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Ragnar Relay Series, Healthways Partner to Introduce First Overnight Running Relay in Tennessee Benefiting the Monroe Carell Jr

^{Published on 2010-07-01 19:41:09 - Market Wire}
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Ragnar Relay Series, the nationa™s top provider of overnight, running relay races, and Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY), a well-being improvement company, today announced the first race of its kind in the Southeast: Ragnar Relay Tennessee presented by Healthways. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrena™s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The race will begin at 7 a.m. on Nov. 5 in Chattanooga and end 185 miles away on Nov. 6 in downtown Nashville.

"This race will run through a section of the country with some of the lowest rankings in healthy behavior and physical health in the United States"

aThe Monroe Carell Jr. Childrena™s Hospital at Vanderbilt is delighted to partner with Healthways for the Ragnar Relay,a said Dr. Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., physician-in-chief, Monroe Carrel Jr. Childrena™s Hospital at Vanderbilt. aThis is a terrific, fun-filled event and all for a most worthy cause.a

The popularity of overnight relay races has grown exponentially as endurance enthusiasts have embraced the exciting team concept, non-existent in other running events. Healthways is partnering with Ragnar Relay Series to bring this exciting form of running to Tennessee in an effort to encourage community well-being in a state currently ranked 42^nd in overall well-being by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index^® (WBI).

aThis race will run through a section of the country with some of the lowest rankings in healthy behavior and physical health in the United States,a said Ben R. Leedle, Jr., CEO of Healthways. aIt will allow us to motivate communities throughout Tennessee to achieve better health through physical activity and by promoting social support, teamwork and the benefit of working together to achieve a health goal.a

About 2,000 runners are expected to participate in the event, spreading a message of health to communities on a route crossing the state. The WBI recently released its 2009 state ranking of Well-Being and its components, including healthy behaviors and physical health. Over three-quarters of the communities on the race route rank in the bottom quartile in the U.S. In addition to the well-being benefits, it is anticipated that each community involved will experience significant additional revenue from the event.

aWe were thrilled when Healthways approached us about bringing a Ragnar Relay to Tennessee,a said Chris Infurchia, CEO of Ragnar Relay Series. aHaving fun while getting active is a core message shared by both Healthways and Ragnar Relay Series. We are looking forward to bringing an event that allows people of all levels an opportunity to push themselves in a new way.a

The Ragnar Relay Series is experiencing dramatic growth as team registrations are skyrocketing and races are selling out months in advance. Founded in 2004, Ragnar Races have grown from a single race with 200 participants to twelve races nationwide with more than 40,000 participants projected for 2010.

Each leg of a Ragnar Race varies in difficulty so elite and novice runners can run together in teams. Each team is responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle drops off the first runner and drives ahead to the first exchange point. Teams repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern continues day and night as teams cover the 185-mile course to the finish line.

For additional information, including a map of the race course, please go to [ www.ragnarrelay.com/tennessee ]. To learn about well-being in Tennessee, visit [ www.well-beingindex.com ].

About Ragnar Events, LLC

Ragnar Events, LLC was co-founded in 2004 by Dan Hill and Tanner Bell. The idea to run an overnight 24+-hour relay across the mountains of Utah was a lifelong dream of Dan Hilla™s father. The dream became reality when Dan Hill and his childhood friend, Tanner Bell, organized the first Wasatch Back Relay, spanning 188 miles from Logan to Park City, UT in 2004. Since 2004 the Ragnar Relay Series has grown from a single relay in Utah to the largest overnight relay series in the nation. The Ragnar Relay Series now has 12 races scheduled for 2010 and is growing every year. Ragnar Events, LLC is based in Salt Lake City, UT and managed by co-founders Dan Hill and Tanner Bell.

Visit [ www.ragnarrelay.com ] for race dates and exact locations.

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthways' solutions are designed to keep healthy people healthy, mitigate or eliminate lifestyle risk factors that can lead to disease and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Our proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more information, please visit [ http://www.healthways.com ].

About Monroe Carell Jr. Childrena™s Hospital at Vanderbilt

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is a leader in pediatric care, ranked as one of the best childrena™s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and 15^th in the nation by Parents magazine. The Childrena™s Hospital provides 222 beds for the highest level of pediatric care and is also a top level teaching and research facility. Children's Hospital features Centers of Excellence for the treatment of diabetes and congenital heart disorders and offers services for cancer, organ and bone marrow transplants, level 1 pediatric trauma, treatment for developmental disorders and the highest designated level NICU in the state.

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