15,000 Women Join Recording Artist Ellie Goulding for Nike Women Half Marathon in D.C.

The inaugural Nike Women Half Marathon in Washington, D.C. will bring together 15,000 women with platinum selling singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding to run 13.1 miles through the Nation's historic capital on Sunday, April 28.

"Music and fitness are two of the most important things in my life," said Goulding. "Running has become a huge part of what motivates me and I'm excited to join so many other women in this inaugural race. I've been working hard to balance my training while being on tour this spring, and I'm running the Nike Women Half Marathon in Washington, D.C. with the goal of achieving my personal best time."

Nike created a film about what motivates Goulding to run and train for the Nike Women Half Marathon, Washington D.C. in the midst of her touring schedule to promote her second album, "Halcyon."

The Nike Women Half Marathon course will take runners past several national historic monuments. In addition to the race, the Nike Women Half Marathon will offer a variety of activities throughout the weekend focusing on female athletes. The Expotique ("Expo" + "Boutique") next to Nike Georgetown on M Street will celebrate the women participating in the race and will include a range of runners' services and Nike Women Half Marathon product.

In addition, Nike+ will empower thousands of women around the globe who cannot be in Washington, D.C. to take part. Women can run the half marathon distance with Nike+ anywhere in the world on race day and share their routes.

Olympian Shawn Johnson will be running with Nike+ in Los Angeles on April 28 and sharing her 13.1-mile route in Los Angeles via Nike+. Johnson, who is running 13.1 miles as part of her goal to run a full marathon in the fall, will be joined by Nike Elite Trainer Jeanette Jenkins.

The Nike Women Marathon began in 2004 in San Francisco, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Joan Benoit Samuelson's historic victory. Since its inception, this unique women's marathon-the largest of its kind in the world-has brought together more than 150,000 women and become one of the largest philanthropic race contributors. Through the Nike Women Marathon, now going on its 10^th year, runners have raised more than $128 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Nike Women Half Marathon in Washington, D.C. will also benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.

Women training to run 13.1 miles in 2013 can join others in the social conversation with the hashtag #letsturnitup.