NEW BALANCE NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF FALMOUTH ROAD RACE

Photo caption: New Balance Falmouth Road Race logo unveiled at Nobska Light: From left, Christine Frazier, Falmouth Road Race board member; Josh Rowe, running marketing manager at New Balance; Bob Minihane, owner of New Balance Mashpee and Burlington retail stores; Kathy Sherman, Falmouth Road Race co-director.

BOSTON, Oct. 21, 2010 - Global athletic leader New Balance announced today the signing of an official multi-year title sponsorship deal with the historic Falmouth Road Race, to be renamed the New Balance Falmouth Road Race. The company will serve as the title sponsor and official footwear and apparel sponsor starting with the 39th annual race, which will be held on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. The event is one of the top non-marathon events on the international circuit.

"New Balance is thrilled to become the title sponsor of the historic Falmouth Road Race," says Josh Rowe, running marketing manager at New Balance. "This race is woven into the fabric of summer in New England and it resonates with recreational runners and elite competitors alike. It will enable us to highlight our innovative footwear, apparel, and unique brand attributes to runners of all abilities."

As title sponsor of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, New Balance will also become title sponsor of both the High School and Elite Mile, two invitational events that take place the evening before the road race on the Falmouth High School track. The company will showcase their performance running collection at the Health and Fitness Expo and at the race finish line area as the exclusive merchandiser of the race, providing a new line of New Balance Falmouth Road Race official gear. Race and volunteer staff will be outfitted in New Balance products and the company will coordinate regional retail promotions and advertising activities around the race.

The new line of New Balance Falmouth Road Race official gear will be available at the New Balance Mashpee store, on-site at the race's Health and Fitness expo, and online at www.ShopNewBalance.com, New Balance's online shopping destination, which was formerly recognized as www.NBwebexpress.com. 

"We are proud to partner with New Balance as our title sponsor," says Rich Sherman, race co-director. "New Balance running products are among the best-rated in the industry, and the brand's long-time New England roots make them an ideal partner for our race."

Race entries will be available online to download between April 20 and May 5 at www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.

About the Falmouth Road Race:

The Falmouth Road Race, headquartered in Falmouth, Mass., is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, founded in 1973. It has been named "Best USA Road Race" by Runner's World magazine; "One of the 25 essential things to do in the summer" by Sports Illustrated; "Best of New England" by Boston Magazine's New England Travel and Life; and "Best Non-Marathon Road Race in the U.S." by the New York Roadrunners Club. It was one of 12 events in the U.S. listed in Fitness magazine's, "Amazing Races" and was featured in the 2009 Bantam book, "Great Races, Incredible Places - 100+ Fantastic Runs Around the World." It has also been covered by Life magazine and Sports Illustrated, as well as on CBS television and ESPN. Proceeds from the race benefit Falmouth school programs and youth organizations. The race annually receives more than 20,000 requests for entry forms and fills its field of 12,000 in less than a week. For more information please visit www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.

About New Balance:

New Balance, headquartered in Boston, Mass., has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host.  New Balance employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of $1.65 billion. For more information please visit http://www.NewBalance.com

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