For Immediate Release

February 24, 2012

The 5th Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon hits Miami Beach with over 2,000 participants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Harrison & Shriftman
Meredith Becker/Paola Villanueva
MBecker@hs-pr.com/ PVillanueva@hs-pr.com
Ph: 305.534.0008


The 5th Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon hits Miami Beach with over 2,000 participants
Celebrities, athletes and locals face-off to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

(February 2012) Miami Beach, FL – On Sunday, April 1, 2012, celebrities, athletes, corporate teams, paratriathletes and professional triathletes will meet on the sunny shores of South Beach for the fifth annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon. The highly anticipated race expects to draw hundreds of spectators to cheer on the fierce competition, as it has in past years, as well as enjoy an activity-filled day on the sizzling sands of Miami Beach. The Nautica South Beach Triathlon benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and a portion of the proceeds goes directly to pediatric cancer research.

Celebrities expected to take on this year’s races include “The Today Show’s” Natalie Morales, “Cougartown’s” Josh Hopkins, “Pirates of the Caribbean’s” Greg Ellis, “Traffic Light’s” David Denman and “The Finder’s” Geoff Stults and Mercedes Masohn, Josie Loren (Star of ABC Family's Make It or Break It) and Jake T. Austin (Star of the Emmy winning, "Wizards of Waverly Place" & the upcoming Huckelberry Finn).

Over 3,000 participants from around the world, representing at least 21 different countries, will travel to South Beach for what has become one of the top athletic events of the year in South Florida. At 6:50 a.m., the International Distance Race will kick off with an invigorating 1.5K ocean swim, a 40K bike over Miami Beach’s causeways, and conclude with a 10K run alongside Miami Beach’s famous Art Deco District. At 7:40a.m., participants in the Classic Distance Race will hit the beach for a half-mile ocean swim, 19-mile bike and four-mile run. Both races will make their grand finish on the warm and smooth sands of South Beach.

"We are thrilled to sponsor the South Beach Triathlon again this year. With the Nautica brand's dedication to the water and an active lifestyle, it is the perfect way to engage our consumer, while raising money for an excellent cause," said Karen Murray, President of Nautica. "Last year's event was such a great success and with twice as many athletes this time around, we are confident that the competition will exceed our expectations."

For the second year in a row, the Nautica South Beach Triathlon will be a part of the Race to the Toyota Cup, an internationally-renowned series for both professional and amateur athletes that is made up of seven of the most prominent international-distance triathlon events in the United States. In the professional series, the fastest endurance athletes on the planet compete for points across America in pursuit of the Toyota Cup, in addition to one of the richest prize purses in the world. Accordingly, the most accomplished Elite amateurs compete for the Elite Amateur Championship. At the amateur level, top age group athletes from each race will be eligible to compete for their respective Amateur Championships at the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon in Dallas, Texas on October 7, 2012.

“We have worked seamlessly with Nautica for the past five years, bringing together athletes from all over the world to swim, bike and run in one of the most celebrated cities in the United States,” said Michael Epstein, President of MESP, Inc. “We are thrilled to bring this event back to Miami Beach and to continue to work towards our goal of promoting healthy bodies and raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an organization that has helped so many.”


Nautica South Beach Triathlon Weekend Schedule:

Saturday, April 9th

1:00pm Packet Pickup and Expo Begins
Sand Castle Demo Begins
Sponsor Expo Opens
1:15pm Clinic 1
2:00pm Clinic 2
3:00pm Clinic 3
4:00pm Clinic 4
Sand Castle Demo Ends
5:00pm Packet Pickup Closes
Sponsor Expo Closes


Sunday, April 10th

5:30am Packet Pickup
Body Marking
Transition Area Opens
6:25am Transition Area Closes for International Distance
6:40am International Pre-Race Meeting at International Swim Start
6:50am International Distance Race Start
7:15am Transition Area Closes for Classic Distance
7:20am Classic Distance Pre-Race Meeting at Main Stage
7:25am National Anthem at Main Stage
7:40am Classic Race Start
8:00am Fun Zone
Nautica Tot Trot and Kid’s Run Registration Opens
Sponsor Expo Opens
10:00am Nautica Kids Run and Tot Trot Start
10:15am Professional Triathlete Awards Ceremony
Check presentation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Celebrity Division Awards Ceremony
10:30am Competitor Awards Ceremony
12:00pm Fun Zone Closes
Sponsor Expo Closes


Last year’s race raised an impressive $275,000 for St. Jude’s and participants included Carolina Panther’s running back DeAngelo Williams, “Pirates of the Caribbean’s” Greg Ellis, “Traffic Light’s” David Denman, NBC “The Biggest Loser’s” Ali Vincent, and “The Locator’s” Geoff Stults,. Organizers of the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, the sister event to the popular Nautica Malibu Triathlon, are expecting to raise more than last year and already the sign-up and registration numbers have exceeded 2011’s figures.

The International Distance Race is currently sold out. For more information about the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, please visit www.nauticasobetri.com.


ABOUT NAUTICA:
Founded in 1983, Nautica® is a leading global lifestyle brand ranging from men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and accessories to a complete home collection. Nautica® products are refined casual classics inspired and energized by the water that are always crisp, clean and distinct. Today Nautica® is available in more than 60 countries with more than 200 Nautica® branded stores worldwide. In 2003, the Company was acquired by VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel with more than 30 brands, including Wrangler, The North Face, Lee, Vans, Nautica, 7 For All Mankind, Eagle Creek, Eastpak, Ella Moss, JanSport, lucy, John Varvatos, Kipling, Majestic, Napapijri, Red Kap, Reef, Riders, Splendid, Smartwool® and Timberland®. For additional information, please go to www.nautica.com and www.vfc.com.


ABOUT ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL:
Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

ABOUT MESP:?
Since 1986, MESP, Inc. has been a leader in lifestyle sports marketing for over 25 years. As a full service marketing and production company, MESP, Inc. has consistently delivered top quality events to athletes across the country. MESP, Inc. produces events such as the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, Nautica South Beach Triathlon, the Day at the Beach Triathlon, the Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud and Obstacle Series presented by Subaru, and many more. MESP strives to produce events with a festive atmosphere that make a difference in people’s lives. Through its properties, MESP has raised over 8 million dollars for various charities.

ABOUT RACE TO THE TOYOTA CUP:
Since 2006, the Race to the Toyota Cup has connected some of the most prominent international-distance triathlon events in the United States. Throughout the series, the world’s top professional triathletes battle for points and a chance to win the coveted Toyota Cup. In 2012, the Race to the Toyota Cup consists of seven events, including: the April 1 Nautica South Beach Triathlon (Miami); the May 28 Capital of Texas Triathlon (Austin); the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon June 24; the July 14 Life Time Tri Minneapolis ; the Life Time Tri Chicago August 26; the Herbalife Triathlon Los Angeles September 30; and the October 7 Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon (Dallas). For more information on the Race to the Toyota Cup visit www.racetothetoyotacup.com .
ABOUT TOYOTA:?
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of nearly 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.76 million vehicles in 2010. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

ABOUT LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC.:
As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest — or discovering new passions — both inside and outside of Life Time’s distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Company’s Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of exceptional quality and value. As of February 23, 2012, the Company operated 93 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETICSM brands in 21 states and 26 major markets. Additionally, Life Time operated eight former Lifestyle Family Fitness facilities, which were in transition to become Life Time centers. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.
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