FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW DYNAMIC WEBSITE TO CAPTURE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT FOR
THE LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON
Redesign depicts core values of race: strength, dedication, commitment,
ambition, victory
August 8, 2007, CHICAGO - Registrants for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
spend 18 weeks or more training specifically for the 26.2-mile race,
logging hundreds of miles and sacrificing precious hours for the cause. The
commitment is driven out of personal will and determination and the journey
is a passionate one.
In its 30th year, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon identified a tremendous
opportunity to better communicate with this audience of impassioned,
dedicated and loyal runners by redesigning its website from top to bottom.
And after months of development, the newly-designed site has finally
launched – www.chicagomarathon.com.
Originally built to handle the mass registration of 45,000 entrants, serve
as a vital communications tool for specifics surrounding the behemoth event
and hosting immense race-day online traffic, the website's operations were
previously focused on functionality. This new dynamic website captures the
essence and emotion of the Marathon while fueling the hungry athletes
preparing for it with all the encouragement they need.
"The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon decided to take the opportunity to raise
the bar of the industry and develop a site that would not only further
engage its audience, but reach out to non-runners alike with an opportunity
to dial into the never-ending energy the Marathon generates," said Shawn
Platt, LaSalle Bank's Senior Vice President and Director of Brand
Management and Sports Marketing
With runners at the critical time in their training regimen, heavy mileage
scheduled each week and the much-anticipated taper six weeks away, the new
website will provide a boost of energy at an opportune moment. It will also
live on year-round for runners in other races around the world looking to
feel the encouragement of a global online community.
Key Highlights of the New Site:
Revolves around incorporating the raw emotions of all aspects of the
event, including training and preparation and race day from the
perspectives of both the runners and the dedicated fans and supporters,
through imagery that spans the Marathon's 30-year history.
Images capture the core values of the event: strength, dedication,
commitment, ambition, achievement and sacrifice. When combined with a
sleek design, energetic colors and a user-friendly navigation, the site
embraces and connects not only with marathon participants, but with
those that support and encourage participants as well.
"Inspiration Bank" offers visitors the opportunity to share their
motivation, stories and tips through online diaries, runner essays,
photo galleries, polls and top ten lists. In alliance with the emotional
feel of the new design, the "Inspiration Bank" is another manner in
which all involved – runners, spectators, supporters – have the ability
to connect with the global Marathon community.
Includes a variety of features such as a countdown clock, runner
tracking, podcasts, online polling and video galleries.
Nology Interactive was retained to lead the charge in the design,
navigation and content management system that would serve as the
cornerstone of the new site, not only because of their expertise in Web
development, but because of their intimate understanding of the personal
emotion that drives success in sport.
"The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is an iconic Chicago tradition and
Nology Interactive has worked extensively to ensure that runners and fans
will have the ability to access an easy to navigate website leading up to
and on race day." said Todd Gordon, founder and vice-president of strategic
innovation for Nology Interactive."
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