Race Report Saturday May 13, 2000

Contact: Larry Holdren (303) 825-3380 (303) 478-6313 Cell larryholdren@gbsm.com

Denver - May 13, 2000 - Nadia Prasad of Longmont, Colo. captured the Avon Running-Denver title today with a winning time of 35:14. Nearly 1,000 women of every age and fitness level participated in this year's Avon Running event, which included a 10K run (6.2 miles), 5K walk/run (3.1 miles) and ¼-mile Kids' Mother's Day Dash. The Avon Running Global Women's Circuit is the only international series of its kind that provides women the opportunity to pursue elite racing, moderate running or simple fitness in unified events.

As the Avon Running-Denver champion, Prasad, who is originally from France, took home the $500 first prize and won an expense-paid trip to Phoenix, Ariz. for the Avon Running National Championship on December 10.

Uta Pippig from Longmont, Colo. and the only woman to win three consecutive Boston Marathons, finished second overall winning $250 and Liliam Guerra from Ecuador finished third, winning $150. Denver's own Ellen Hart Peña won $100 as the top Master finisher and Diane Fischer from Castle Rock, Colo. was the winner of the Avon Representative division for the third consecutive year. Both Hart Peña and Fischer also won an expense-paid trip to the Avon Running National Championship.

"Through Avon Running, thousands of women in the Rocky Mountain region and around the world are getting to the starting line of fitness and realizing their individual potential, said Linda Hamilton-Orr, Division Sales Manager for Avon Products.

Hamilton-Orr and Carolyn Aishton, Vice President of Corporate Programs for Avon Products, Inc., presented a check for $5,000 to the Women's Bean Project, the charitable beneficiary of this year's Denver event, on behalf of the Avon Products Foundation. Additionally, a portion of each entry fee benefited the Women's Bean Project, a local charity committed to providing a stepping stone toward permanent employment for women who come from backgrounds of chronic unemployment, poverty or displacement.

A team of women from the Project, plus several staff members, participated in the 5K walk/run as the culmination of a 10-week training session designed for them by Avon Running. "We are extremely grateful to Avon Running for selecting the Women's Bean Project as the beneficiary for this year's event," said Peggy Driscoll, Executive Director of the Women's Bean Project. "Our women have benefited in so many different ways as a result of this wonderful program."

In celebration of Mother's Day, nearly 100 area children participated in a ¼-mile Kids' Mother's Day Dash. The event allowed girls and boys to participate in a fitness program in a fun atmosphere. Avon Running-Denver also featured the debut of the Avon Running Village, a unique traveling "village" that offered participating walkers and runners, as well as their friends and family, health information and beauty treatments, including free massage and manicures.

During 2000, Avon Running events will take place in nine additional U.S. cities, including four new to the circuit:

· Hartford, CT                 July 8
· Portland, OR                 July 23
· Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN      August 12 (new)
· Albuquerque, NM              August 13 (new)
· Baltimore, MD                September 10
· Kansas City, MO              October 1
· Cincinnati, OH               October 15
· Tampa, FL                    November 18  (new)
· Phoenix, AZ *                December 10 (new)

* The Phoenix event is also the Avon Running National Championship, in which winners from all preceding U.S. events will vie for the national title alongside women of every age and ability.

Avon Running Global Women's Circuit Promotes Benefits of Regular Exercise

The Avon Running Global Women's Circuit 2000 is building upon the program's two-year success of spreading the word about health and fitness, particularly cardiovascular disease, to thousands of women worldwide. Through Avon Running, women learn about the benefits of a regular running and walking regimen, one of the most accessible and affordable forms of exercise for even the busiest women. The program includes both a 10K run and 5K fitness walk to offer participation opportunities for the nearly 40 percent of the women in the Avon Running program who are beginners. Studies show that regular running and walking can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death among women, as well as significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer and other diseases.

Additional information and race applications for Avon Running events are available by calling (212) 282-5350 or on the Avon Running web site at www.avonrunning.com.

Avon is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $5.3 billion in annual revenues. Avon markets to women in 136 countries through 3 million independent Sales Representatives. Avon product lines include such recognizable brands as Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Color, Far Away, Rare Gold, Perceive and Women of Earth. Avon also markets an extensive line of fashion jewelry, apparel, gifts and collectibles. More information on Avon and its products can be found on the company's award-winning web site: www.avon.com.

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