Brooks Sports, Inc. was founded in 1914 by Morris Goldenberg and is a company that produces high performance shoes, soccer and running apparel. Brooks originally produced bathing shoes in 1917 before moving into sports in the 1930s by producing baseball cleats in 1920 and football cleats in the 1930s. In 1979 the world champion Pittsburgh Pirates endorsed Brooks shoes. In 1984 quarterback Dan Marino endorsed Brooks athletic footwear.
The Country Music Marathon is located in Nashville, TN. The route begins in Centennial Park and continues along many of Nashville's sights including music row, Belmont University, the State Capitol Building, the Cumberland River, Shelby Park, Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and ends outside LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans. Many bands and high school cheerleaders entertain runners and walkers and friends, families, and neighbors join in cheering everyone on. The marathon is followed by an evening concert which has previously featured Sara Evans, Phil Vassar, Jo Dee Messina, Brad Paisley, and Lee Roy Parnell among others.