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Press Release - Los Angeles Marathon - 2/15/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   Contact: Stacey Ellis or Alexis Anzalone
                                            The Blaze Company
                                            (310) 450-6060
                                                  

 
      "Spa On Wheels" Shuttle Rolls Out for Los Angeles Marathon XX
 

LOS ANGELES - (February 15, 2005) - As the nation's fourth largest marathon 
counts down to its 20th silver celebration on Sunday, March 6, 2005, the 
Los Angeles Marathon continues to introduce race-day firsts with a new "Spa 
On Wheels" shuttle, a fusion of ideas that blends spas, sports and a 
much-needed method of transportation for L.A. Marathon biathletes.

For marathoners who will start their morning with the 11th annual Acura 
L.A. Bike Tour - a 22.7-mile leisure ride through the traffic-free streets 
of Los Angeles, the Spa On Wheels shuttle will transport an estimated 120 
biathletes from the Acura L.A. Bike Tour finish line at University of 
Southern California to the Marathon start line at Figueroa Blvd and 6th 
Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Metropolitan Transit Authority wrapped buses will be transformed on event 
day into the Spa On Wheels shuttle. The bus exteriors will feature the L.A. 
Marathon 2005 anniversary artwork created by presenting sponsor American 
Motor Honda Co. Inc. and Acura, the title sponsor of the Acura L.A. Bike 
Tour.

Inside, the buses will reflect a serene spa-like environment created by 
Whole Life Consultants, a spa management and consulting firm based in 
Hermosa Beach, Calif. WLC operates Checkers Spa at the Hilton Checkers 
Hotel and the Good Samaritan Hospital in downtown Los Angeles, and the 
Beach House Spa at the Beach House Hotel in Hermosa Beach.

During the three-mile ride, mini neck, arm, shoulder, leg and foot massages 
will be made available to riders, as well as Sparkletts water and soothing 
music. In addition, re-energizing drinks and snacks such as Gatorade and 
Clif Bars will be available on board.

The L.A. Marathon was the first to offer a pre-marathon bike ride as part 
of Marathon-day events, and as such, is the first Marathon with the unique 
challenge of transporting more than 100 biathletes. The Spa On Wheels 
shuttle concept came as a response to feedback from L.A. Marathon 
biathletes who enjoyed the challenge of completing both events, but wanted 
an easier option for getting from the Bike Tour finish line to the start of 
the Marathon.

"The L.A. Marathon and Acura L.A. Bike Tour looked to address the needs of 
the biathletes in not only an effective manner, but creatively as well," 
says Marie Patrick co-founder and executive vice president of the L.A. 
Marathon. "We believe the Spa On Wheels shuttle will be a nice experience 
for our biathletes and hope it encourages more of our runners to 
participate in both events in years to come."

"L.A. Marathon biathletes require special consideration, not only 
logistically, but physically because of the additional impact to their 
bodies," said John Howard, three-time Olympic cyclist, world-record holder 
and cycling coach for the Acura L.A. Bike Tour. "I can't think of a nicer 
thing to do between events for these special athletes than this new shuttle 
concept."

The Acura L.A. Bike Tour begins at 6am on March 6. Cyclists can be seen 
crossing the finish line via a live broadcast on NBC4 in Los Angeles 
beginning at 7:30am. For the first time ever, the broadcast, which ends at 
11am, will be made available to a global audience via the World Wide Web by 
logging on to NBC4.tv or by linking through the L.A. Marathon Website at 
www.lamarathon.com. A Spanish-language live broadcast will take place on 
Telemundo 52 from 7:30am to 11:30am.

The L.A. Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is the largest marathon 
in the state, fourth largest in the country and seventh largest in the 
world. It is expected to draw more than 25,000 runners from all 50 states 
and 80 countries. Historically, 80 percent of all participants have hailed 
Southern California as their home making the race one of the City's most 
highly participated and defining events.

The L.A. Marathon presented by Honda takes place Sunday, March 6, 2005. In 
addition to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Marathon sponsors include 
American Airlines, City of Angels Medical Center, NBC4, Telemundo 52, 
Saucony, Sparkletts and Emerald Nuts. To-date, more than 350,000 runners 
and walkers have participated in the L.A. Marathon. For more information or 
to register for L.A. Marathon XX, visit www.lamarathon.com or call (310) 
444-5544.


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