They will be available for sale on each of the partners’ websites in MP3 format for $10.00 for one run, $25.00 for three, and $30.00 for all four. To access the URL directly, go to www.nyrraudioguide.net.

“We’re thrilled to offer the world’s first audio guide to training for the Marathon,” said Ted Vasquez, CEO of Acoustiguide, Inc., “we anticipate that runners of all types – from seasoned marathoners, to first-timers, to recreational runners – will enjoy listening to these guided runs with race insiders. There’s really something for everyone, whether they’re actually preparing for the marathon or just enjoying a fun run in the park.”

The Coach

Toby Tanser, a former elite runner and sub-2:20 marathoner, personally coaches each run. Beginning at the hub of the New York running community, New York Road Runners headquarters, Tanser leads listeners into Central Park for about five minutes of stretching and mental preparation at the Reservoir. The pace work begins when the coach is joined by one of four well-known guests, each one a seasoned runner.

4 Tours, 4 Speeds

Listeners will select a training run from one of four options, each timed to match the individual mile per minute pace of Toby’s guests, who include:

• Olympic silver medalist and World Champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, a four-time Boston Marathon winner, two-time runner up in the New York City Marathon, and favorite in the ING New York City Marathon 2006, completing the run at a six minute per mile pace;

• Actor and star of television’s “ER” Anthony Edwards, at a seven minute per mile pace, who tells Toby how running changed his life and made him a serious competitor;

• New York’s Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Eliot Spitzer, a long-time runner, recorded on primary day in NYC at a nine minute per mile pace;
 

• Supermodel Kim Alexis, mother of five, seven-time marathon runner, at a ten minute per mile pace, about the average finishing time for the ING New York city Marathon’s 37,000 competitors.

Each audio guide is accompanied by a downloadable map of the associated portion of the ING New York City Marathon course in Central Park.
Acoustiguide Inc.'s CEO, Ted Vasquez stated, "The NYRR Audio Guide is only one example of Acoustiguide's commitment to a growing and more diverse listening base. We seek to harness the latest platforms to engage the widest possible audience on its own terms; that's why we're proud to be producing web-based downloadable programs in addition to the museum tours for which we’re known."