January 9, 2020
West Columbia, S.C.– Lexington Medical Center is pleased to be the title sponsor of the 48th annual Governor’s Cup Road Race, a half-marathon, 5K Run/Walk, Main Street Mile and Kids Main Street Mile on Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22, 2020 in Columbia. For the first time, this iconic Columbia race will take place in early spring.
The field of participants includes runners of all levels, including elite runners from around the world. There are also several elite runners from around the Carolinas who will take part.
“Lexington Medical Center enjoys participating in partnerships in our community that encourage healthy lifestyles and work toward educating people about the importance of exercise,” said Tod Augsburger, president and CEO of Lexington Medical Center.
The events begin Friday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. with the Kids Main Street Mile, followed by an open Main Street Mile at 6:30 p.m. and an elite Main Street Mile at 7:00 p.m. Registration is free for children 12 and under. With limited spots for the children’s run available, early registration is recommended. All Kids Main Street Mile participants receive a race t-shirt, bib and a medal. It starts and finishes at the intersection of Lady and Main Streets. Registration for the adult Main Street Mile is $20 until February 20 and $25 on the day of the event.
On Saturday, the half-marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. at 1312 Main Street heading toward the State House and finishes at 1110 Park Street. The 5K Run/Walk will start at 7:30 a.m. in the same location as the half-marathon. Registration for the half-marathon is $90 until January 31, then $100 up to race day. Registration is $30 for the 5K Run/Walk until January 31 and $35 up to race day.
Packet pick-up will be at the Marriott at 1200 Hampton Street in Columbia on Friday, February 21 from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Runners may pick up packets at the hotel on race day from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., but there will be no race day registration.
There is a combo package available for runners who want to participate in the 5K and Main Street Mile. Full-time students and active military will receive a $10 discount for the half marathon and $5 discount for the 5K and Main Street Mile. Please email Katie Miller at Katie.Miller@governorscupsc.orgfor a code. Participants who volunteer to help at the Kids Main Street Mile will also receive a $10 discount on 5K and half marathon registration.
The Governor’s Cup courses were designed to pass many of the notable sites and attractions in the Greater Columbia area. The first three miles of the courses for the half-marathon and 5K races are identical, and they touch Columbia’s historic Main Street, South Carolina State House, Woodrow Wilson Family Home, Township Auditorium, Robert Mills House/Gardens, Hampton-Preston House/Gardens, Seibels House/Gardens, Mann-Simons Cottage, South Carolina Governor’s Mansion, and The Vista.
The half-marathon course ties Columbia to its sister cities on the west side of the Congaree River, and it touches South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture, Gervais Street Bridge, West Columbia and Cayce, Guignard Brick Works, Blossom Street Bridge, USC’s Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center, Shandon Neighborhood, Five Points, USC’s Horseshoe, and South Carolina Capital Complex.
There will be a Kids Main Street Mile t-shirt contest open to children and under. T-shirt design should include “Governor’s Cup Road Race,” “Kids Main Street Mile” and “February 21, 2020.” The design will be printed on a black t-shirt. One entry per child is allowed. Entries should be e-mailed to govcupkids@gmail.com by midnight on January 10, 2020. Please include the child’s name and age, and parents’ name in the e-mail. The top three t-shirt designers will receive cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 respectively.
The Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup Road Race is one of the oldest continuously operated road races in the Southeast. For more information on the Lexington Medical Center Governor’s Cup and to sign up for the race, visit www.governorscupsc.org.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
