FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shawn M. Platt
(312) 904-7240
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Registration at Record Pace
Marathon Scheduled to Hit 40,000 Participant Cap by Early-August
CHICAGO - (July 7, 2004) - Registration for the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon is well on its way to its 40,000 participant limit. The number of
registered marathon participants has already topped 25,000. These numbers
are soaring more rapidly than ever before. This year's closing date is
anticipated to occur in late-July or early-August. Last year's registration
for the Marathon closed at the end of August due to the cap, and this
year's registration has moved even faster to this point.
"Registration for the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is filling up in
record time," says Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Based on the
participants we have registered thus far, we anticipate registration
closing as early as the end of July."
Just ten years ago, the marathon's registration reached a high of only
10,000 participants. "Now the Marathon reaches its cap of 40,000 two months
before the horn goes off," added Pinkowski. The increase in registration is
due greatly in part to the growing national trend of running, as well as
the beautiful, diverse 26.2-mile course the city of Chicago has to offer.
Registration for this year's race is available at the Chicago Marathon's
official Web site, www.chicagomarathon.com. Registration is open to all
runners who can complete the course in six hours or less. Registration is
$80 ($90 for International participants) and can be completed either online
or by standard mail. Registration is also available through various charity
organizations associated with the marathon. In addition to registration,
many of the Marathon's charities offer training programs and/or incentives
to help you raise money for local, national and international charities.
Charity information can also be found on the event's Web site or calling 1
(888) 243-3344 (U.S. or Canada) or (312) 904-9800.
The 2004 marathon will host former world record holder and four-time
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon winner, Khalid Khannouchi, as well as last
year's Marathon winner, Evans Rutto. This year's elite athletes will be
competing for the highest marathon prize purse ever, $550,000. The top male
and female athletes will receive $125,000, the largest first place prize in
the sport.
The 2004 race will again include competitive and preferred start positions
for those runners who have completed previous marathons or half-marathons
within a certain time limit. The marathon accepts a total of 2,500
competitive start positions and 6,500 preferred start positions. This
year's competitive start qualifying times are 3:15:00 or faster in a full
marathon and 1:30:00 or faster in a half-marathon. The preferred start
qualifying times are 3:45:00 or faster in a full marathon and 1:45:00 or
faster in a half marathon. The qualifying times must be based on a marathon
or half-marathon since January 1, 2002.
2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10 at 8 a.m.
The race both starts and finishes in Chicago's Grant Park. CBS 2 CHICAGO,
official broadcast partner of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and ESPN
1000, official radio partner, will broadcast live coverage of the 40,000
participants and 1 million spectators anticipated to crowd the streets on
raceday.
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