Running Sponsorships

So what’s the difference between planning for your retirement and running a marathon? Not much! Just like with running, people planning their financial future must be disciplined. They must dedicate themselves to taking regular action to reach a distant goal. Effective financial planning is a marathon, not a sprint.

But we do more than put our name on a race. By taking the leadership role in sponsoring running events around the U.S., we’re working toward a larger goal. ING U.S. wants to help people achieve not just financial, but also physical fitness.

The cornerstone of our running sponsorship program is the ING Run For Something Better. We work with local communities to create school-based running and fitness programs. These community partnerships, which we call the ING Run For Something Better, introduce young people to the joys and challenges of running. We’re able to support them in living fit and happy lives.  www.orangelaces.com

Around the world, the word "marathon" evokes images of New York City. Before the New York race began in 1970, marathons were modest events run by a few athletes and followed by a few fans. New York Road Runners and marathon co-founder Fred Lebow changed that. Today many marathons are huge media events that take over entire cities around the globe. None is as prominent as the ING New York City Marathon, but all city marathons are modeled on it. Modern marathoning owes its start -- and its world-class status -- to New York. Since 2003, ING U.S. is proud to be the first and only title sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon.

The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is the premier running event in South Florida. Since its inception in 2003, it has grown into one of South Florida’s largest single-day sporting events and is now a major destination race for runners throughout the U.S. and Latin America. Drawing participants from all 50 States, including Puerto Rico, and from over 50 countries, the field is incredibly diverse and continues to expand its reach even farther each year. ING U.S. became title sponsor in 2006, and is proud to support an event which has become woven into the fabric of the Miami community.

First run in 1994, the ING Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon consists of a marathon, half marathon, team relay event, competitive race walk, 5K and children's fun run. The 2008 event held on October 11, marked its 15th anniversary and first year with ING U.S. as title sponsor. The first year of ING U.S.'s title sponsorship helped fuel a tremendous growth in runner participation, with the weekend events up 23% over 2007.  ING U.S.'s partnership with Connecticut’s flagship endurance sport event provides a platform for the employees of ING US Headquarters to show their support for the Hartford community through participation and volunteerism.

In order to support our role as an advocate of the sport of running, ING U.S. developed an interactive online community where running enthusiasts can congregate to share experiences and information to help each other achieve physical fitness (training, nutrition, etc.)  Join the ING Runner’s Nation on Facebook and Twitter.