We are only 88 days away from the Bicentennial Edition of the The Capital City Half Marathon, Patrón Quarter Marathon and Commit to Be Fit 5k.

The City of Columbus is getting ready for a huge celebration of the Active Healthy Lifestyle and we want you to be a part of it. Registration for the event is on pace for the earliest sell out ever! This year we will cap the field at 13,000 runners and walkers. Register now! Registration Fees increase on February 16th.

If you are already registered, thank you, and have fun getting ready for the best party you will have while running or walking! You may confirm your registration here.

On May 5th, 2012, our Celebrity and Charity Champions will help us Celebrate The Columbus Bicentennial in grand fashion.

You WILL be a Champion, come join us.

We are proud to have The American Cancer Society as the benefiting charity of the Bicentennial Edition of the Capital City Half Marathon. With each newsletter I have the privilege of introducing you to a charity champion who is raising money as they prepare for the Capital City Half Marathon.

I want to introduce you to Norbert Peiker our second charity champion.

Norbert has been a cancer patient since 1996. He was diagnosed as having stage 3 prostate cancer. Surgery, extensive radiation, and hormone treatment followed. Eight years ago his treatment reached that for stage 4. Now at age 71 he found new challenges: Running out of treatment options he was administered alternate medications that severely reduced his liver function, on the fast road toward failure. During the following six months, through diet adjustments, body detox, fitness, and a strong relationship with God, the liver function normalized. Now he is back on hormone chemo and oral cancer medication.

At 71 years old, he is looking forward to finishing the Capital City Half-Marathon. His pace will be slow, but his spirit will be high, and determination and your prayers will get him to the Finish Line. Please help to fight cancer by sponsoring Norbert. Norbert has already exceeded his original goal of $500. But... there is no limit... Every dollar raised is needed for research, clinical trials, and education. Check out his personal page to help make a difference for Norbert and so many others.

The American Cancer Society offers participants the opportunity to "make every mile more meaningful" through its DetermiNation program. DetermiNation participants receive outstanding runner benefits such as free team training, race-weekend VIP amenities, invitations to exclusive social events, and online tools you need to make achieving your fundraising goals easy and fun! Join the American Cancer Society's nation and with every step you take and every mile you conquer, you'll be saving lives and creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays. For more information, visit The ACS Cap City page.

If YOU can Run or Walk, YOU can Run or Walk Farther.

If YOU can Train, YOU can Train Harder.

And if YOU do, YOU will FIGHT Cancer and YOU will be a Champion to Norbert and so many others on May 5th.

Andrea Cambern, a television personality for more than 20 years at WBNS-TV (Channel 10) and the driving force behind the station's Commit To Be Fit initiative, will be the honorary race director of the 2012 Capital City Half Marathon.

In 2004, Andrea put her support and energy behind a brand new half marathon and 5k in Columbus. In just 9 years, Capital City has grown into one of the largest celebrations of the active healthy lifestyle in the region. Andrea has been and continues to be a huge part of this event. I am extremely excited that she will serve as Honorary Race Director for our Bicentennial Event.

A Honorary Race Director, Andrea will emcee the Panel of Champions presentation at the Expo Celebration on Thursday, May 3rd, and will present the Official Toast which serves as the official kick off of the event at the Champions Reception. She will continue her duties as the official starter on May 5th before joining the field in the Half Marathon.

Cap City's accompanying 5-kilometer race has been known as the Commit To Be Fit 5K since its inception. The Commit To Be Fit 5K is expected to have record participation due in part to a new partnership between 10TV, Commit To Be Fit and Giant Eagle that will encourage 10TV viewers to commit to running or walking the 3.1-mile race for the first time.

The Diamond Cellar is the Official Timer of the Capital City Half Marathon and is the presenter of the Diamond Cellar VIP Experience. If you shop at the Diamond Cellar between now and February 29th and you spend $75 or more, you are eligible to have your registration automatically upgraded to the Diamond Cellar VIP Experience. Just scan your receipt and email it to us at info@m3ssports.com. We will take care of the rest.

The Diamond Cellar VIP Experience makes a fantastic celebration even more unique.

Here is what you get:

1.The New Balance VIP Official Cap City Half Zip or Jacket.

2.Beginning at 2pm on Thursday, May 3, at the Yellow Tail Bubbles Celebration Lounge you receive the official Yellow Tail Bubbles Flute that you may fill up as many times as you like during the Cap City Health & Fitness Expo.

3.An invitation to the Champion Panel and Champion's Reception from 6-8pm on Thursday, May 3 for the Official Toast to kick off the 2012 Capital City Half Marathon.

4.Free race day parking.

5.Access to The Diamond Cellar VIP Experience Tent with catered breakfast, lunch, Yellow tail sparkling wine, Patron Margaritas and private bathrooms.

The Diamond Cellar is hosting an EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW of the Lagos 2012 Spring Collections. They are providing Champagne, chocolates and beautiful jewelry....grab your friends and join Jen Walker and her team over at the Diamond Cellar on Saturday, February 11th.

As you have probably heard by now, the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets, in partnership with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, have been awarded the League's 2013 All-Star Weekend. Congratulations to Linda Logan and her entire team at the Greater Columbus Sports Commission for this fantastic win for Columbus.

Read the entire press release here.

The Capital City Half Marathon is a proud partner of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

Facebook and Twitter have become an important part of the M3S events, especially Cap City. Cap City has become its own community and we want you to be part of it. Check out all of the photos and updates and make sure you add your own.

If you have not yet, make sure you like the Cap City Facebook page to stay in touch with what is going on in the running and walking community.

The 9th Edition of Cap City will be something special. This is our City's 200th Birthday and 200Columbus is dedicated to developing a robust and transformative commemoration of the city's bicentennial in 2012. The goal for 200Columbus is a community that is more inspired, proud and engaged in their progress and the increasing vitality of Columbus. This will lead to a community that is better recognized locally and globally as one of the best places to live and work.

If you are in town on February 10th, come join us at Columbus' Birthday Celebration in the Battelle Grand Ballroom at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (where the Cap City Expo is held). The Columbus Bicentennial Birthday is the must-attend (non running) party of the year! This Celebration of the Centuries will engage all five senses with style, decor, entertainment and local flavors the likes that Columbus has never seen.

If you are from out of state, mark your calendars for May 5th and come on and Experience Columbus! We have some great Official Race Hotels a few blocks from the start line and only steps from the Finish Line Celebration! Make your plans now to join 13,000 new friends at the Bicentennial Edition of The Capital City Half Marathon.

A huge thank you to our volunteers, our charity, corporate and community partners and most of all to YOU for making Cap City one of the largest Celebration's of the Active Healthy Lifestyle in the Midwest.

David