People (and Dogs) of All Ages and Skill Levels Dash to Victory at the Home of the Father of the Constitution

Orange, VA – James Madison's Montpelier invites runners of all ages to experience the rare opportunity of racing to victory at the beautiful home of the Father of the Constitution in the second Constitution Run on September 25, 2011. Four races for adults and children will be held on James and Dolley Madison's beloved estate: 5K and 10K races for adults, and a 1K fun race for kids, and a 1K race for dogs and their owners.

The course will traverse the historic grounds of James and Dolley Madison's home, where James Madison envisioned the Constitution that defined our nation. Participants will enter through the main entrance and park in the center field of the Montpelier Hunt Races steeplechase track, which has a commanding view of the mansion and grounds. Runners will cross portions of the steeplechase track and pass through the stable areas, giving them an opportunity to enjoy some of Montpelier's rural beauty and rarely seen landscape, including the Constitutional Village. The course is mostly flat, but has some rolling sections in the countryside.

The registration fee is $25 for the 5K, $30 for the 10K, and $10 for the 1Ks. Participants my register online at www.montpelier.org or in person beginning at 7:00 a.m. on race day. Onsite registration fees will increase by $5 on race day. All participants will receive a free Constitution Run T-shirt and discounted admission to the Montpelier mansion.

Constitution Run Schedule
7:30 a.m. Constitution 10K Run
8:00 a.m. Constitution 5K Run/Walk
9:00 a.m. Dolley's Dash 1K (children ages 5 to 10)
9:30 a.m. Dogathon 1K

The second Constitution Run is one of several Montpelier Constitution Month events to commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution. Other September events include a Constitution Day fireworks display on the mansion front lawn on September 17, the Annual Claude Moore Lecture on September 20, and visits with "James" and "Dolley" Madison on the weekends. Also, on September 25, Montpelier will hold a dedication ceremony in the mansion South Yard to honor the enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation. Montpelier recently built wooden frames that outline the areas where a slave residence, two smokehouses, and a kitchen stood during the Madisons' time. A construction crew will build two additional slave residence outlines in the late fall. A full Constitution Month schedule is available at www.montpelier.org.

The Constitution Run is sponsored by Jim Price Chevrolet in Charlottesville, Herndon Chevrolet in Orange, the Orange Holiday Inn Express, and Charlottesville Running Company.

James Madison's Montpelier
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and president of the United States. Now that the home's $25 million architectural restoration is complete, visitors can see the progress of rediscovering James and Dolley Madison through the "Presidential Detective Story" with daily guided tours. They can also leisurely stroll the garden and forest; and take in the galleries, hands-on activities, and many other attractions on the estate's 2,650 acres. Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montpelier is located in the heart of Virginia's wine country on Route 20, four miles south of Orange, Va., and 30 miles north of Charlottesville, Va.

Montpelier is administered by The Montpelier Foundation, which seeks to inspire continuing public engagement with American constitutional self-government by bringing to life the home and contributions of James and Dolley Madison. Montpelier is a National Trust Historic Site. To learn more, visit www.montpelier.org.