LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Reaches 40,000 Participant Cap
Official Charity Organizations Offering Additional Entries

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page Related info: > Running USA

Posted Wednesday, 18 August, 2004

CHICAGO - (August 16, 2004) - Registration for The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is now closed and the 40,000 participant cap has been reached. There are 270 entries available through charity organizations associated with the marathon and 30 entries available through official sponsor Ice Mountain's "Last Chance To Do Chicago's 26.2" sweepstakes.

The three official marathon charities are each offering 30 entries into this year's race. The official marathon charities are The American Cancer Society, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training and The National AIDS Marathon Training Program. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon also has four charity partners which will be offering 20 entries each into this year's race. These charities are Alzheimer's Association, Cancer Research UK, Children's Memorial Hospital Kids First and Opportunity Enterprises. There are several additional participating charities that are each offering 10 entries into the 2004 marathon. More information about running for charity can be found on The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon website at www.chicagomarathon.com.

Marathon sponsor Ice Mountain Natural Spring Water is also offering runners a chance for a position at this year's marathon starting line through the "Last Chance To Do Chicago's 26.2" sweepstakes. 30 lucky winners will win free entry into the already closed 2004 Marathon. Grand prize winners will also receive an Ice Mountain running singlet. For more information, and to enter, please visit www.icemountain.com.

"For the second year in a row, the Marathon has reached its 40,000 cap in record time," said Event Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer for LaSalle Bank, Mark Nystuen. "This demand for participation makes the quality of the Marathon evident. LaSalle Bank is extremely proud to bring such an incredible event to the City and to the 40,000 athletes and 1 million spectators that line the streets race day."

Participation in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has been on a dramatic incline during the past several years. In 1977, the first year of the marathon, registration was only 4,200. Now, registration comes to a close at a cap of 40,000 nearly two months before Race Day. This can be attributed to the increase in the popularity of running through the years, as well as the quality of the event brought to the City of Chicago.

"It is truly gratifying to see how popular the Marathon has become over the years," says Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Race weekend has become an event that the entire city of Chicago can rally around to embrace tradition and celebrate athletic excellence."

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 present live coverage.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org

Related info:
> Running USA

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page